March 23, 2004
2003-04 Patriot League President's Cup Update (Through 13 Sports)
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Bucknell's strong winter season, which included two team championships, a second-place finish and a third-place finish in six sports, propelled the Bison into first place in the 2003-04 chase for the Patriot League Presidents' Cup. Bucknell has won the Presidents' Cup 10 times in the 13-year history of the Patriot League, including six-straight years.
Bucknell, which won team titles in women's swimming & diving and indoor track & field, gained 39.25 points in six winter sports to raise its total for the year to 76.50, taking first place away from American. BU also finished second in men's swimming & diving and third in indoor track & field.
For the second-straight year, American led after the fall season and is still the top challenger to the Bison entering the spring season. AU had 40 points in the fall and picked up 30 points in the winter, highlighted by a pair of second-place finishes in men's and women's basketball.
Moving up one spot to third place entering the spring season is Navy, which matched Bucknell's winter performance with championships in men's swimming & diving and indoor track & field, a second-place trophy in women's indoor track & field and a third-place finish in women's swimming & diving. The Mids are poised to top their best previous run at the Patriot League Presidents' Cup, which was a fifth-place finish in 1999-00 with 70 points.
Colgate (54.00), Lehigh (53.75) and Army (53.50) are battling for the fourth spot heading into the spring season, followed by Lafayette (36.75) and Holy Cross (30.00). Colgate was aided by its first PL women's basketball championship and a second-place finish in women's swimming & diving. Lehigh finished among the top five teams in all six winter sports, including the first men's basketball title in 14 Patriot League seasons.
After six sports in the Men Presidents' Cup standings, Bucknell (35.25) holds a slim lead over Lehigh (34.25). Navy (28.75) and American (26.00) are the next challengers to the Bison. Bucknell is the defending Men's Presidents' Cup champion, but has only won three men's titles in the 13-year history of the League. Army has traditionally been strong in the men's sports, claiming the trophy eight times since 1993.
Through seven fall and winter sports, American (44.00) continues to lead the Women's Presidents' Cup chase, but Bucknell (41.25) has cut AU's lead from nearly 10 points after the fall season to less than three points heading into the spring. Navy (32.75), Army (31.25), Colgate (30.75) and Lehigh (28.50) are bunched in the middle of the pack. Bucknell has won nine Women's Presidents' Cup crowns, including the last six.
Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular-season and post-season. In cross country, football, golf, swimming & diving and track & field, the points are awarded on the final team standings. In team sports with post-season tournaments, such as basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball, points are awarded based on a combination of the League championship tournament and regular-season standings.
2003-04 Presidents' Cup Standings
(Through 13 Fall & Winter Sports)
OVERALL STANDINGS
Institution Points
1. Bucknell (13) 76.50
2. American (12) 70.00
3. Navy (11) 61.50
4. Colgate (13) 54.00
5. Lehigh (13) 53.75
6. Army (11) 53.50
7. Lafayette (13) 36.75
8. Holy Cross (13) 30.00
MEN'S STANDINGS
1. Bucknell (6) 35.25
2. Lehigh (6) 34.25
3. Navy (5) 28.75
4. American (5) 26.00
5. Colgate (6) 23.25
6. Army (5) 22.25
7. Lafayette (6) 20.50
8. Holy Cross (6) 14.25
WOMEN'S STANDINGS
1. American (7) 44.00
2. Bucknell (7) 41.25
3. Navy (6) 32.75
4. Army (6) 31.25
5. Colgate (7) 30.75
6. Lehigh (7 28.50
7. Lafayette (7) 16.25
8. Holy Cross (7) 15.75
(#)-number of Patriot League sports