Navy basketball coach Billy Lange is not using wins and loses as the lone barometer of his team?s progression.
With the youngest team in the Patriot League, Lange wants to see positive steps so the Midshipmen play their best basketball as the conference tournament approaches later this season.
That was Lange?s mindset Saturday, when Navy opened its league schedule with a 59-51 loss at defending Patriot League champion Bucknell.
The game marked Bucknell?s 27th consecutive conference home win and 22nd straight league win overall.
But Navy (10-6, 0-1 in Patriot League) gave the Bison a much harder time than normal. The Bison defeated the Midshipmen by an average of 26 points in their last four meetings at the Sojka Pavilion.
“I think we?re executing better on both the offensive and defensive ends than we were compared to the beginning of the season,” Lange said.
“But the shots just aren?t falling like they were earlier. Also, we?ve played some really tough competition. Yale could win the Ivy League and, of course, Georgetown is coming out of the Big East.
“The key is for us not to get too emotional over any game. A win is a win in conference play, no matter who you are playing. They all count the same in the record books.”
Forward Trey Stanton has stood out to Lange in recent weeks.
The 6-foot-10, 206-pound freshman is averaging 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds while playing nearly 30 minutes a game.
Junior guard Greg Sprink leads Navy with 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
“Trey Stanton has really improved his overall aggressiveness and is playing with more of a purpose since the start of the season,” Lange said.
“Greg Sprink gives you everything you could ask for from your leading scorer.”
Both will play key roles as Navy hosts Lehigh tonight at 7 p.m. in the team?s Patriot League home opener.
Lehigh enters the game with a 6-11 overall record (1-0 conference).
The Mountain Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 51-49 Saturday victory over visiting American.
