Every league preaches parity once conference season arrives. "There's so much talent in this league that any team could win the conference crown," said every coach in America once league play begins. It's not always true because most conferences only feature a handful of teams that can make a legit run.
Well, that parity thing in the Patriot League is real. Last season, five teams finished .500 or better. Even Army, which collapsed after January, collected six conference wins. Lafayette, a 9-9 squad in Patriot League play, won the conference tournament and automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after defeating American (8-10) in the title game.
And most of the conference's key players are back, including Lehigh's Tim Kempton., the reigning Patriot League player of year. The top players for Bucknell, which won its fourth regular season title in five years in 2014-15, return. Army and Boston University are dangerous too. Can Lafayette and American build on their tourney runs to shock the field? Anything seems possible in this league.
Favorite
If Lehigh had avoided that 1-4 start in league, it would have captured the regular-season crown. The Mountain Hawks are more mature now, and they're the league's most talented team. Kempton will build on last year's numbers (15.3 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game). Kahron Ross is one of six top scorers who are back (along with Indiana prep standout Matt Holba). Let's call Lehigh the favorite. Maybe. You could make the same case for Bucknell, the defending champs who will be led by all-league senior guard Chris Hass (16 PPG).
Sleeper
Boston University possessed the offensive strength to win 11 (or more) games last season in league play. The Terriers registered a 9-9 record in conference play because their defense was a joke on most nights (317th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per Kenpom.com). If the Terriers can correct that discrepancy between their efforts on opposing ends of the floor, they could certainly slide into the championship conversation. Cedric Hankerson, a Patriot League first-teamer who averaged 15.9 PPG, is a conference player of the year contender again. And he's backed by the same crew from last year. BU could change the race.
Team that could fall on its face
You could call this the "Remember what happened to Army last year?" category. The Black Knights looked solid in the first three months of the season. And then February arrived. The Black Knights lost nine of their last 10 games in 2014-15. Yes, they have Kyle Wilson (17.5 PPG) and a veteran nucleus. But the Black Knights have a lot of work to do to erase the stench from last season's messy finish.
Top pro prospect
Tim Kempton, Lehigh
In recent years, Mike Muscala (Bucknell) and C.J. McCollum (Lehigh) went from Patriot League standouts to NBA rosters. Could Kempton, a 6-10 Muscala-type, follow them to the pros? His combination of size, touch, rebounding ability and pedigree should all help. His father, Tim Kempton Sr., was a star at Notre Dame before he played in the NBA for nearly a decade. Kempton has the tools, and he knows how hard he'll have to work to get there because of his father's experience.
Projected all-conference team
G: Chris Hass, Bucknell Bison
G: Cedric Hankerson, Boston University
F: Kyle Wilson, Army
F: Marko Vasic, American Eagles
C: Tim Kempton, Lehigh