Patriot League Men's Basketball Notebook (.PDF)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Nine Patriot League squads will be in action when the 2024-25 regular season tips off on Monday, with League teams playing 21 games through Sunday, Nov. 10. Fourteen games will be available live on the ESPN family of networks, including 12 on ESPN+.
 
On opening night, Lehigh takes on Northwestern on Peacock (8 p.m.), with Lafayette playing Villanova on FS1 (FS1). Holy Cross travels to Wisconsin for an 8 p.m. tip-off on BTN+.
 
For more information on Patriot League men’s basketball dates, times and coverage, visit the men’s basketball composite schedule on the League’s official website - www.PatriotLeague.org.
 
COLGATE EARNS TOP SPOT IN 2024-25 PATRIOT LEAGUE PRESEASON MEN’S BASKETBALL POLL
Four-time defending Patriot League champion Colgate finished atop the 2024-25 preseason poll. The Raiders received 156 points and 14 first-place votes. American placed second with 144 points and four first-place votes. Boston University, who advanced to the semifinal round of last season’s League championship, collected 120 points and two first-place votes. Fellow 2023-24 semifinalist Bucknell (115) and League runner-up Lehigh (103) rounded out the top five.
 
ROGERS LEADS FIVE PRESEASON ALL-PATRIOT LEAGUE SELECTIONS
American Sr. F Matt Rogers was named the Patriot League Men’s Basketball Preseason Player and voted on by the League’s 10 men’s basketball coaches in October. Rogers is a two-time All-League selection, having earned first-team honors last season after averaging 16.3 points and 6.2 rebounds. He is joined on the five-member preseason All-League squad by Boston University Gr. G Miles Brewster (10.8 ppg, 3.3 apg), Bucknell Jr. C Noah Williamson (12.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Lehigh Sr. G Tyler Whitney-Sidney (15.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Navy Jr. G Austin Benigni (17.0 ppg, 3.8 apg).
 
RETURNING SCORING LEADERS
Three of the Patriot League’s five leading scorers return to their respective teams for the 2024-25 season. Navy Jr. G Austin Benigni, a 2023-24 All-League honoree, is the League’s leading returning scorer after averaging 17.0 points per game last season. Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year Matt Rogers (16.3 ppg) ranked third among the League scoring leaders last season, while Lehigh Sr. G Tyler Whitney-Sidney (15.2 ppg) finished last season fifth among the League leaders. Bucknell Jr. C Noah Williamson (12.3 ppg), American Sr. G Elijah Stephens (12.1 ppg) and Army West Point So. G Josh Scovens (12.0 ppg) all ranked among the League’s top 10 in scoring.
 
TOP PLAYMAKERS RETURNING TO PATRIOT LEAGUE
American’s Stephens (4.9 apg) ranked second in the Patriot League in assists and is 41st in League history with 352 career assists entering the 2024-25. The League will see the return of four of last season’s best playmakers. Bucknell Sr. G Elvin Edmonds IV was third in the League, averaging 4.4 assists per game last season, while Navy’s Benigni averaged 3.8 assists per game. Lafayette So. G Mark Butler averaged 3.7 assists per game and led the League with a 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio, good for 27th in NCAA DI.
 
RIM PROTECTORS BACK IN THE FOLD AT LAFAYETTE AND HOLY CROSS
Two of last season’s top 25 shot blockers in NCAA DI return to their respective Patriot League squads. Lafayette Sr. C Justin Vander Baan ranked 22nd in NCAA DI with 2.16 blocked shots per game. Reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Caleb Kenny (Sr. F) of Holy Cross finished 24th with 2.15 bpg. Vander Baan blocked at least one shot in 27 of the Leopards’ 29 games this season, including a career-high six vs. Navy. Kenney averaged 2.8 bpg, the best mark in the PL. His seven blocks vs. BU was the highest single-game mark in the League in 2023-24.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE 1,000-POINT CLUB
Three Patriot League men’s basketball student-athletes enter the 2024-25 season as members of the 1,000-point club. American Gr. F Matt Rogers is the League’s active leading scorer and 90th in League history with 1,270 career points. Lehigh’s backcourt features two 1,000-point scorers, with Keith Higgins Jr. (1,048) and Tyler Whitney-Sidney (1,008) ranking 141st and 165th in League history.
PL Active 1,000-Point Scorers
90. Matt Rogers, American, 1,270
141. Keith Higgins Jr., Lehigh, 1,048
165. Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Lehigh, 1,008
 
2024-25 Patriot League Men’s Basketball Team Capsules
(Teams are listed by order of finish from the 2024-25 Patriot League Preseason Poll)
 
1. Colgate Raiders
Head Coach: Matt Langel
Years at Colgate/Overall: 14th/14th
Colgate Game Notes| 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
2. American Eagles
Head Coach: Duane Simpkins
Years at American/Overall: 2nd/2nd
All-League Returners: Matt Rogers, Gr., F (1st); Elijah Stephens, Sr., G (2nd, All-Defense); Matt Mayock, So., F (All-Rookie)
American Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
3. Boston University Terriers
Head Coach: Joe Jones
Years at Boston University/Overall: 14th/21st
All-League Returners: Miles Brewster, Gr., G (2nd, All-Defense); Kyrone Alexander, So., G (All-Rookie)
Boston University Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
4. Bucknell Bison
Head Coach: John Griffin III
Years at Bucknell/Overall: 2nd/2nd
All-League Returners: Noah Williamson, Jr., C (3rd)
Bucknell Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
5. Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Head Coach: Dr. Brett Reed
Years at Lehigh/Overall: 18th/18th
All-League Returners: Tyler Whitney-Sidney (1st)
Lehigh Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
6. Lafayette Leopards
Head Coach: Mike McGarvey
Years at Lafayette/Overall: 2nd/6th
All-League Returners: Devin Hines, Sr., G (3rd); Justin Vander Baan, Sr., C (3rd, All-Defense); Mark Butler, So., G (All-Rookie)
Lafayette Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  

7. Army West Point Black Knights
Head Coach: Kevin Kuwik
Years at Army/Overall: 2nd/2nd
All-League Returners: Ryan Curry, So., G (All-Rookie); Josh Scovens (Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie)
Army West Point Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
8. Navy Midshipmen
Head Coach: Ed DeChellis
Years at Navy/Overall: 14th/29th
All-League Returners: Austin Benigni, Jr., G (2nd); Donovan Draper, Jr., F (All-Defense)
Navy Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
9. Holy Cross Crusaders
Head Coach: Dave Paulsen
Years at Holy Cross/Overall: 2nd/29th
All-League Returners: Caleb Kenney, Sr., F (Defensive Player of the Year; 2nd, All-Defense)
Holy Cross Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  
 
10. Loyola Maryland Greyhounds
Head Coach: Josh Loeffler
Years at Loyola Maryland/Overall: 1st/9th
Loyola Maryland Season Preview | 2024-25 Schedule | 2023-24 Stats  


ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.