Courtesy of PatriotLeague.org
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Defending League champion Bucknell was selected as the 2017-18 Patriot League Men’s Basketball preseason favorite, earning all of the available 18 first-place votes, while Boston University gained the remaining two first-place votes in the preseason poll and Bison senior center Nana Foulland was named the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year when honors were announced Wednesday afternoon.
The announcement came in conjunction with the Patriot League Network’s Preseason Basketball Show on the PLN. The show, featuring PLN correspondent Morgan Uber and League Director of Multimedia and Creative Services Jimmy Johnson, includes the preseason poll, all-League team along with interviews with Bucknell Head Coach Nathan Davis, Boston University Head Coach Joe Jones and Foulland. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.
The Bison return all five starters from last season’s League championship team and earned the maximum 162 points, as they will enter the season as an overwhelming favorite to repeat. The Terriers received 141 points and Navy finished third with 120 points. Lehigh, who played in the League championship game last season, finished fourth in the voting with 108 points, while Colgate placed fifth with 104 points. Loyola Maryland (78), Army West Point (68), Holy Cross (48), American (39) and Lafayette (27) round out the preseason poll.
Foulland – the defending Patriot League Men’s Basketball Player and Defensive Player of the Year – was selected as the League’s preseason player of the year, while headlining the preseason all-League team, which was also announced Wednesday. Bison teammate and 2017 Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player senior forward Zach Thomas joins Foulland on the squad, along with Loyola Maryland senior guard Andre Walker. Foulland, Thomas and Walker each earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors in 2016-17. Navy senior guard Shawn Anderson and Lehigh senior guard Kahron Ross – both second-team selections last season – complete the preseason all-League team.
Voting for the Patriot League men’s basketball preseason poll, player of the year and all-League team was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors. Neither group was permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
2017-18 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll
Bucknell, 162 (18 first-place votes)
Boston University, 141 (2)
Navy, 120
Lehigh, 108
Colgate, 104
Loyola Maryland 78
Army West Point, 66
Holy Cross, 48
American, 39
Lafayette, 27
2017-18 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Nana Foulland, Bucknell, Sr., C
2017-18 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason All-League Team
Nana Foulland, Bucknell, Sr., C
Zach Thomas, Bucknell, Sr., F
Andre Walker, Loyola Maryland, Sr., G
Kahron Ross, Lehigh, Sr., G
Shawn Anderson, Navy, Sr., G
Bucknell Bison (26-9, 15-3 PL in 2016-17)
Head Coach Nathan Davis enters his third season at the helm of a Bucknell program that brings back all five starters from the 2016-17 regular-season and tournament champions. Davis, a two-time League coach of the year, returns last season’s Patriot League Player and Defensive Player of the Year, senior center Nana Foulland (15.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg) and tournament MVP, senior forward Zach Thomas (15.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.4 apg). The Bison also return second-team all-League and all-defensive team point guard senior Stephen Brown (11.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.8 apg) and third-team all-League junior guard Kimbal Mackenzie (11.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.4 apg) to a team that boasted the best scoring offense in the League (76.3 ppg) last season. Sophomore guard Avi Toomer, who started 22 games last season returns, along with junior guard Nate Jones, junior forward Nate Sestina and sophomore guard Bruce Moore, who played key roles during Bucknell’s championship run. The Bison did not lose one player who averaged more than 10 minutes per game from last season.
Boston University Terriers (18-14, 12-6 PL)
Head Coach Joe Jones – entering his seventh season in Boston – loses three starters from last season’s team that pushed Lehigh to double overtime in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals. Jones and his staff will have to replace the squad’s top-two scorers and rebounders in Eric Fanning and Justin Alston, but should have plenty in the fold to make the Terriers dangerous. Senior guard Cedric Hankerson (9.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg) is the team’s leading returning scorer, while they will also have senior guard Cheddi Mosely (9.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 apg) back in the lineup. The team will also feature a pair of sophomore forwards that made an impact during their rookie seasons, with Patriot League All-Rookie Team member Tyler Scanlon (8.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 apg) and Max Mahoney (5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg). Jones and the Terriers welcome a freshmen class that is expected to vie for significant playing time.
Navy Midshipmen (16-16, 10-8 PL)
Head Coach Ed DeChellis begins his seventh season leading the Navy men’s basketball program, after taking them to the Patriot League Tournament semifinals last season, where they fell to eventual champion Bucknell. DeChellis returns four starters, including second team all-League senior guard Shawn Anderson (12.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.2 apg). Senior guard Bryce Dulin (9.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 apg), an all-defensive team selection last season, returns to a backcourt that also features junior Hasan Abdullah (8.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.3 apg), helping a program that was second in the League in scoring defense (64.2 ppg) last season. The Mids also return one of the League’s top rebounders in senior forward Tom Lacey (7.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and junior forward George Kiernan (8.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), who played plenty of big minutes for the Mids last season.
Lehigh Mountain Hawks (20-12, 12-6 PL)
Head Coach Dr. Brett Reed – entering his 11th season at Lehigh – not only has to replace his top-two scorers, but two of the top-40 scorers in Patriot League history in Tim Kempton (4th, 2,043 points) and Austin Price (37th, 1,453 points). Reed and the Mountain Hawks still have a talented roster, with second-team all-League guard Kahron Ross (9.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.3 apg), who is poised to break the League’s career assists record this season. Junior guard Kyle Leufroy (11.4 ppg) is the team’s leading returning scorer, while sophomore forward Pat Andree (6.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and sophomore guard Jordan Cohen (5.4 ppg, 2.1 apg) gave Lehigh fans glimpses of the future during their rookie campaign. Junior transfer guard Lance Tejada also figures prominently into Lehigh’s plans this season.
Colgate Raiders (10-22, 8-10 PL)
Head Coach Matt Langel begins his seventh season at the helm of a Colgate program that returns all five starters, including 2016-17 Patriot League Rookie of the Year forward Will Rayman (14.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.0 apg). The Raiders return a pair of seniors that averaged double-figures in points last season with senior guard Sean O’Brien (12.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.1 apg), who was also among one of the League’s assists leaders, and forward Jordan Swopshire (10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Junior forward Malcolm Regisford (7.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg) started every game last season and finished among the League’s top rebounders. Colgate also adds a strong freshman class, with newcomers that could immediately push for playing time.
Loyola Maryland Greyhounds (16-17, 8-10 PL)
Head Coach G.G. Smith enters his fifth season with the Greyhounds and welcomes back First-Team All-Patriot League senior guard Andre Walker (14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.9 apg), who proved to be among the elite players in the League in 2016-17. Senior forward Cam Gregory (9.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg) returns after finishing among the League’s leading rebounders last season. Overall, Loyola Maryland brings back eight-of-nine players who averaged more than eight minutes a year ago, including three players that started 10 or more games in junior guard James Fives, sophomore guard Andrew Kostecka and sophomore guard Chuck Champion.
Army West Point Black Knights (13-19, 6-12 PL)
Head Coach Jimmy Allen – in his first season at the helm of the Black Knights – helped the program surpass expectations for a squad that had graduated its entire starting five. Junior guard Jordan Fox (12.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg) stepped up to lead the young squad, while freshman guard Tommy Funk (9.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.8 apg) finished among the League’s assist leaders and was named to the all-rookie team. Sophomore forward Matt Wilson averaged 9.2 points per game and shot at an impressive .640 clip, while junior forwards John Emezie and Luke Morrison adjusted to increased action in 2016-17, both averaging 8.9 points per game last season. This season Allen returns four starters and seven-of-nine players that averaged double-digit minutes last season.
Holy Cross Crusaders (15-17, 9-9 PL)
Head Coach Bill Carmody – beginning his third season at Holy Cross – and the Crusaders could not duplicate the magic of their 2016 Patriot League Tournament run last season, but did boast the League’s best scoring defense (62.1 ppg). This season Carmody and his staff will need to replace four starters including Malachi Alexander and Robert Champion, who combined for 26.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season. Returning is junior forward Karl Charles (9.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 apg), who has been one of the League’s more versatile players, and junior guard Patrick Benzan (7.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.4 apg), who earned big minutes as a sophomore last season. Junior forward Jehyve Floyd (2.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg) also worked his way into Carmody’s senior-laden rotation last season. The Crusaders will have six freshman on the roster, who will be fighting for early minutes.
American Eagles (8-22, 5-13 PL)
Head Coach Mike Brennan – in his fifth season at American – returns his two top scorers from last season in sophomore guard Sa’eed Nelson (14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.4 spg) and sophomore forward Mark Gasperini (11.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg), both 2016-17 Patriot League All-Rookie Team selections. Nelson was the leading freshman scorer in the League, while also topping the League in steals as a rookie. Junior guard James Washington (3.7 ppg) and junior forward Matt Cimino (3.1 ppg) also return to add a veteran presence on a team that will feature seven freshman.
Lafayette Leopards (9-21, 5-13 PL)
Head Coach Fran O’Hanlon – the longest tenured coach in the Patriot League, beginning his 23rd season on College Hill – will be tasked with developing a young team that has eight of its 13 roster players in either their freshman or sophomore season. O’Hanlon and staff will return the Patriot League’s leading returning scorer in senior forward Matt Klinewski (16.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.2 apg). Junior forward Paulius Zalys (9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg), who started 19 games last season, will also be counted on to make up for the offensive punch lost with the graduation of all-League guard Nick Lindner. Senior guard Eric Stafford (37.9 3PT %), the squad’s only other senior, will be joined by a strong sophomore class, featuring forwards Kyle Stout (6.6 ppg), Lukas Jarrett (3.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Myles Cherry (3.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and guard Hunter Janacek (5.9 ppg).
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