Victory over Bucknell would leave American in first in Patriot League There wasn’t one moment of levity during American University’s two-hour practice Monday at Bender Arena. It’s the way coach Jeff Jones prefers to conduct his business-like workouts. But it’s also an indication of the focus of AU for its game Wednesday at Bucknell.
While the defending champion Bison (15-6, 5-0) are the most talented and experienced team in the Patriot League — the standard this season by which all challengers will be measured — the Eagles are none of the above.
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But the Eagles (13-7, 4-1) are off to a surprising start and are anxious to see how far chemistry and discipline can take a team of modest talent and little experience.
This is a role reversal for perennial Patriot League power AU, picked to finish fifth in the preseason. Since joining the conference in 2001-02, AU has never placed lower than fourth place in the regular season or failed to reach the Patriot League tournament semifinals.
“Coach brought it up to us early in the preseason,” senior guard Troy Brewer said. “He said with all the players we lost, people thought we didn’t have anything left. He challenged us to prove them wrong.”
Low expectations were the result of losing four starters, including 6-foot-9 Vlad Moldoveanu and 6-8 Stephen Lumpkins. But AU has won five of its last six games with a four-guard lineup.
Despite the success, Jones thinks the Eagles can soar higher with a healthy Brewer, the lone returning starter who has missed games with sprains of both ankles.
“A big thing for us is getting Troy out there,” Jones said. “We’re still working on that chemistry with him out there. We got a chance to get better.”
With a healthy Brewer early in the year, AU won eight straight. Then came the ankle problems, and AU lost five of seven games. But now he’s back along with most of his mobility. In his last two games, Brewer has hit nine of 12 shots from beyond the arc, providing a vital second option after top scorer Charles Hinkle (19.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg).
The timing is right as AU contemplates pulling off a surprise at Bucknell.
“There’s no glaring weakness,” Jones said. “We know we’ve got our hands full.”
