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Patriot League overview

Midshipmen eager for return to the top

Special to CNNSI.com

Senior floor leader Tim Bieg is eyeing another NCAA trip for Lafayette. Rick Stewart/Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Navy 2. Lafayette 3. Bucknell 4. Lehigh 5. Colgate 6. Holy Cross 7. Army

Top storylines

American University is leaving the Colonial Athletic Association to become the Patriot League's eighth member. The Eagles begin Patriot play next season. The move was criticized by many American students, who felt the school was moving to an inferior athletic conference.

One person who was happy, though, was Navy head coach Don DeVoe. Shortly after his Mids were drilled by Lafayette in the Patriot title game last March, a frustrated DeVoe stood in the press room at the Kirby Center and strongly emphasized the need for the league to recruit an eighth member so that the issue of which team receives a first-round bye in the tournament would be avoided. A couple of months later, Patriot officials made the American announcement. Do you really have that kind of pull, coach? "I'm sure that was well in the works before I said those words," DeVoe said. "I salute them." He adds that the next critical issue is to secure a neutral site for the league tournament.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Chris Williams, F, Navy • Williams (15.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.9 spg), a 6-4 senior, was the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder. Explosively quick and with the ability to play inside and outside, he is exceptionally athletic for the more deliberately paced Patriot League. Tyson Whitfield, G, Lafayette • Whitfield (12.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 spg), a 6-4 senior, is a rather average shooter until you spot him up beyond the arc, where he proceeds to dazzle. He hit for a league-leading 91-of-213 from the three-point line, good for .427, and provided help on the backboard as well. Josh Sankes, C, Holy Cross • Former Rutgers transfer Sankes played very well at center, setting school records for blocks in a game and a season and being voted to the All-Patriot League second team.

Top Newcomer

Alex Jensen, G, Lehigh • Lehigh is high on 6-2 freshman Jensen, of Mystic, Conn., an All-Connecticut first-team pick who averaged 27 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals per game as a senior at Stonington High School.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Don DeVoe, Navy • DeVoe's team gave him 23 wins last year that boosted his record to 470-314. Navy is picked to take the conference championship this year.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Pat Harris, Army • Harris' program has not seen very many fun times lately. With so many low moments in recent memory, identifying a nadir is difficult, but last season (5-23, 2-10) surely merits consideration.

Mark Your Calendar

Jan. 17, Lafayette at Navy • The chase for the league championship gets off to a fast start. Feb. 11, Navy at Lafayette • The league championship should be on the line. Feb. 13, Navy at Bucknell • Bucknell could make a statement here.

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