March 1, 2002
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The calendar has flipped to March, and the madness begins today with four Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal games at Show Place Arena. For the first time ever, the tournament's first two rounds will be played at a neutral site. Bucknell has drawn the No. 3 seed in the tourney and a first-round date with No. 6 Army. The Bison and Black Knights have a brief postseason history together. Bucknell is 2-1 against Army in Patriot League Tournament play, with the Orange and Blue prevailing in 1991 (in the first-ever PL Tournament) and 1992. Army, a No. 7 seed, shocked Bucknell in the first round of the 1995 tournament. Both teams enter the postseason playing well. Despite a slip at Lehigh on the final day of the regular season, the Bison have won four of their last six games. Army is coming off a 73-63 win over arch-rival Navy, the Black Knights' first regular-season win over the Midshipmen since 1992.
The State of the Bison
Despite Sunday's 75-64 loss at Lehigh, Bucknell enters the Patriot League Tournament playing solid basketball. The Bison have won two of their last three and four of their last six games, including a thrilling 75-73 triumph at Holy Cross on Feb. 20. Plagued by injuries throughout the year, Bucknell is finally healthy, save for some typical late-season bumps and bruises. Senior guard Bryan Bailey has played a major role in the Bison's resurgence. Since returning from a knee injury at Colgate on Jan. 23, Bailey has averaged 20.0 ppg., and led the Herd to a 6-4 record.
Scouting Army
The Black Knighs enter the tournament off an emotional 73-63 victory over Navy last Saturday. Not only did the win snap a 13-game losing streak with their arch-rivals, but it broke a tie with the Midshipmen and gave Army the No. 6 seed in the tournament, its highest since 1998-99 (No. 5). The veteran Black Knights feature seven seniors, three of whom start. The brother tandem of Chris and J.P. Spatola provide one of the Patriot League's premier backcourts. Chris led the league in scoring for the second year in a row at 16.7 ppg., while J.P.'s 133 assists rank second in the conference. Both Spatolas have unlimited range, as the duo combined for 134 3-pointers this season, including a league-high 70 from Chris. Charles Woodruff is among the top forwards in the Patriot League. The senior shot 54.2% from the floor and averaged 16.3 ppg., second in the PL to Chris Spatola. Senior forward Jonté Harrell (4.7 ppg., 6.4 rpg.) and junior forward Matt Collins (3.0 ppg.) are also expected to start.
Series Notes
Including its two three-point victories over Army this season, Bucknell holds a 24-14 lead in a series that originated in 1929. Army won the first 10 series meetings, and the Bison are 24-4 since 1988-89 and 23-4 since the two teams joined the Patriot League.
Bucknell vs. Army in the PL Tournament
Today the Bison and Black Knights will meet for the fourth time in Patriot League Tournament play. Bucknell captured first-round decisions in each of the league's first two tournaments in 1991 (67-49) and 1992 (74-55). Playing on its home floor in the 1995 tournament quarterfinals, seventh-seeded Army shocked Bucknell 94-78 behind an incredible 43-point performance from guard Mark Leuking.
Bucknell vs. Army this Season
Bucknell swept a pair of regular-season contests from Army this season, but it was hardly easy. Jan. 16 in Davis Gym, Bucknell trailed 28-18 at halftime but stormed from behind for a 56-53 win. Feb. 9 at West Point, it was the opposite scenario - the Bison built a 29-18 halftime cushion but had to withstand a furious Black Knight comeback before prevailing 65-62. Both games ended with Chris Spatola's potential game-tying 3-point shots in the air as the buzzer sounded. Boakai Lalugba was tremendous for the Bison, scoring 25 points in both games on 21 of 32 shooting from the field. Bryan Bailey, who did not play in the first meeting, scored 23 in the February clash. Charles Woodruff did the most damage for Army, scoring 22 and 24 points on 21 of 37 shooting. Bucknell guards did a nice job on the Spatola Brothers, holding them to a total of 42 points on 14 of 44 (.318) shooting.
Bison Successful Against the Academies
Bucknell won 3 of 4 games with the Patriot League service academies this season, including a sweep of Army. It was the Herd's best regular-season mark against the academies since going 3-1 in 1998-99. Bucknell last swept Army and Navy in 1992-93.
Bison as a No. 3 Seed
Bucknell has been the No. 3 seed at the Patriot League Tournament three times, all in succession in 1998, 1999 and 2000. The Bison defeated No. 6 Holy Cross in the opening round in both 1998 (60-56) and 1999 (76-52), but lost to No. 6 Lehigh (73-62) in 2000.
Herd Seeking to Become First No. 3 Seed to Win PL Title
In the 11-year history of the Patriot League Tournament, No. 3 seeds are a combined 14-11. The No. 3 seed has advanced to the championship game five times (Holy Cross '91, Colgate '94, Navy '95, Holy Cross '96, Bucknell '99) but is 0-5. In fact, no seed lower than No. 2 has ever won the Patriot League title. Moreover, the No. 3 seed has won its first-round game over the No. 6 seed in 9 of 11 years. The two losses have each come in the last two years, with Bucknell having a hand in both. The third-seeded Bison lost to Lehigh in 2000, then as the No. 6 seed last season (their lowest seed ever) knocked off Colgate in the opening round.
How the Bison Got the No. 3 Seed
Bucknell actually finished the regular season in a three-way tie for third place with Lafayette and Colgate. According to Patriot League tiebreaker procedures, a three-way tie is broken by head-to-head records among the teams in the tie. Bucknell was 3-1 this season against the Raiders and Leopards, while Colgate was 2-2 and Lafayette 1-3. Thus, Bucknell gained the No. 3 seed, Colgate the No. 4 seed and Lafayette the No. 5.
Bucknell Tournament History
Bucknell has an all-time record of 12-11 in 11 Patriot League Tournaments. The Bison have reached the championship game four times and reached at least the semifinals in 8 of 11 years. Bucknell is one of only four teams (Navy 13-7, Colgate 12-9, Holy Cross 11-9) to have a winning tournament record, but the Bison are still looking for their first Patriot League championship.
Bucknell at Neutral Sites
The Bison are 1-1 at neutral sites this season, both coming in consolation games of early season tournaments. On Nov. 17, Bucknell lost to Vermont 77-60 at the Mogehan Sun Classic at Central Connecticut State. On. Dec. 29, the Orange & Blue defeated Hofstra 68-60 to claim third place at the USF Shootout at South Florida. Under Pat Flannery, the Bison are 12-11 at neutral sites.
Bison First to Capture 100th PL Win
No Patriot League team has won more regular-season conference games than Bucknell since the start of league play in 1990-91, and Feb. 9 the Bison reached a milestone by becoming the first team to register 100 regular-season league wins. The Bison carry a 102-52 (.662) conference record following their 10th winning season in 12 years.
Bryan Bailey Named PL Player of the Week
After averaging 25.5 points in two games last week, Bucknell senior guard Bryan Bailey earned the final Patriot League Player of the Week honor of the 2001-02 season on Monday. For Bailey it was his first-ever Player of the Week citation, coming in the final opportunity of his career. Last week he scored 30 points in a 75-73 road victory over Holy Cross, then added 21 in a 75-64 loss at Lehigh. He also averaged 4.0 rpg. and had a 9-1 assist-turnover ratio for the week.
Bailey Hits 20 in Five in a Row
Bryan Bailey has been lighting up the scoring column of late, reaching the 20-point plateau in five straight games. He is the first Bison to achieve that feat since J.R. Holden late in the 1996-97 season.
