Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Basketball Picked Second, Muscala Preseason All-Patriot League
10/28/2010 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 28, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The 2010-11 Patriot League men's basketball preseason poll was the closest in league history, and Bucknell was picked a close second by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, it was announced Thursday at the annual Patriot League Media Day, held at Green Pond Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. The Bison garnered three first-place votes and 76 points, just three behind preseason favorite American.
The top five teams in the poll were separated by a mere 10 points, and all five earned at least two of the 14 first-place votes. American received seven first-place votes and 79 points, narrowly edging out Bucknell, which was last year's regular-season runner-up. Lafayette (73), Holy Cross (70) and Lehigh (69) were picked third through fifth, respectively, and each garnered two first-place nods. Navy (35), Colgate (31) and Army (15) rounded out the poll.
The 2010-11 Preseason All-Patriot League Team was also announced Thursday, and Bucknell sophomore Mike Muscala (Roseville, Minn./Roseville) was one of the six players selected. He joined Holy Cross' Andrew Keister, Lehigh's C.J. McCollum, Lafayette's Jared Mintz, American's Vlad Moldoveanu and Navy's Jordan Sugars on the squad. McCollum was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year.
Muscala made both the All-Patriot League Second Team and the Patriot League All-Rookie Team last year, making him one of only four freshmen in league history to earn an all-league honor. Muscala averaged 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and he led the league with a Bucknell rookie-record 65 blocked shots. He averaged over 13 points per game in league play, including a season-high 23 points in a home win over Lafayette.
Bucknell returns all five starters and nine of its top 10 scorers from last season. The Bison open the 2010-11 season at nationally ranked Villanova on Friday, Nov. 12. The 8 p.m. game will be televised on ESPN3.
2010-11 Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. American (7 first-place votes) 79
2. Bucknell (3) 76
3. Lafayette (2) 73
4. Holy Cross (2) 70
5. Lehigh (2) 69
6. Navy 35
7. Colgate 31
8. Army 15
Patriot League Preseason All-League Team
Andrew Keister, Holy Cross (Sr., F)
CJ McCollum, Lehigh (So., G)
Jared Mintz, Lafayette (Sr., F)
Vlad Moldoveanu, American (Sr., F)
Mike Muscala, Bucknell (So., F/C)
Jordan Sugars, Navy (Jr., G)
Note: Six players due to tie in the voting.
