NBC Sports Patriot League Preview

Forum Forum Lehigh Sports Lehigh Men’s Basketball NBC Sports Patriot League Preview

This topic contains 8 replies, has 5 voices, and was last updated by  toddcudd 11 years, 4 months ago.

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  • #11748

    TMH
    Participant
    #11752

    toddcudd
    Participant

    Seems to be the conventional wisdom for the coming season. The variable seems to be ‘Pards or Army in the two spot. I do continue to be surprised with how we’re treated in these previews. It’s hard for me to imagine how an outsider could project us in the top half, considering the turnover. Don’t get me wrong – I’m hopeful. But I think we know more about our newcomers than these previewers would, and I am, of course, biased and optimistic. :-) I can only assume that the program itself has built some credibility; no other reasonable explanation.
    Also still feels strange to see American at the bottom, but other previews I’ve read seem to justify it.

    #11753
    Bison137
    Bison137
    Participant

    I don’t think it’s hard to pick LU for the top half. Every team except Boston U has its weaknesses, not just Lehigh, and every team except last-place Navy lost key players. And LU has added a number of potentially good recruits the past two years. I think these predictions – which were done by the HC alum who posts as Sons of Vaval on a number of PL sites – are very reasonable. The one issue I have is that I think he is too pessimistic about his own school, Holy Cross.

    #11755

    toddcudd
    Participant

    Appreciate your posts on our board, 137. Nice insight on the author! What do you know about Loyola? They were an NCAA tourney team last year (or previous, maybe?).
    One exception: I don’t think anybody else lost what we did. I think we’re returning something like 30 pts/game. You guys are definitely runners-up in that category, but I bet the returning contribution isn’t quite as grim…

    #11758

    LU65
    Participant

    Lost thru Graduation (CJ, HG, GK, BJB):

    Points: 1262 or 55.7% of team total
    Rebounds: 1016 or 45.1% of team total
    Blocks: 50 or 47.6% of team total
    Minutes: 2697 or 43.5% of team total

    #11763
    Bison137
    Bison137
    Participant

    Loyola lost a lot:

    – Eric Etherly, a 6-7 All-MAAC PF who led them in rebounds and was neck-and-neck for their scoring lead.
    – Robert Olson, a good wing who was a dangerous shooter and third in scoring on the team.
    Anthony Winbush, a 6-7 PF who was a starter and their second best rebounder.
    – Julius Brooks, a 6-9 center who was one of their first players off the bench.

    Additionally all of Patsos’ recruits left after he took the Siena job. However GG Smith did manage to land a couple of decent recruits in the spring. Also they will add a transfer, Denzel Brito, who may be a solid player.

    On the plus side, they return wing Dylon Cormier, who was their top all-around player and who will definitely have a shot to make 1st team All-PL. Also they return starting PG RJ Williams, who was suspended the first half of last year, plus 6-9 part-time starter Jordan Latham, who is an OK player and good shot blocker.

    I think they have a shot to finish at the bottom of the PL first division. Currently I pick them for 6th place.

    #11764
    Bison137
    Bison137
    Participant

    Quote:

    Lost thru Graduation (CJ, HG, GK, BJB):

    Points: 1262 or 55.7% of team total
    Rebounds: 1016 or 45.1% of team total
    Blocks: 50 or 47.6% of team total
    Minutes: 2697 or 43.5% of team total

    – – – – – – – –

    Bucknell’s equivalent pcts for lost production:

    Points: 60.4%
    Rebs: 54.8%
    Blocks: 78.4%
    Minutes: 46.7%

    So unfortunately BU “leads” in all four categories. I didn’t list assists but with the Bison having lost their top two assist guys, the pct loss in that category is also significant.

    #11765
    RichH
    RichH
    Participant

    Pretty good preview. Kevin is very knowlegable about PL Bball. We may be more familiar with our new faces and justifiably optimistic but they are new faces replacing the best class LU has ever had,

    #11776

    toddcudd
    Participant

    I stand corrected – yet again. Looks like the Bison may have graduated even more productivity than we did. It’s still hard for me to fathom; even excluding CJ, who didn’t play in the PL season, we lost 3 of our top 4 scorers.
    I guess I’m just spoiled. Got used to knowing that the big 3 would be back, year after year. Makes this year feel very scary. I did not do that math on returning pts/game, but it does look like the Bison return even less than we do. Should be a very interesting season…

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