Center Valley, Pa. — The most anticipated season in Patriot League history finally gets going on Friday when seven of the League’s eight schools take the court.
The showcase game of the weekend will come first, as defending champion Lehigh visits No. 18/19 Baylor on Friday at 5 p.m. in a game shown on Fox Sports Southwest. The Mountain Hawks enter the season as Patriot League favorites while senior guard C.J. McCollum has earned numerous preseason All-America honors and been named a Wooden Award candidate.
Bucknell will also have an intriguing opener when it visits Purdue on Friday. It’s not the only opener against a Big 10 team as Colgate goes to Illinois and American is at Minnesota on Friday as well.
Two teams open the season at home on Friday, with Lafayette Head Coach Fran O’Hanlon in his 500th game at the school when the Leopards host St. Francis (NY). Navy welcomes Marymount to Annapolis.
Holy Cross and Army open the season with multiple games at tournaments. The Crusaders play in the Liberty Tax Classic, taking on host Old Dominion Friday, Texas-San Antonio Saturday and Morgan State Sunday. The Black Knights once again start at the All-Military Classic, facing Air Force Saturday and either VMI or The Citadel Sunday. Also on Sunday, Colgate is at Marquette in a game shown on ESPNU at 4:30 p.m, while Navy plays at Siena.
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