Army finshes their Pre-Patriot League play with their first home game after 7 road events by beating Dartmouth 67-47. This avenges a loss at Dartmouth last month 71-68. The team has shown a clear ability to score from the perimeter through 15 games . They enter league play against Colgate on Saturday with an 8-7 record. The Red Raiders are among a handful of teams nationally yet to win a game at 0-12. In other words, Saturday is a must win, even as a road game.
Army looks to be competitive for a 3-4 seed this season in Patriot League play. Team weaknesses of concern are high turnover ratio, over aggressiveness defensively which has lead to Army shooting approximately half as many free throws and their competition and finally, dangerously low free throw shooting percentage.
Team strengths year to date include much improved overall field goal shooting with depth in number of players showing consisitent ability to score from beyond the 3 point line. Team is young with only 2 seniors seeing significant time going into league play , led by #2 scorer Jeremy Hence who is having a breakout season averaging ~15 points and 6 rebounds/ game. Since fighting his way back into the starting line-up Sr. point guard Mitch McDonald has done a nice job with the ball averaging a better than 2-1 assist to turnover ratio.The sometimes very hot and sometimes cold Julian Simmons, Jr. agains leads the team in scoring at approx. 17 PPG.
Despite their size, rebounding is somewhat improved and overall ball movement has led to more assists. This is a very different Army team than past years. THis year's squad is not shy about shooting and playing a more up tempo game on both ends of the floor. Look for a 6-8 or 7-7 regular season. 7-7 would become Army's best record in league play since joining the Patriot League. Bucknell appears to be the class of the league entering play with American, Lehigh and Army appearing to be primary in pursuit. Navy has been slow out of the gate and ultimately appears to be a second division seed in the usually tight Patriot League.
Army looks to be competitive for a 3-4 seed this season in Patriot League play. Team weaknesses of concern are high turnover ratio, over aggressiveness defensively which has lead to Army shooting approximately half as many free throws and their competition and finally, dangerously low free throw shooting percentage.
Team strengths year to date include much improved overall field goal shooting with depth in number of players showing consisitent ability to score from beyond the 3 point line. Team is young with only 2 seniors seeing significant time going into league play , led by #2 scorer Jeremy Hence who is having a breakout season averaging ~15 points and 6 rebounds/ game. Since fighting his way back into the starting line-up Sr. point guard Mitch McDonald has done a nice job with the ball averaging a better than 2-1 assist to turnover ratio.The sometimes very hot and sometimes cold Julian Simmons, Jr. agains leads the team in scoring at approx. 17 PPG.
Despite their size, rebounding is somewhat improved and overall ball movement has led to more assists. This is a very different Army team than past years. THis year's squad is not shy about shooting and playing a more up tempo game on both ends of the floor. Look for a 6-8 or 7-7 regular season. 7-7 would become Army's best record in league play since joining the Patriot League. Bucknell appears to be the class of the league entering play with American, Lehigh and Army appearing to be primary in pursuit. Navy has been slow out of the gate and ultimately appears to be a second division seed in the usually tight Patriot League.
