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Bucknell Absolutely Destroys Colgate to Win the Patriot League Tournament

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It’s times like these where I’m glad a mid-major is sending its best team to the NCAA Tournament. Bucknell absolutely dominated the Patriot League this year, winning the regular season by four games and then just completely destroying Colgate 83-54 in the title game tonight. I mean, it was so bad Bucknell was subbing starters out to get standing ovations with 5 minutes left in the game.

It was a little surprising because you can throw out the record book when these two teams meet. I mean look at the pure hatred here:

Here’s the crazy thing. Colgate shut down Zach Thomas – the best player on Bucknell and in the league. They held him to just five points and still gave up 83 points. That’s because Bucknell has guys like Stephen Brown who scored 22 points or Nate Sestina who scored 16 points tonight (he averages 6). This is a quality team and they have enough talent to step up if Thomas or Nana Foulland doesn’t have a great game.

As I mentioned in the preview blog, this Bucknell team is balanced. They rank in the top-150 in both AdjO and AdjD on KenPom. They don’t want to kill you from three, but tonight they showed they can win that way too, hitting 13 shots from behind the arc. They prefer to get the ball to the post and let Zach Thomas work 1v1 there or run a hi-lo with him and Foulland.

Bucknell did a damn good job of scheduling this nonconference as it opened the season 0-4 with losses at UNC, Maryland, UNC and Arkansas. It also played Vermont, Northeastern and St. Joe’s in the nonconference. The reason I say this is because Bucknell is a team that can 100% win a game in the NCAA Tournament with the right matchup. Bracketmatrix has them as a 14 seed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they possibly sneak up to the 13 line. If they hit some outside shots and Thomas plays the way he’s capable of, they can keep it close. Remember, Bucknell lost by just 6 to West Virginia last year in the NCAA Tournament.

13 in, 55 to go.

NCAA Tournament bids handed out: 

UNC Greensboro (SoCon) – projected 12/13 seed
Iona (MAAC) – projected 15/16 seed
Michigan (Big 10) – projected 3/4 seed
Murray State (OVC) – projected 13 seed
Loyola (MVC) – projected 12 seed
Radford (Big South) – projected 15/16 seed
Lipscomb (A-Sun) – projected 15/16 seed
Wright State (Horizon League) – projected 14/15 seed
LIU-Brooklyn (NEC) – projected 16 seed
College of Charleston (CAA) – projected 13/14 seed
Gonzaga (WCC) – projected 3/4 seed
South Dakota State (Summit) – projected 13/14 seed
Bucknell (Patriot) – projected 13/14 seed