Patriot League Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview

Patriot League Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Tucker Richardson #15 of the Colgate Raiders reacts during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

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HONOLULU, HI – DECEMBER 23: The Bucknell Bison bench (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

First Round

(8) Lehigh vs (9) Loyola

Certainly familiar with one another after the two teams closed out their seasons during a final game which the Mountain Hawks narrowly walked away with, Lehigh and Loyola both will aim to amend their lackluster regular seasons with a playoff run. Andrew Kostecka’s health comes as the most important factor going into this game, as the league’s leading scorer’s potential absence from this matchup alters Loyola’s chances substantially. Regardless, Lehigh’s own offensive struggles offer some hope that the Greyhounds might still outshoot their opponents in what seems certain to be a high scoring game, even without Kostecka’s 19.9 PPG.

Prediction: Lehigh 72 – Loyola 77

(7) Bucknell vs (10) Holy Cross

Coming off a nail-biting win against Boston University, the Bisons must feel good going into this one against a Holy Cross team that really has not done anything right this year. As the Patriot League’s worst rebounding team who also allows high shooting percentages for opposing offenses far too frequently, the only scenario pointing to the Holy Cross win involves the Crusaders heating up to and from beyond the arc to an extent that exceeds far beyond their opponent, which is highly unlikely.

Prediction: Bucknell 66 – Holy Cross 49