Army West Point Athletics
Army Slated 7th in Patriot League Preseason Poll
October 18, 2017 | Men's Basketball
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Army West Point men's basketball team was projected to finish seventh in this year's Patriot League preseason poll.
The Black Knights garnered 66 points after first-year ahead coach Jimmy Allen guided his squad to a notable rebuilding year in 2016-17.
The reigning Patriot League Champions Bucknell were selected as the overwhelming favorite, receiving 18 first-place votes to finish in front of Boston University, who garnered the remaining two votes.
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The Bison return all five starters from last season's league championship team and earned the maximum 162 points. The Terriers received 141 points and Navy finished third with 120 points. Lehigh, who played in the league championship game last season, finished fourth in the voting with 108 points, while Colgate rounds out the top-five with 104 points. Loyola Maryland (78), Army West Point (68), Holy Cross (48), American (39) and Lafayette (27) round out the preseason poll.
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Allen, in his first season at the helm of the Black Knights, helped the program surpass expectations for a squad that had graduated its entire starting five one year prior. Junior guard Jordan Fox (12.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg) stepped up to lead the young squad, while freshman guard Tommy Funk (9.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.8 apg) finished among the League's assist leaders and was named to the all-rookie team. Sophomore forward Matt Wilson averaged 9.2 points per game and shot at an impressive .640 clip, while junior forwards John Emezie and Luke Morrison adjusted to bigger minutes, both averaging 8.9 points per game last season. This season Allen returns four starters and 7-of-9 players that averaged double-digit minutes last season.
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Fox and Funk did earn preseason praise in another poll though as College Sports Madness selected them to the third and fourth team, respectively.Â
Army kicks off its 2017-18 season Nov. 10 when it heads to Hofstra for a 7 p.m. tip with the Pride. Live stats and video will be available for this contest.
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Voting for the Patriot League men's basketball preseason poll, player of the year and all-League team was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors, who were not permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
2017-18 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
2017-18 Patriot League MBB Preseason Player of the Year
Nana Foulland, Bucknell, Sr., C
2017-18 Patriot League MBB Preseason All-League Team
Nana Foulland, Bucknell,       Sr., C
Zach Thomas,   Bucknell,       Sr., F
Andre Walker,  Loyola Maryland, Sr., G
Kahron Ross,   Lehigh,         Sr., G
Shawn Anderson, Navy,           Sr., G
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The Black Knights garnered 66 points after first-year ahead coach Jimmy Allen guided his squad to a notable rebuilding year in 2016-17.
The reigning Patriot League Champions Bucknell were selected as the overwhelming favorite, receiving 18 first-place votes to finish in front of Boston University, who garnered the remaining two votes.
Â
The Bison return all five starters from last season's league championship team and earned the maximum 162 points. The Terriers received 141 points and Navy finished third with 120 points. Lehigh, who played in the league championship game last season, finished fourth in the voting with 108 points, while Colgate rounds out the top-five with 104 points. Loyola Maryland (78), Army West Point (68), Holy Cross (48), American (39) and Lafayette (27) round out the preseason poll.
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Allen, in his first season at the helm of the Black Knights, helped the program surpass expectations for a squad that had graduated its entire starting five one year prior. Junior guard Jordan Fox (12.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.6 apg) stepped up to lead the young squad, while freshman guard Tommy Funk (9.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.8 apg) finished among the League's assist leaders and was named to the all-rookie team. Sophomore forward Matt Wilson averaged 9.2 points per game and shot at an impressive .640 clip, while junior forwards John Emezie and Luke Morrison adjusted to bigger minutes, both averaging 8.9 points per game last season. This season Allen returns four starters and 7-of-9 players that averaged double-digit minutes last season.
Â
Fox and Funk did earn preseason praise in another poll though as College Sports Madness selected them to the third and fourth team, respectively.Â
Army kicks off its 2017-18 season Nov. 10 when it heads to Hofstra for a 7 p.m. tip with the Pride. Live stats and video will be available for this contest.
Â
Voting for the Patriot League men's basketball preseason poll, player of the year and all-League team was conducted by League head coaches and sports information directors, who were not permitted to vote for their own team or student-athletes.
2017-18 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
- Bucknell,         162 (18 first-place votes)
- Boston University, 141 (2)
- Navy, Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 120
- Lehigh,           108
- Colgate,          104
- Loyola Maryland   78
- Army West Point,  66
- Holy Cross,       48
- American,         39
- Lafayette,        27
2017-18 Patriot League MBB Preseason Player of the Year
Nana Foulland, Bucknell, Sr., C
2017-18 Patriot League MBB Preseason All-League Team
Nana Foulland, Bucknell,       Sr., C
Zach Thomas,   Bucknell,       Sr., F
Andre Walker,  Loyola Maryland, Sr., G
Kahron Ross,   Lehigh,         Sr., G
Shawn Anderson, Navy,           Sr., G
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Players Mentioned
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