Nate Sestina Named Preseason All-Patriot League, Bison Picked No. 2 in Preseason Poll

Photo by: Rey Del Rio

Nate Sestina Named Preseason All-Patriot League, Bison Picked No. 2 in Preseason Poll

10/17/2018 11:15:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Bucknell received a league-high 8 first-place votes

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Senior center Nate Sestina has been named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Men's Basketball Team, and Bucknell is picked second in the preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors, the league office announced Wednesday.

The Bison, who have won seven of the last eight Patriot League regular-season titles and each of the last two PL Tournament crowns, received a league-high eight first-place votes in preseason poll. Lehigh garnered seven first-place votes and accrued 145 points, just ahead of Bucknell's 140. Colgate was picked third with three first-place votes and 130 points. Boston University claimed the other two first-place nods and was picked fourth with 121 points. Holy Cross (109), Army West Point (71), American (64), Navy (52), Lafayette (46) and Loyola (22) rounded out the poll.

Sestina was joined on the All-Patriot League Team by American's Sa'eed Nelson, Colgate's Will Rayman, Holy Cross's Jehyve Floyd, and Lehigh's Lance Tejada. Nelson was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year.

Over the last three seasons, Sestina has served as the primary backup to three-time All-Patriot League center and 2017 Patriot League Player of the Year Nana Foulland. Sestina is ticketed for the starting role this season.

A year ago, Sestina averaged 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. He shot 56.0 percent from the field and had some big games for the Bison, particularly in the postseason. He hit 7 of 9 shots and scored 16 points in the Patriot League championship game victory over Colgate. In the semifinals against Boston University, he logged seven points, eight rebounds and five assists in 17 minutes. The Emporium, Pa., native then tallied seven points and seven rebounds off the bench in the NCAA Tournament against Michigan State.

All told in four postseason games, Sestina made 14 of 19 shots from the field (.737) and logged 32 points and 20 rebounds.

The Bison were picked second in the preseason poll despite graduating 4,801 points from last year's senior class. Bucknell does return five players who started at least three games last season. Sestina will be one of four seniors on the 2018-19 Bucknell roster, joining Kimbal Mackenzie, Nate Jones and Matt O'Reilly.

Bucknell opens the 2018-19 season on Nov. 7 at St. Bonaventure, with the home opener set for Nov. 10 against Fairfield.

2018-19 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Lehigh (7)                 145
2. Bucknell (8)              140
3. Colgate (3)                130
4. Boston University (2) 121
5. Holy Cross                109
6. Army West Point      71
7. American                  64
8. Navy                         52
9. Lafayette                  46
10. Loyola Maryland     22