2025 Patriot League Tournament Preview & Conference Awards

CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 16. Up next: The Patriot League Tournament.

It’s not the sexiest of Champ Week tournaments but the Patriot League Tournament will still result in one team getting an automatic bid to play in March Madness.

Lately, Colgate has run through this league, winning it in five of the last six seasons. But the Raiders enter this year as the 3 seed and with a miserable 13-18 overall record. Instead, Bucknell and American come in as the favorites, both going 13-5 in conference play. Colgate tied at 10-8 along with Boston U, Navy, and Army, so while the league will most likely only produce a 16 seed, there is a lot of competition to see who will play a potential 1 seed and try to be the next UMBC or Fairleigh Dickinson.

2025 Patriot League Awards

Player of the Year: Noah Williamson, Bucknell

Freshman of the Year: Max Green, Holy Cross

Transfer of the Year: Achile Spadone, Bucknell

Coach of the Year: John Griffin, Bucknell

First Team:

• G: Austin Benigni, Navy (18.3 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.2 RPG, 35.8 3P%)
• G: Jalen Rucker, Army (17.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.6 SPG)
• F: Matt Rogers, American (17.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 55.9 FG%, 40.9 3P%)
• C: Jeff Woodward, Colgate (14.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 BPG, 64.3 FG%)
• C: Noah Williamson, Bucknell (17.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG, 53.2 FG%)

Second Team:

• G: Josh Bascoe, Bucknell (15.7 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 39.3 3P%)
• G: Kyrone Alexander, Boston U (12.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG)
• G: Jalen Cox, Colgate (11.5 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.7 SPG, 48.8 FG%)
• F: Josh Scovens, Army (16.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.0 SPG)
• C: Justin Vander Baan, Lafayette (12.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.9 BPG)

2025 Patriot League Tournament Simulation

First Round – Tues., Mar. 4

10. Holy Cross (13-18, 5-13) at 7. Lafayette (12-19, 7-11) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

After some struggles in the beginning of conference play, Lafayette has played better, going 3-4 in their last seven. All four of those losses were by six points or fewer, but one did come to the Crusaders in overtime. With that being said, that’s the only Holy Cross win in their last six games and this game is in Lafayette’s building. I like the Leopards to advance.

Mat’s pick: 7. Lafayette

9. Lehigh (11-18, 6-12) at 8. Loyola-MD (11-18, 6-12) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Loyola swept the season series between these two but both have struggled throughout conference play. Weirdly enough, the Greyhounds’ only win in their last seven tries came against Colgate by 19 points. Still, once Keith Higgins went down for Lehigh, it swept their season under the rug.

Mat’s pick: 8. Loyola-MD

Quarterfinals – Thur., Mar. 6

8. Loyola-MD at 1. Bucknell (17-14, 13-5) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Loyola kept things close to the last time these teams played, and you can largely thank 10 steals and 9 three-pointers made. While it’s tough to beat a team three times, I’ll say Loyola will learn from their mistakes and not falter in the quarterfinals, but it could be another close contest.

Mat’s pick: 1. Bucknell

5. Navy (13-18, 10-8) at 4. Boston U (16-15, 10-8) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Oddly enough, Navy and Boston U split the season series with Navy winning by 20 and the Terriers taking game one by 15. They’re also the top two rebounding teams in the conference and two of the best defensive teams in the conference. However, where Navy can set itself apart is on offense. Austin Benigni is the type of player who can take over games and averaged 22 against Boston U in the regular season. I like that to continue.

Mat’s pick: 5. Navy

6. Army (16-14, 10-8) at 3. Colgate (13-18, 10-8) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

Don’t let Colgate’s record fool you – they got back on track in conference play and have been closer to the Raiders team we’re used to seeing once Jeff Woodward returned fully during Patriot League play. The Colgate big man had five 20-point outings this season, including a 22-point game against Army. With Army being the worst defensive team in the league, this seems like a no-brainer of a pick.

Mat’s pick: 3. Colgate

7. Lafayette at 2. American (19-12, 13-5) – 7 p.m. on ESPN+

As the 7 seed, it’s easy to overlook Lafayette, but we can’t overlook 7-footer Justin Vander Baan. He’s averaging 12.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 2.9 BPG on the season, but in Patriot League play, he’s putting up 12.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and a full 3.0 BPG. Vander Baan had to get over an early season injury, but he’s been at his best in conference. Against American, he averaged 12.5 PPG, 8 RPG, and 1.0 BPG. If he can be the paint presence he’s been, he could be a difference maker.

For American, it’s about revisiting their play in late January to early February. The Eagles won seven straight games and were playing great offensive basketball. However, they haven’t as of late and for that reason, I’m picking the upset!

Mat’s pick: 7. Lafayette

Semifinals – Sun., Mar. 9

5. Navy at 1. Bucknell – TBD on CBSSN

Bucknell took down Navy twice in the regular season, but did not have an answer for Austin Benigni. Navy’s top scorer averaged 22 PPG in the two contests, and did most of his damage from the line, going 14-16 there. For a Navy team that also takes better care of the basketball, I like another upset here to end Bucknell’s season.

Mat’s pick: 5. Navy

7. Lafayette at 3. Colgate – TBD on CBSSN

Whereas Justin Vander Baan was a big reason for taking Lafayette over American, I can’t see him having the same impact against Jeff Woodward and Colgate. They are two of the best big men in this league and I see them canceling each other out. In fact, the first time they met, Woodward and Vander Baan both had 17 points, literally canceling each other out as the rest of Colgate went to work. In game two, both players had quieter games but I can’t see that coming true in a potential game three.

Mat’s pick: 3. Colgate

Championship – Wed., Mar. 12

5. Navy at 3. Colgate – 7 p.m. on CBSSN

For me, this game comes down to experience. While Benigni and Navy would be a feel-good story, Matt Langel and Colgate know how to get it done in March. I like Colgate to win the Patriot League Tournament and head back to the big dance.

Mat’s pick: 3. Colgate