Patriot League Tourney Preview

I've said all I can say about American University for now, but, briefly....

Postseason matchups: No. 1 American hosts No. 8 Holy Cross, 2 Navy hosts No. 7 Bucknell, No. 3 Colgate hosts No. 6 Lafayette and No. 4 Lehigh hosts No. 5 Army. All games are at 7 or 7:30 pm. Semifinals are Sunday, and the final is next Friday at 4:45 pm, naturally. The 2:37 am slot was apparently spoken for.

Past history: This year's one, four and five seeds have claimed a combined one Patriot League championship. The seven and eight seeds have claimed a combined seven titles, including six this decade. American has been at least to the semis six years in a row. Navy hasn't been in the semis since 2000-'01.

Parity: Five of the league's eight teams finished with a record of either 7-7 or 6-8.

Passion: I've stared at these Lafayette t-shirts for 20 minutes, and I still can't figure it out. Is "Beat" backwards or is "Lehigh" backwards? And why? Also, Colgate coach Emmett Davis "is looking for a decade of pent-up excitement to rock Cotterell Court" tonight.

Also, Lafayette is apparently known to friends as the 'Pards, which is really remarkable.

Also, Lehigh's Bryan White was kept off the all-PL first team, and told a local newspaper that "somebody's got to pay."

Also, props to the Navy fans for studying during games.

Poll implications: American has been ranked in the Atlantic 11 for 11 of 17 weeks this season, going as high as seven (active) and as low as 11. The Eagles have been ranked nine of the past 10 weeks. Navy has yet to crack the rankings.

Predictions: The Morning Call has the two and three seeds going down tonight. Kyle Whelliston says don't count out Holy Cross or Bucknell. Fox Sports's Jeff Goodman picks Navy. I don't make predictions, except to predict that Navy-AU for a tournament berth Friday afternoon would be one of the more intense moments of John Feinstein's life.

By Dan Steinberg |  March 5, 2008; 3:03 PM ET  | Category:  College Basketball
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Posted by: John Jr | March 5, 2008 5:39 PM

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