Kempton, Lehigh poised to take Patriot League

Originally published in USA Today Sports Weekly’s College Basketball Season Preview issue.

By PAUL GOTHAM

Second-year coach Bill Carmody returns four starters from his Holy Cross Crusaders squad which made a magical post-season run to grab the Patriot League’s automatic bid. Robert Champion (12 ppg) and Malachi Alexander (11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.8 apg) led the ninth-place Crusaders to four wins and the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.

If the Crusaders are to earn a league-record seventh championship, they will have to outlast a talented Lehigh club. Two-time player of the year Tim Kempton Jr. (17.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg) joined Adonal Foyle and fellow Mountainhawk C.J. McCollum as the only players in league history to garner the conference’s top honor twice before their senior year. Kempton’s teammate Kahron Ross led the league with 6.1 assists per game. Incoming freshman Pat Andree adds a 3-point threat to the Lehigh attack and will get consideration for rookie of the year.

In his first-year at the helm, Nathan Davis guided Bucknell to a 14-4 record and a regular season title. Stephen Brown (9.2 ppg, 5.3 apg), Nana Foulland (11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and Zach Thomas (10.3 ppg, 5.7) return from that squad. Eric Fanning (15.2 ppg) leads three double-digit scorers from a Boston University Terriers squad which won seven straight in conference play.  Cheddi Mosely added 13.3 points per game while Cedric Hankerson chipped in 10 a game for the Terriers.

Conference rookie of the year, Delante Jones (12 ppg), is part of six-member sophomore class looking to get Mike Brennan’s American Eagles back to the NCAA Tournament. All-South Jersey performer Sa’eed Nelson is a rookie of the year candidate and will compete for playing time at point guard on Brennan’s squad.  Jordan Swopshire and Tom Rivard combined to score more than 20 points a game for Matt Langel’s Colgate Raiders. Langel’s squads have won 21 conference games over the past two season.

Shawn Anderson led the Navy Midshipmen scoring 13.2 points per game. Sixth-year Navy coach Ed DeChellis will look to Tim Abruzzo and Tom Lacey for increased offensive production.  Jarred Jones grabbed 7.2 rebounds per game to lead G.G. Smith’s Loyola (MD) Greyhounds. Jones more than doubled his offensive output netting 13.3 points a game while Andre Walker paced the Greyhounds with 14.1 points.

Jimmy Allen takes over the reins at Army West Point. The first-year coach will need to replace the output of last season’s top four scorers who were lost to graduation: Tanner Plomb (19.8 ppg), Kyle Wilson (15.8 ppg), Kevin Ferguson (13.1 ppg) and Dylan Cox (8.1).  Luke Morrison (5 ppg) is the Black Knights top returner. One season after winning the league title, Fran O’Hanlon’s Lafayette Leopards tumbled into the conference basement with a defense which allowed a league-worst 80.4 points per game. Matt Klinewski (13.3 ppg), Nick Lindner (!3.3 ppg) and Monty Boykins (10.7 ppg) were three of the Leopards top four scorers in 2015-16.

2016-17 Projected Order of Finish

1. Lehigh (17-15, 13-5)
2. Boston University (19-15, 11-7)
3. Bucknell (17-4, 14-4)
4. Holy Cross (15-20, 5-13)
5. American (12-19, 9-9)
6. Colgate (13-17, 9-9)
7. Loyola (9-21, 8-10)
8. Lafayette (6-24, 3-15)
9. Navy (19-14, 9-9)
10. Army West Point (19-14, 9-9)

*2015-16 finish in parentheses.

Player of the Year

Tim Kempton, Jr. C/F Lehigh

Rookie of the Year

Bruce Moore F Bucknell

All-Conference Team

Malachi Alexander F 6-7, 217 Sr. Holy Cross

Eric Fanning G 6-5, 210 Sr. Boston University

Nana Foulland C 6-9, 225 Jr. Bucknell

Tim Kempton C/F 6-10, 245 Sr. Lehigh

Kahron Ross G 5-11, 160 Jr. Lehigh

Don’t-Miss Games

Bucknell at Holy Cross

Jan. 8: Holy Cross erased a ten-point second-half deficit and went on to stun top-seeded Bucknell in double overtime to advance to the Patriot League semi-finals. The Bison will be better prepared this time for the Crusaders 1-3-1 defense.

Boston U at Lehigh

Jan. 28: These two split the series last year. Winner of this game could gain an edge in clinching home-court advantage during the Patriot League tournament.