Three years ago, Navy guard Greg Sprink just hoped to be competitive when the Midshipmen took on a team in the Patriot League. Now, Sprink takes the court expecting to win.
That mindset is shared by Sprink?s teammates as Navy enters Saturday?s game at Lafayette in contention for the Patriot League regular season title. The Midshipmen (12-12, 5-4) and host-Leopards (14-10, 5-4) are tied for second place in the conference at 5-4, behind American (16-10, 7-3). Lafayette won its last meeting against Navy, 103-99 in overtime, on Jan. 19 in Annapolis.
Navy has won two straight following its 80-75 win Wednesday at Lehigh (11-12, 4-5). The Midshipmen are now at .500 for the first time since Nov. 11 and above .500 in the Patriot League for the first time since January 2002. The Midshipmen have also won nine of 13 since starting the season 3-8.
“The confidence we have right now is not a feeling we have had since I?ve been here,” said Sprink, who scored 18 points at Lehigh. “Even when we?re down, we feel like we can win.”
Sprink?s confidence stems in part to a number of landmark wins Navy has had this season under fourth-year coach Billy Lange. This includes snapping a 17-game losing streak against defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross (13-10, 4-6) on Jan. 23; winning at American for the first time since 1991 on Jan. 30 and snapping a seven-game skid against Bucknell (10-14, 5-5) last Saturday.
Navy?s resurgence comes at a time when the Patriot League has developed into one of the most competitive conferences in the country as the top four teams are within three games of each other. Even last-place Holy Cross can?t be overlooked come tournament time as the Crusaders have won four of their last six, including a 64-53 win at Army on Thursday.
“Each member of the team understands their role and as long as we play within ourselves, there is no team in the Patriot League we can?t beat,” Sprink said.
Lange said one factor in his team?s improved play his younger players understand what is expected of them now after receiving more playing time than they might have received with a more experienced team. Navy has not had a winning season in seven years and has not made the NCAA Tournament since 1998.
