BALTIMORE, Md. (10/29/09) – The Colgate men’s basketball team was picked fifth in the 2010 Patriot League preseason coaches and sports information directors poll, it was announced on Thursday during media day at the ESPNZone.
Holy Cross notched 13 first-place votes and 95 points overall to claim the top spot, and were followed in order by Lehigh (78), Bucknell (63), Army (59), Colgate (51), American (45), Navy (43) and Lafayette (14).
The Raiders made the Patriot League semifinals for the second straight time last season, and have five starters back in the lineup. That group includes the top three scorers from last year, as
Mike Venezia (10.8 ppg),
Ben Jonson (10.4) and
Yaw Gyawu (10.2) all averaged in double figures. The Raiders also bring back senior guard/forward
Kyle Roemer, a Second-Team All-Patriot League pick in 2007-08 who missed the 2008-09 season with an injury.
The Raiders open the season on the road in the 2009 Dicks Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off against Connecticut on ESPNU (Nov. 16) at 9 p.m. The Raiders will play four games in preseason NIT, before the home opener against St. Francis (N.Y.) on November 28.
2009 NIT Season Tip-Off Bracket