Saturday, January 2
Annapolis, Md.
2 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Navy
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bison Men's Basketball Adjusting to New Normal as Season Tips Off Saturday
12/30/2020 1:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
• 2020-21 Season Preview
• Complete Game Notes
• 2020-21 Media Guide
• Week 1 Digital Game Program
SERIES GAME ONE
What:Â Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL Central) at Navy (3-1, 0-0 PL South)
Where: Alumni Hall, Annapolis, Md.
When:Â Saturday, January 2, 2 p.m.
Internet Stream (U.S.): ESPN+Â | Internet Stream (International):Â SIDEARM Sports
Local Radio:Â Eagle 107 (107.3 FM WEGH)
Listen Live: BucknellBison.com and Eagle107.com
Live Stats: NavySports.com
SERIES GAME TWO
What:Â Navy at Bucknell
Where: Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pa. | VIRTUAL SEASON TICKETS
When:Â Sunday, January 3, 6 p.m.
TV: CBS Sports Network
Local Radio:Â The Valley (1007.7 FM WVLY)
Listen Live: BucknellBison.com and The Valley
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Bucknell Tentative Starters (with 2019-20 stats)
G: Xander Rice (2.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.3 apg)
G: Andrew Funk (10.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 apg)
G: Walter Ellis (5.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.6 apg)
F: John Meeks (11.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)
C: Paul Newman (5.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.6 bpg)
With a Win over Navy, Bucknell Would ... Â
Prior to the start of conference play, the Patriot League's head coaches and sports information directors predicted the league standings and all-conference team.Â
Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. Boston U.    148 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Colgate     142 (8)
3. Loyola     122 (1)
4. Navy      114
5. Lafayette    98 (1)
6. Bucknell     77
7. Army       70
8. American     63
9. Lehigh      48
10. Holy Cross   18Â
Preseason Player of the Year:Â
Jordan Burns, Colgate, Sr., G
Preseason All-League Team:
Santi Aldama, Loyola (So., F), Jordan Burns, Colgate (Sr., G), Cam Davis, Navy (Sr., G), Justin Jaworski, Lafayette (Sr., G), Walter Whyte, Boston U. (Jr., F)
Bucknell vs. Navy Series Notes
Points   52.0%
Rebounds  52.2%
Assists   43.7%
Blocks   47.9%
Steals   52.3%
3FGÂ Â Â Â Â 52.7%
Ellis on Target
Dave Steigerwald   1994-95 (.444)
Bryson Johnson     2010-11 (.456)
Cameron Ayers     2011-12 (.468)
Walter Ellis    2019-20 (.410)
Welcome to the Herd
Just one year after starting a season on the earliest date in program history, the Bucknell men's basketball team is scheduled to make its 2020-21 debut on the latest date in 82 years. Such is the craziness of these COVID-19 times.Â
The college basketball world came to a halt last March 12, four days after the Bison fell to Boston University in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals and just one day after the Terriers knocked off top-seeded Colgate to take the league crown. The weeks and months since have been filled with uncertainty, but the Bucknell team has hardly been sitting around idly.Â
Despite lockdowns and quarantines, the Bison players still found ways to work on their games and their bodies throughout the summer, and they returned to campus in August for in-person classes fit and ready to go. COVID protocols required a slow ramp-up back to full-team basketball activity, but they were still able to spend the better part of the fall semester practicing and scrimmaging in preparation for a delayed, conference-only slate of games starting the first weekend in January.Â
"The guys are ready and they want to play," said head coach Nathan Davis. "Despite everything that's been going on, all of our guys have had productive offseasons. They worked hard and you can see it on the court. Their bodies are more explosive, and we seem to be a more physical and athletic team. Of course with no non-conference games, you don't really know how that's going to play out when we get to Navy on Jan. 2, but we are really excited to find out."
With the exception of Army and Navy, all Patriot League teams were required to skip non-conference play, and a modified 16-game conference schedule has been put in place for this season in order to reduce travel and overnight stays. Teams will play back-to-back against the same opponent on Saturdays and Sundays throughout January and February. In most instances, the games will be at opposite sites with down-and-back day trips. The Bison open the season in Annapolis on Saturday, Jan. 2, and then the Midshipmen travel to Sojka Pavilion the following day.Â
The Patriot League has also been broken up into North (Army, Boston U., Colgate, Holy Cross), Central (Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh) and South (American, Loyola, Navy) divisions, and those divisional records will help determine seeding for an eight-team Patriot League Tournament in March. Bucknell will play division rivals Lafayette and Lehigh four times each. The Bison will also play crossover series with Navy, Colgate, American and Loyola, while Army, Boston University and Holy Cross are not on the regular-season schedule.Â
The weekly back-to-backs will mean a different flow to the season, and building depth will likely be essential.Â
"We typically play nine, 10, 11 guys anyway, and we feel like we are capable of being a deep team again this season," said Davis. "Not only do we have a lot of guys who can play, but we have guys who can play multiple positions. We have good versatility and good size up and down the roster. Going into any season you are going to have questions on how the pieces will fit together. We don't have all the answers just yet because we didn't have a non-conference schedule, but we are certainly capable of becoming a very good team."
Another byproduct of the delayed season is that the Bison have had extra time to stew over a 2019-20 season that didn't go according to plan. After winning five straight and eight of the previous nine Patriot League regular-season championships, Bucknell struggled to find that consistency last season. The result was a 14-20 overall finish and an 8-10 Patriot League record.
One positive is that the team did finish the year playing its best basketball. On the heels of a frustrating five-game losing streak, the Bison won five of their last eight. That stretch included a win over first-place Colgate, two wins over second-place American, and two three-point road losses to champion Boston University.Â
"There's no question that last year left a bad taste for all of us," said Davis. "We just did not play up to our standards offensively or defensively, but the good news is that we were much better at the end of the season. I thought we were playing as well as anyone in the league over the last two weeks, but it was just too late."
Bucknell's 2020-21 returning group features a number of key players who are itching to get back at it. John Meeks and Paul Newman comprised the starting frontcourt at the end of last season, and those two along with former walk-on guard Jordan Sechan make up a senior class intent on leading the Bison back to the top of the league.
"Meeks and Newman aren't necessarily the most vocal guys, but I have been impressed with the leadership of all three seniors throughout this challenging preseason," said Davis. "They never complain, they are in great shape, they work really hard, and they want to win. They have been through it all before, and we need guys like them to lead the way."
After battling injuries for much of his first two seasons, Meeks made the leap to an all-conference level as a junior last season. He was extremely productive coming off the bench at the start of the season, and then he moved into the starting lineup just prior to conference play. Meeks finished as Bucknell's leading rebounder (5.3) and third-leading scorer (11.2), and his Patriot League scoring average of 12.6 was the highest on the squad. Already pound-for-pound one of the team's strongest players, Meeks came back this year slimmer and more explosive, and he seems primed for another big season.
"John is playing as well as I've ever seen him play," Davis said. "He's healthy, he's strong and athletic, and he is moving very well. He's just been great from day one. He's such a talented player, it's great to see him at his peak physically and now he also has the experience to go with it."
Newman spent his first two seasons as a key backup center behind All-Patriot Leaguers Nana Foulland and Nate Sestina. Last year his role increased dramatically, with 20 starts among his 31 games played. Newman averaged 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, despite some injury issues of his own. He had some big moments, such as a game-ending blocked shot to beat Army at home and a 14-rebound game in a good home win over Hofstra. After some late-season struggles, Newman went 10-for-12 from the field in Patriot League Tournament games against American and Boston University, and that is the type of play Davis feels he can provide on a regular basis.
"Paul has gotten noticeably stronger and more explosive," said Davis. "Last year he played at around 245 pounds and now he is at about 225, and that's really helped him. He can still guard guys one through five, he can get out and run and score around the basket. He had a very good offseason, and I'm excited to see what he can do this year."
Sechan did not suit up for games last season, but he will be available again this year and gives the Bison another solid option at point guard. Sechan has vastly improved over his four years in the program, and his quickness and ballhandling ability have come a long way.
"First and foremost, Jordan is an all-time great guy," said Davis. "He's a great teammate, and to his credit he has really improved since his freshman year. He has worked really hard at his game and has put himself in a position to contribute if needed."
Walter Ellis and Andrew Funk are Bucknell's returning juniors, and both are expected to be key contributors on the perimeter. Not only are they experienced and important players, but both have become vocal leaders on the practice floor.Â
Funk was the team's regular starter at the shooting guard spot last season, and he averaged 10.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while ranking eighth in the league in minutes played (32.6). Funk has the potential to be one of the league's top deep threats – witness his own personal 13-0 run to start last year's game at Navy – but he is looking for added consistency after shooting 30.2 percent from the arc as a sophomore. He did score in double figures in 21 of his 33 appearances, including a 22-point game in a home win over Loyola.
"Andrew has matured both physically and as a basketball player," said Davis. "We asked a lot of him coming in as a freshman, and now he's a junior and has played a ton of big games. He's been shooting the ball really well throughout preseason, and as he has gotten stronger, he doesn't get knocked off the ball as much and is better finishing at the basket."
Ellis is building a reputation as one of the Patriot League's most dangerous deep threats. He led the league in 3-point accuracy at 41.0 percent last season, hitting 48 in 117 attempts. That number was even higher in Patriot League play (41.4), and Ellis really came on at the end of the year after seeing his minutes fluctuate earlier on. He played at least 28 minutes off the bench in five of the last six games of the season, and now he is in position to replace 2020 graduate Avi Toomer in the starting lineup. While still shooting the three at a high rate, Ellis has worked hard to expand his game in other areas. He has become more adept at scoring off the dribble, and his size and length as a 6'5" guard makes him a good defender.Â
"Walter has really come a long way," said Davis. "He's really competitive, he gets after it on every play. He's a great shooter with unlimited range, but he is not content on just being a 3-point specialist. He is much better putting the ball on the floor, and he has become one of our best perimeter defenders, especially on ball screens."
A new addition to the junior class is Miles Latimer, who joined the squad this year after two good seasons at Stony Brook. Latimer's eligibility for the 2020-21 season is not yet certain, but in preseason practice he has fit right in with his new team. The 6'4" wing player has already played in 65 Division I basketball games for a Seawolves team that won more than 20 games in each of Latimer's seasons. A good long-range shooter, Latimer made 109 3-pointers while shooting 36.6 percent from the arc, and he also collected 59 steals.Â
"Miles has played a lot of basketball, and even though he is new to us, he brings a ton of experience," said Davis. "He is a versatile offensive player. He can really shoot it from deep and he can also put it on the floor. He has also come in and become one of our better defensive players."
The sophomore class of Xander Rice, Malachi Rhodes, Alex Timmerman and Jake van der Heijden all got a taste of Division I competition to varying degrees last season, and all four are poised for bigger roles in 2020-21.
Rice could take the most prominent leap, as he is likely to take over as the team's starting point guard this winter. Rice was the primary backup to Jimmy Sotos last season, playing in all 34 games off the bench. Rice averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 assists in just under 13 minutes per game, and now he is the favorite to slide into the lead role after Sotos moved on to Ohio State.Â
"I am really excited for Xander and I think he is going to have a good year," Davis predicted. "He has really come a long way since the end of last season. He worked his tail off over the summer and came back much stronger. He is shooting it better, he has great size and can get in the lane, and he has become much more vocal with a year under his belt, and he just has a really solid understanding of what we want to do offensively."
Timmerman, Rhodes and van der Heijden are all promising young frontcourt players who bring different skill sets. Of the three, Rhodes saw the most time last season with 22 appearances, including a couple of December starts when Newman was down with an injury. Rhodes tallied 25 points and 24 rebounds while playing 5.6 minutes per game.
"Much like Paul Newman, Malachi can guard multiple positions on the floor," said Davis. "Offensively, he is really good at using angles to clear space and get shots off in the post, and he has also improved his shot from the perimeter."
Timmerman appeared in 15 games last season, hitting 8 of his 16 shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer at Rider. Still a big, strong physical presence, Timmerman came back about 35 pounds lighter this year. He possesses a nice touch from the outside for a big man, and he can be used at both the 4 and 5 spots where needed.
"Alex is playing very well, he's been really impressive throughout the fall after a good offseason," said Davis. "He has really good footwork in the post, he's hard to move, and defensively he has become our best communicator among the bigs."
Van der Heijden got in 19 games last season, and he is another sophomore who could be in line for a bigger role this season. He came back noticeably stronger and is now a robust 6'9" and 225 pounds. Combining that added strength to an already gifted offensive game gives van der Heijden a load of potential as he continues to adapt to the college game.
"Jake is as good as any offensive player that we have," said Davis. "He jumps out of the gym, he gets great elevation on his jumper, and he can score at all three levels. Obviously we need to see how different roles and matchups play out, but Jake has a chance to be a very good player for us."
That returning group is bolstered by four newcomers, three of whom are likely to contribute this season. Guard Deuce Turner, last year's Pennsylvania 5A State Player of the Year and a 2,400-point scorer at Malvern Prep, can play the point and off the ball, and he figures to be in the backcourt rotation. Center Andre Screen is a true 7-footer who is likely going to see major minutes alongside Newman and others in the pivot. Guard Josh Adoh brings great size and strength and gives the Bison another option on the perimeter. The fourth member of the first-year class is Alek Delev, a walk-on point guard from Bulgaria.Â
"We are all really excited about the freshman class," said Davis. "Obviously they are all still learning and developing, and not having a non-conference schedule means that they are going to get thrown right into the fire right away, but Deuce, Andre and Josh are all really talented.
"Deuce just has an innate ability to score. He has deep range, he is explosive off the dribble, and he can pull up from just about anywhere. He has the ability to be a good defensive player and that is certainly an area of his game that he is working hard on. Andre is already very good, but he is just oozing potential. He has really good footwork, he finishes above the rim, and he can step out and make threes. As he continues to get stronger he has a chance to be a force on defense. The best part about him is that he is extremely coachable, and we have already seen him get better from scrimmage to scrimmage in the preseason. Much like Deuce, Josh brings the mindset of a scorer. He can shoot the three, he can drive, and he draws a ton of fouls. He has great strength for a freshman, and coming out of a very good high school and postgrad program we like what he brings."
Â
• Complete Game Notes
• 2020-21 Media Guide
• Week 1 Digital Game Program
SERIES GAME ONE
What:Â Bucknell (0-0, 0-0 PL Central) at Navy (3-1, 0-0 PL South)
Where: Alumni Hall, Annapolis, Md.
When:Â Saturday, January 2, 2 p.m.
Internet Stream (U.S.): ESPN+Â | Internet Stream (International):Â SIDEARM Sports
Local Radio:Â Eagle 107 (107.3 FM WEGH)
Listen Live: BucknellBison.com and Eagle107.com
Live Stats: NavySports.com
SERIES GAME TWO
What:Â Navy at Bucknell
Where: Sojka Pavilion, Lewisburg, Pa. | VIRTUAL SEASON TICKETS
When:Â Sunday, January 3, 6 p.m.
TV: CBS Sports Network
Local Radio:Â The Valley (1007.7 FM WVLY)
Listen Live: BucknellBison.com and The Valley
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Bucknell Tentative Starters (with 2019-20 stats)
G: Xander Rice (2.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.3 apg)
G: Andrew Funk (10.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 apg)
G: Walter Ellis (5.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 0.6 apg)
F: John Meeks (11.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)
C: Paul Newman (5.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.6 bpg)
With a Win over Navy, Bucknell Would ... Â
- ... improve to 82-44 all-time in season openers.
- ... snap a three-game losing streak to the Midshipmen.
- ... improve to 14-21 against Navy in Alumni Hall since the Mids joined the Patriot League.
- ... give head coach Nathan Davis his 104th victory as Bucknell's head coach and bring him within six of Malcolm Musser for fourth on the program's all-time wins list.
- Bucknell begins its 126th season of basketball — much later than expected — on Saturday afternoon in Annapolis. Just last season, the Bison played on the earliest date in team history with a Nov. 5 opener at Fairfield. Now Bucknell has its latest starting date since 1938-39, when the season began on Jan. 11 at Penn State. The Bison will go 298 days between games, the largest gap since a 308-day respite between the end of the 1937-38 season and the start of the 1938-39 campaign.     Â
- Bucknell is opening a season against a league opponent for the first time in 51 years. The Bison opened the 1969-70 season with a 94-90 overtime loss to Rider in a Middle Atlantic Conference game.Â
- The last time Bucknell played consecutive games against the same opponent was also Navy in 2012-13. The Bison and Midshipmen met in the final regular-season game, and then squared off again four days later in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals. Never before has Bucknell played the same opponent on back-to-back days.Â
- Bucknell is looking to bounce back from a rare losing season. After winning five straight and eight of the previous nine Patriot League regular-season titles, the Bison slipped to a tie for sixth place (with Navy) in the standings with an 8-10 record a year ago. Bucknell did play well down the stretch, however. On the heels of a frustrating five-game losing streak, the Bison won five of their last eight. That included a win over first-place Colgate, two wins over second-place American, and two three-point road losses to champion Boston University, the latter coming in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals.Â
- Bucknell must replace five lettermen from last year's squad, but the Bison do return three starters, including Third Team All-Patriot League selection John Meeks. Shooting guard Andrew Funk and center Paul Newman are also returning starters. Point guard Xander Rice and wing Walter Ellis, both key reserves last season, are likely to join the starting five at Navy. Â Â
- When the Patriot League Council of Presidents announced on Nov. 9 that teams would play a league-only schedule in 2020-21, Army and Navy were granted exceptions to play some non-conference games. So while Bucknell is making its season debut this weekend, Navy has played four games. The Midshipmen are 3-1, with wins over George Washington (78-71), Mount St. Mary's (73-67) and Georgetown (78-71) and a loss to Maryland (82-52). Navy also had games against Morgan State and Delaware canceled due to COVID-19 related concerns.
- Navy's top scorer is senior guard Cam Davis, who was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team on Tuesday. Davis, who recently topped the 1,000-point mark for his career, averages 19.8 points per game while shooting just under 56% from the field. He scored 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting (5-7 3FG) in the team's first win over Georgetown since 1977, and he had 26 a few days earlier against Mount St. Mary's. Guard John Carter Jr. also scores in double figures at 13.5 ppg. Â Â
- The streaming of Patriot League games moves to the ESPN+ platform in 2020-21. Saturday's game at Navy will be on ESPN+, with Pete Medhurst and Michael Heary on the call. Sunday's game at Bucknell has been picked up by CBS Sports Network, with Jason Knapp and Mo Cassara describing the action.Â
- Saturday's game can be heard in the Susquehanna Valley on the radio on Eagle 107 (WEGH 107.3 FM), with Doug Birdsong now in his 21st season as play-by-play announcer. Sunday's game moves over to The Valley (WVLY 100.7 FM) due to a conflict with the Philadelphia Eagles game. The pregame show begins 30 minutes before tip-off both days. Â
- The audio feed is also available online free of charge via BucknellBison.com and Eagle107.com.Â
- Live statistics can be accessed via NavySports.com on Saturday and BucknellBison.com on Sunday.
- Follow @Bucknell_MBB for in-game updates on Twitter.Â
- Due to adjustments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 season will look different than any other in Bucknell's 126-year history. For starters, non-conference play was prohibited, pushing the start of the season back to Jan. 2 with a modified 16-game conference schedule.
- In an effort to minimize travel, teams will generally play the same opponent on back-to-back days at opposite sites. There will be a few exceptions where two teams play at the same site on consecutive days, such as when Bucknell travels to Colgate on Jan. 23-24.Â
- The Patriot League has been reconfigured into three divisions for this season: North (Army, Boston U., Colgate, Holy Cross), Central (Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh) and South (American, Loyola, Navy). As a result, Bucknell will play Lehigh and Lafayette four times each, and the Bison will not play Army, Boston U. or Holy Cross at all in the regular season.
- The Patriot League Tournament will consist of just eight teams this year instead of the normal full field of 10. The three division winners will be seeded 1-3, the division runners-up will be seeded 4-6, and the next best remaining records will be seeded 7 and 8. Â
Prior to the start of conference play, the Patriot League's head coaches and sports information directors predicted the league standings and all-conference team.Â
Patriot League Preseason Poll
1. Boston U.    148 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Colgate     142 (8)
3. Loyola     122 (1)
4. Navy      114
5. Lafayette    98 (1)
6. Bucknell     77
7. Army       70
8. American     63
9. Lehigh      48
10. Holy Cross   18Â
Preseason Player of the Year:Â
Jordan Burns, Colgate, Sr., G
Preseason All-League Team:
Santi Aldama, Loyola (So., F), Jordan Burns, Colgate (Sr., G), Cam Davis, Navy (Sr., G), Justin Jaworski, Lafayette (Sr., G), Walter Whyte, Boston U. (Jr., F)
Bucknell vs. Navy Series Notes
- This will be the 83rd all-time meeting between the Bison and Midshipmen, with Bucknell holding a 44-38 edge in the series.
- Navy has won the last three meetings on the heels of a 19-1 stretch for Bucknell. This is Navy's longest series winning streak since it took four in a row in 2009 and 2010.Â
- The Mids won 12 of 16 from the Bison prior to joining the Patriot League in 1991-92.Â
- As conference rivals, Bucknell leads 40-26, with the home team winning most of the time. Since Navy joined the league, Bucknell is 27-5 against the Mids at home but is only 13-21 against Navy in Alumni Hall, although the Bison have won seven of their last 10 there.
- Bucknell is 5-3 all-time against Navy in the Patriot League Tournament, including the Midshipmen's 76-75 win in the 1997 championship game. Navy won the first three postseason clashes, but the Bison have won the last five, including a 70-65 decision in the 2017 semifinal round.
- Navy swept last year's series, with the two wins coming by a combined five points. The Midshipmen won 60-56 at Sojka Pavilion and 60-59 at Alumni Hall.Â
- In the game in Lewisburg, Cam Davis scored 20 points, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining. That verdict ended Bucknell's 22-game home winning streak against Patriot League opponents. The Bison struggled offensively, hitting just 5 of 29 from 3-point range. John Meeks led the team with 18 points.Â
- In the rematch in Annapolis, the Bison could not maintain a hot start and Navy rallied for the one-point win behind 22 points from Davis. Andrew Funk scored all of the points in a 13-0 run to start the game for Bucknell, but the Midshipmen quickly got back in the game and took the lead for the first time early in the second half. Funk finished with a team-high 20 points for the Bison.Â
- Bucknell is 302-132 (.696) all-time in Patriot League regular-season games, the best record of any league team. The Bison have finished at least .500 in PL play 25 times in 30 Patriot League seasons.
- Bucknell won three straight Patriot League regular-season titles from 2011-13, becoming the first team in league history to accomplish that feat. The Bison had won five in a row and eight of the previous nine before finishing T-6th last season.
- Bucknell has made nine Patriot League Tournament appearances as the No. 1 seed and seven as the No. 2 seed.
- Bucknell won Patriot League Tournament titles in 2005, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2018. The Bison have made it to the semifinals 23 times and to the championship game 13 times in the league's first 30 years.Â
- The Bison are the only team to go unbeaten in league play in a season (14-0 in 2006).Â
- John Meeks earned his first All-Patriot League citation last season with a Third Team nod. He started last season in a "sixth man" role, where he was still one of the team's top scorers, and he entered the starting lineup just before the start of league play. He was the team's third-leading scorer at 11.2 ppg and top rebounder at 5.3 rpg. His scoring average went up to 12.6 ppg in conference games.Â
- Andrew Funk also earned postseason honors with a spot on the five-man Academic All-Patriot League Team. Funk, who boasts a 3.65 GPA in accounting and financial management, started 32 games and averaged 10.8 ppg last season.Â
- Since Sojka Pavilion debuted in 2003, the Bison are 191-61 (.758) overall and 140-29 (.828) against Patriot League foes.Â
- Bucknell won a record 15 home games in 2016-17, and then it matched that figure a year later. Over the last four years, Bucknell is 50-11 at home.
- The Bison return three starters (Funk, Meeks, Newman) and nine lettermen from last year's squad. Here are percentage breakdowns of return statistical production from a year ago.
- Bucknell lost five lettermen from last year's squad. Bruce Moore, Ben Robertson and Avi Toomer have graduated, and Jimmy Sotos (Ohio State) and Kahliel Spear (Robert Morris) transferred.
Points   52.0%
Rebounds  52.2%
Assists   43.7%
Blocks   47.9%
Steals   52.3%
3FGÂ Â Â Â Â 52.7%
Ellis on Target
- Walter Ellis led the Patriot League in 3-point field goal percentage last season, becoming just the fourth Bison to win a PL stat title in that category.
Dave Steigerwald   1994-95 (.444)
Bryson Johnson     2010-11 (.456)
Cameron Ayers     2011-12 (.468)
Walter Ellis    2019-20 (.410)
Welcome to the Herd
- The Bison have five newcomers to the roster this year, four freshmen along with junior transfer Miles Latimer.
- Latimer has not yet been cleared to play in games for the Bison, but when he is able to suit up he will bring a veteran presence to the backcourt rotation. Latimer played in 65 games for Stony Brook in his first two collegiate seasons, and he was a key part of two 20-win teams. Latimer averaged 10.6 ppg in 2018-19 and made the America East All-Rookie Team. He averaged 7.0 ppg last season. A good outside shooter, Latimer has made 109 career 3-pointers already and is a 36.6% shooter from beyond the arc.Â
- Andre Screen is the first 7-footer in Bucknell history, and he will likely see significant playing time in the pivot. Â A native of Alexandria, Va., Screen helped St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School to a 57-7 record over the last two seasons, including a VISAA state championship in 2019 and a runner-up finish in 2020. Â
- One of the all-time leading scorers in Philadelphia high school basketball history, Deuce Turner joins the Bison backcourt rotation this season. Turner piled up 2,452 career points at Malvern Prep, the most ever in the Inter-Ac League. He was the PIAA 5A State Player of the Year as a senior, when he averaged better than 25 ppg for a 27-win team.
- Josh Adoh is a physically strong wing player with a good touch from the perimeter. Adoh is a native of Bellflower, Calif., and he played for a very good St. John Bosco team that won the Trinity League title his junior year. Adoh then did a postgraduate year at Combine Academy in North Carolina, where he averaged 30 points and 7 rebounds per game.
- Rounding out the list of newcomers is walk-on guard Alek Delev from Sofia, Bulgaria. Delev played club basketball for BC Ahil, where he was a three-year team captain and two-time All-Star. Delev was named MVP of the 6th round in 2019-20, when he helped his team to a second-place finish in the conference and first place in the region. He averaged 20.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.Â
- After opening the season with a two-game set against Navy, the Bison next take on Patriot League Central rival Lafayette on Jan. 9-10. The series starts at Sojka Pavilion on Saturday at 4 p.m., and then the Bison make a day trip to Easton for a 6 p.m. game on Sunday. Both games can be seen on ESPN+.Â
Just one year after starting a season on the earliest date in program history, the Bucknell men's basketball team is scheduled to make its 2020-21 debut on the latest date in 82 years. Such is the craziness of these COVID-19 times.Â
The college basketball world came to a halt last March 12, four days after the Bison fell to Boston University in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals and just one day after the Terriers knocked off top-seeded Colgate to take the league crown. The weeks and months since have been filled with uncertainty, but the Bucknell team has hardly been sitting around idly.Â
Despite lockdowns and quarantines, the Bison players still found ways to work on their games and their bodies throughout the summer, and they returned to campus in August for in-person classes fit and ready to go. COVID protocols required a slow ramp-up back to full-team basketball activity, but they were still able to spend the better part of the fall semester practicing and scrimmaging in preparation for a delayed, conference-only slate of games starting the first weekend in January.Â
"The guys are ready and they want to play," said head coach Nathan Davis. "Despite everything that's been going on, all of our guys have had productive offseasons. They worked hard and you can see it on the court. Their bodies are more explosive, and we seem to be a more physical and athletic team. Of course with no non-conference games, you don't really know how that's going to play out when we get to Navy on Jan. 2, but we are really excited to find out."
With the exception of Army and Navy, all Patriot League teams were required to skip non-conference play, and a modified 16-game conference schedule has been put in place for this season in order to reduce travel and overnight stays. Teams will play back-to-back against the same opponent on Saturdays and Sundays throughout January and February. In most instances, the games will be at opposite sites with down-and-back day trips. The Bison open the season in Annapolis on Saturday, Jan. 2, and then the Midshipmen travel to Sojka Pavilion the following day.Â
The Patriot League has also been broken up into North (Army, Boston U., Colgate, Holy Cross), Central (Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh) and South (American, Loyola, Navy) divisions, and those divisional records will help determine seeding for an eight-team Patriot League Tournament in March. Bucknell will play division rivals Lafayette and Lehigh four times each. The Bison will also play crossover series with Navy, Colgate, American and Loyola, while Army, Boston University and Holy Cross are not on the regular-season schedule.Â
The weekly back-to-backs will mean a different flow to the season, and building depth will likely be essential.Â
"We typically play nine, 10, 11 guys anyway, and we feel like we are capable of being a deep team again this season," said Davis. "Not only do we have a lot of guys who can play, but we have guys who can play multiple positions. We have good versatility and good size up and down the roster. Going into any season you are going to have questions on how the pieces will fit together. We don't have all the answers just yet because we didn't have a non-conference schedule, but we are certainly capable of becoming a very good team."
Another byproduct of the delayed season is that the Bison have had extra time to stew over a 2019-20 season that didn't go according to plan. After winning five straight and eight of the previous nine Patriot League regular-season championships, Bucknell struggled to find that consistency last season. The result was a 14-20 overall finish and an 8-10 Patriot League record.
One positive is that the team did finish the year playing its best basketball. On the heels of a frustrating five-game losing streak, the Bison won five of their last eight. That stretch included a win over first-place Colgate, two wins over second-place American, and two three-point road losses to champion Boston University.Â
"There's no question that last year left a bad taste for all of us," said Davis. "We just did not play up to our standards offensively or defensively, but the good news is that we were much better at the end of the season. I thought we were playing as well as anyone in the league over the last two weeks, but it was just too late."
Bucknell's 2020-21 returning group features a number of key players who are itching to get back at it. John Meeks and Paul Newman comprised the starting frontcourt at the end of last season, and those two along with former walk-on guard Jordan Sechan make up a senior class intent on leading the Bison back to the top of the league.
"Meeks and Newman aren't necessarily the most vocal guys, but I have been impressed with the leadership of all three seniors throughout this challenging preseason," said Davis. "They never complain, they are in great shape, they work really hard, and they want to win. They have been through it all before, and we need guys like them to lead the way."
After battling injuries for much of his first two seasons, Meeks made the leap to an all-conference level as a junior last season. He was extremely productive coming off the bench at the start of the season, and then he moved into the starting lineup just prior to conference play. Meeks finished as Bucknell's leading rebounder (5.3) and third-leading scorer (11.2), and his Patriot League scoring average of 12.6 was the highest on the squad. Already pound-for-pound one of the team's strongest players, Meeks came back this year slimmer and more explosive, and he seems primed for another big season.
"John is playing as well as I've ever seen him play," Davis said. "He's healthy, he's strong and athletic, and he is moving very well. He's just been great from day one. He's such a talented player, it's great to see him at his peak physically and now he also has the experience to go with it."
Newman spent his first two seasons as a key backup center behind All-Patriot Leaguers Nana Foulland and Nate Sestina. Last year his role increased dramatically, with 20 starts among his 31 games played. Newman averaged 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, despite some injury issues of his own. He had some big moments, such as a game-ending blocked shot to beat Army at home and a 14-rebound game in a good home win over Hofstra. After some late-season struggles, Newman went 10-for-12 from the field in Patriot League Tournament games against American and Boston University, and that is the type of play Davis feels he can provide on a regular basis.
"Paul has gotten noticeably stronger and more explosive," said Davis. "Last year he played at around 245 pounds and now he is at about 225, and that's really helped him. He can still guard guys one through five, he can get out and run and score around the basket. He had a very good offseason, and I'm excited to see what he can do this year."
Sechan did not suit up for games last season, but he will be available again this year and gives the Bison another solid option at point guard. Sechan has vastly improved over his four years in the program, and his quickness and ballhandling ability have come a long way.
"First and foremost, Jordan is an all-time great guy," said Davis. "He's a great teammate, and to his credit he has really improved since his freshman year. He has worked really hard at his game and has put himself in a position to contribute if needed."
Walter Ellis and Andrew Funk are Bucknell's returning juniors, and both are expected to be key contributors on the perimeter. Not only are they experienced and important players, but both have become vocal leaders on the practice floor.Â
Funk was the team's regular starter at the shooting guard spot last season, and he averaged 10.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while ranking eighth in the league in minutes played (32.6). Funk has the potential to be one of the league's top deep threats – witness his own personal 13-0 run to start last year's game at Navy – but he is looking for added consistency after shooting 30.2 percent from the arc as a sophomore. He did score in double figures in 21 of his 33 appearances, including a 22-point game in a home win over Loyola.
"Andrew has matured both physically and as a basketball player," said Davis. "We asked a lot of him coming in as a freshman, and now he's a junior and has played a ton of big games. He's been shooting the ball really well throughout preseason, and as he has gotten stronger, he doesn't get knocked off the ball as much and is better finishing at the basket."
Ellis is building a reputation as one of the Patriot League's most dangerous deep threats. He led the league in 3-point accuracy at 41.0 percent last season, hitting 48 in 117 attempts. That number was even higher in Patriot League play (41.4), and Ellis really came on at the end of the year after seeing his minutes fluctuate earlier on. He played at least 28 minutes off the bench in five of the last six games of the season, and now he is in position to replace 2020 graduate Avi Toomer in the starting lineup. While still shooting the three at a high rate, Ellis has worked hard to expand his game in other areas. He has become more adept at scoring off the dribble, and his size and length as a 6'5" guard makes him a good defender.Â
"Walter has really come a long way," said Davis. "He's really competitive, he gets after it on every play. He's a great shooter with unlimited range, but he is not content on just being a 3-point specialist. He is much better putting the ball on the floor, and he has become one of our best perimeter defenders, especially on ball screens."
A new addition to the junior class is Miles Latimer, who joined the squad this year after two good seasons at Stony Brook. Latimer's eligibility for the 2020-21 season is not yet certain, but in preseason practice he has fit right in with his new team. The 6'4" wing player has already played in 65 Division I basketball games for a Seawolves team that won more than 20 games in each of Latimer's seasons. A good long-range shooter, Latimer made 109 3-pointers while shooting 36.6 percent from the arc, and he also collected 59 steals.Â
"Miles has played a lot of basketball, and even though he is new to us, he brings a ton of experience," said Davis. "He is a versatile offensive player. He can really shoot it from deep and he can also put it on the floor. He has also come in and become one of our better defensive players."
The sophomore class of Xander Rice, Malachi Rhodes, Alex Timmerman and Jake van der Heijden all got a taste of Division I competition to varying degrees last season, and all four are poised for bigger roles in 2020-21.
Rice could take the most prominent leap, as he is likely to take over as the team's starting point guard this winter. Rice was the primary backup to Jimmy Sotos last season, playing in all 34 games off the bench. Rice averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 assists in just under 13 minutes per game, and now he is the favorite to slide into the lead role after Sotos moved on to Ohio State.Â
"I am really excited for Xander and I think he is going to have a good year," Davis predicted. "He has really come a long way since the end of last season. He worked his tail off over the summer and came back much stronger. He is shooting it better, he has great size and can get in the lane, and he has become much more vocal with a year under his belt, and he just has a really solid understanding of what we want to do offensively."
Timmerman, Rhodes and van der Heijden are all promising young frontcourt players who bring different skill sets. Of the three, Rhodes saw the most time last season with 22 appearances, including a couple of December starts when Newman was down with an injury. Rhodes tallied 25 points and 24 rebounds while playing 5.6 minutes per game.
"Much like Paul Newman, Malachi can guard multiple positions on the floor," said Davis. "Offensively, he is really good at using angles to clear space and get shots off in the post, and he has also improved his shot from the perimeter."
Timmerman appeared in 15 games last season, hitting 8 of his 16 shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer at Rider. Still a big, strong physical presence, Timmerman came back about 35 pounds lighter this year. He possesses a nice touch from the outside for a big man, and he can be used at both the 4 and 5 spots where needed.
"Alex is playing very well, he's been really impressive throughout the fall after a good offseason," said Davis. "He has really good footwork in the post, he's hard to move, and defensively he has become our best communicator among the bigs."
Van der Heijden got in 19 games last season, and he is another sophomore who could be in line for a bigger role this season. He came back noticeably stronger and is now a robust 6'9" and 225 pounds. Combining that added strength to an already gifted offensive game gives van der Heijden a load of potential as he continues to adapt to the college game.
"Jake is as good as any offensive player that we have," said Davis. "He jumps out of the gym, he gets great elevation on his jumper, and he can score at all three levels. Obviously we need to see how different roles and matchups play out, but Jake has a chance to be a very good player for us."
That returning group is bolstered by four newcomers, three of whom are likely to contribute this season. Guard Deuce Turner, last year's Pennsylvania 5A State Player of the Year and a 2,400-point scorer at Malvern Prep, can play the point and off the ball, and he figures to be in the backcourt rotation. Center Andre Screen is a true 7-footer who is likely going to see major minutes alongside Newman and others in the pivot. Guard Josh Adoh brings great size and strength and gives the Bison another option on the perimeter. The fourth member of the first-year class is Alek Delev, a walk-on point guard from Bulgaria.Â
"We are all really excited about the freshman class," said Davis. "Obviously they are all still learning and developing, and not having a non-conference schedule means that they are going to get thrown right into the fire right away, but Deuce, Andre and Josh are all really talented.
"Deuce just has an innate ability to score. He has deep range, he is explosive off the dribble, and he can pull up from just about anywhere. He has the ability to be a good defensive player and that is certainly an area of his game that he is working hard on. Andre is already very good, but he is just oozing potential. He has really good footwork, he finishes above the rim, and he can step out and make threes. As he continues to get stronger he has a chance to be a force on defense. The best part about him is that he is extremely coachable, and we have already seen him get better from scrimmage to scrimmage in the preseason. Much like Deuce, Josh brings the mindset of a scorer. He can shoot the three, he can drive, and he draws a ton of fouls. He has great strength for a freshman, and coming out of a very good high school and postgrad program we like what he brings."
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/ Men's BasketballIn The Herd: Season Opener And Shane Wynn And Kyla Kelly Features
Wednesday, October 15
2025 Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee Bob Rhein
Monday, October 13
2025 Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame
Sunday, October 12
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. Mount St. Mary's (10/11/25)
Sunday, October 12