Bison host after school special
(Originally posted: Thursday, 10:27 p.m.)
We'll skip the lengthy rant about the stupidity of playing the American at Bucknell game at 5 p.m. on a Friday just so nobody can see it on TV. We do feel compelled, though, to mention the same folks who will won't be able to get to Sojka in person at that ridiculous time will also not be able to get home to watch CSTV, assuming they are lucky enough to live in one of the half-dozen or so homes that actually get that channel.
Of course this scheduling is courtesy of the same league office that once tried to convince us that the tournament final slot at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon was good because people in the bars at happy hour would be able to watch.
At least ESPN2 is a real network, actually paying the league a rights fee.
OK, so we didn't exactly skip the rant. But it is not that lengthy.
If you are working late, or in a bar for happy hour that doesn't have CSTV, but does have internet access, you can always follow the action with the scoreboards below or on the Bison Sports Networks Webcast.
Patriot League scoreboards
ESPN | CBS Sportsline | PennLive.com | Yahoo!
American at Bucknell, 5 p.m.: Like we said, it's a shame this one is being played at such a dumbass time. It's the marquee matchup of the night.
Bucknell is badly in need of a win after losing three of the last four. A win over AU, one of the two teams the Bison are battling for the No. 2 seed in the tournament, and the possible pair of home games that come with it, makes it all the more important.
The good news for Bucknell is that they are finally back home in Sojka after four straight on the road. Bucknell is 7-1 at home this season, and has not lost a league game there since Abe Badmus was in high school.
Keeping that streak alive against American will not be easy. The Eagles lead the league in field goal and three-point shooting. AU won the first meeting between the two, taking a 68-59 decision in D.C. just two weeks ago.
AU's Andre Ingram, the league's top scorer, managed just 4 points on 1-for-13 shooting from the floor in that one. But AU's forwards, Raimonda Petrauskas (10),
Matej Cresnik (13) and Patrick Okpwae (8) combined for 31 points to pick up the slack. Cresnik was particularly troublesome, knocking down three three-pointers.
It's doubtful Ingram will have another night like that, but Bucknell can hope to hold Jason Thomas, who had 18 in the first game, and the forwards in check.
Offensively, Bucknell will need more from Kevin Bettencourt and Abe Badmus, who were a combined 2-for-12 the first time. And they need to get Chris McNaughton more involved in the offense than they have the last two weeks.
This is a pick 'em game, with Bucknell favored slightly because they are at home.
AU notes (will eventually be posted here) | Bucknell notes | USA Today matchup | Bucknell radio
Lafayette at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.: Ralph Willard worries about this weekend's "exhale games." This one is especially dangerous since the Crusaders are coming off three straight close, emotional road wins and facing a team they spanked two weeks ago in Easton. Adding to the concerns is the fact that Nate Lufkin and Greg Kinsey have been held out of practice all week with ankle problems.
It is hard to imagine this Lafayette team pulling off the upset in Worcester, but stranger things have happened (Army beating Navy for one). Holy Cross definitely has to guard against looking ahead to Sunday's game with Lehigh.
Lafayette notes | HC Notes | USA Today matchup | HC radio
Navy at Colgate, 7 p.m.: Navy's resurgent Midshipmen get their first road test since turning things around two weeks ago. That turnaround started with a win over Colgate in Alumni Hall, followed by a home win over Bucknell two days later.
A win here would pull the Midshipmen even with the Raiders for fifth place in the league standings.
Before they beat Colgate two weeks ago, that seemed unlikely. Now, this seems like anybody's game. Navy has won three of four and took league leading Holy Cross to the wire in the loss. If they play defense on the road the way they have been playing at home, it could be a long night for Colgate's perimeter snipers, who prefer the three-point jumper to going to the hole.
Then again, if Colgate's shooters get hot, there is not a team in the league they cannot beat.
Navy notes | Colgate notes | USA Today matchup | Gametracker | 'Gate radio | Navy Radio
Lehigh at Army, 7 p.m.: Knowing how contagious yawns can be, we wonder, if we yawn, then you yawn, then someone else yawns, and down the line, could it eventually be enough to make Lehigh fall asleep and get upset in West Point.
Nah, we didn't think so.
The Mountain Hawks will use this one to stretch their legs before climbing back on the bus for the ride to Worcester for Sunday's showdown.
Lehigh notes (pdf) | Army notes (pdf) | USA Today matchup | Gametracker
We'll skip the lengthy rant about the stupidity of playing the American at Bucknell game at 5 p.m. on a Friday just so nobody can see it on TV. We do feel compelled, though, to mention the same folks who will won't be able to get to Sojka in person at that ridiculous time will also not be able to get home to watch CSTV, assuming they are lucky enough to live in one of the half-dozen or so homes that actually get that channel.
Of course this scheduling is courtesy of the same league office that once tried to convince us that the tournament final slot at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon was good because people in the bars at happy hour would be able to watch.
At least ESPN2 is a real network, actually paying the league a rights fee.
OK, so we didn't exactly skip the rant. But it is not that lengthy.
If you are working late, or in a bar for happy hour that doesn't have CSTV, but does have internet access, you can always follow the action with the scoreboards below or on the Bison Sports Networks Webcast.
ESPN | CBS Sportsline | PennLive.com | Yahoo!
American at Bucknell, 5 p.m.: Like we said, it's a shame this one is being played at such a dumbass time. It's the marquee matchup of the night.
Bucknell is badly in need of a win after losing three of the last four. A win over AU, one of the two teams the Bison are battling for the No. 2 seed in the tournament, and the possible pair of home games that come with it, makes it all the more important.
The good news for Bucknell is that they are finally back home in Sojka after four straight on the road. Bucknell is 7-1 at home this season, and has not lost a league game there since Abe Badmus was in high school.
Keeping that streak alive against American will not be easy. The Eagles lead the league in field goal and three-point shooting. AU won the first meeting between the two, taking a 68-59 decision in D.C. just two weeks ago.
AU's Andre Ingram, the league's top scorer, managed just 4 points on 1-for-13 shooting from the floor in that one. But AU's forwards, Raimonda Petrauskas (10),
Matej Cresnik (13) and Patrick Okpwae (8) combined for 31 points to pick up the slack. Cresnik was particularly troublesome, knocking down three three-pointers.
It's doubtful Ingram will have another night like that, but Bucknell can hope to hold Jason Thomas, who had 18 in the first game, and the forwards in check.
Offensively, Bucknell will need more from Kevin Bettencourt and Abe Badmus, who were a combined 2-for-12 the first time. And they need to get Chris McNaughton more involved in the offense than they have the last two weeks.
This is a pick 'em game, with Bucknell favored slightly because they are at home.
AU notes (will eventually be posted here) | Bucknell notes | USA Today matchup | Bucknell radio
Lafayette at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.: Ralph Willard worries about this weekend's "exhale games." This one is especially dangerous since the Crusaders are coming off three straight close, emotional road wins and facing a team they spanked two weeks ago in Easton. Adding to the concerns is the fact that Nate Lufkin and Greg Kinsey have been held out of practice all week with ankle problems.
It is hard to imagine this Lafayette team pulling off the upset in Worcester, but stranger things have happened (Army beating Navy for one). Holy Cross definitely has to guard against looking ahead to Sunday's game with Lehigh.
Lafayette notes | HC Notes | USA Today matchup | HC radio
Navy at Colgate, 7 p.m.: Navy's resurgent Midshipmen get their first road test since turning things around two weeks ago. That turnaround started with a win over Colgate in Alumni Hall, followed by a home win over Bucknell two days later.
A win here would pull the Midshipmen even with the Raiders for fifth place in the league standings.
Before they beat Colgate two weeks ago, that seemed unlikely. Now, this seems like anybody's game. Navy has won three of four and took league leading Holy Cross to the wire in the loss. If they play defense on the road the way they have been playing at home, it could be a long night for Colgate's perimeter snipers, who prefer the three-point jumper to going to the hole.
Then again, if Colgate's shooters get hot, there is not a team in the league they cannot beat.
Navy notes | Colgate notes | USA Today matchup | Gametracker | 'Gate radio | Navy Radio
Lehigh at Army, 7 p.m.: Knowing how contagious yawns can be, we wonder, if we yawn, then you yawn, then someone else yawns, and down the line, could it eventually be enough to make Lehigh fall asleep and get upset in West Point.
Nah, we didn't think so.
The Mountain Hawks will use this one to stretch their legs before climbing back on the bus for the ride to Worcester for Sunday's showdown.
Lehigh notes (pdf) | Army notes (pdf) | USA Today matchup | Gametracker
