Patriot League Preview: Navy Midshipmen

School: United States Naval Academy

Last year's record: 13-17 (7-7) - Lost to the AU EAGLES in the quarterfinals of the PL tournament

Last year's record against AU: 0-3. Thrice the Midshipmen tried to match up against the mighty AU Eagles and thrice the Midshipmen went back to their berths with their anchors just a little bit heavier. In the first meeting, Vlad Moldoveanu went crazy with the impaling and went off for 37 points. AU pulled off the win, 69-59 in front of a stunned Bender crowd. In the second meeting in Annapolis, AU won a stunner in double overtime 80-77. Joe "the Mountain" Hill hit a basket at the end of the first OT to send it into another OT period where the Eagles pulled out the W. In the third meeting, in Bender Arena, the Eagles squeaked by 62-60 on the back of Lump's career-high 29 points and, at the time, third straight double-double.

Key losses - Losing a first team all-PL guy is always a tough loss, but when that guy is your team's backbone and heart and soul, the way Chris Harris was for Navy, it makes the loss even tougher. Chris Harris, as much as I derided him during the game, is someone worthy of tremendous respect. He was a gamer for sure. Absolutely clutch at times, always professional, played through pain, couldn't be shaken psychologically. The guy is and was special. He's a big loss for Navy. They also lost two other support players in T.J. Topercer and Scott Brooks, who I think they'll be alright without (cue sarcasm).

Key additions - Navy brings in six, COUNT 'EM, six freshmen. A pair of 6'7" forwards will probably see the court a bit to spell sophomore Alex Newsome and senior Mark Veazey, but I don't see the guards getting a ton of play. The Midshipmen are guard heavy with senior Greg Brown, the talented Jordan Sugars, O.J. Avworo, and Romeo Garcia. Unless there's a C.J. McCollum in their midst, I don't think we'll be learning the names of any of the freshmen guards, at least for a year or two.

Non-conference - Navy has arguably the easiest out of conference schedule in the Patriot League. They open up against Texas, but after that they shouldn't be challenged again until they play George Washington at the BB&T Classic (okay, arguably Mt. St. Mary's could give them a challenge too). Aside from that, with the level of experience Navy has, they should emerge from their non-conference games relatively unscathed.

Outlook against the Eagles - I think the Eagles should expect to take a split with Navy this season. Chris Harris is a big loss, but Jordan Sugars follows in a long tradition of talented Navy guards (Kaleo Kina, before Harris, was also AU's bane). In addition to Sugars, Romeo Garcia has the ability to go Garrison Carr-unconscious and just shoot lights out. O.J. Avworo is no slouch either. Additionally, any time you have a senior big man, like the Midshipmen do in Mark Veazey, it means you can't assume the battle in the paint is going to be easy. Navy is a talented bunch. If they can fix the defensive woes that constantly seem to plague them (ironically they're the polar opposite of Army, who is all defense and no offense), they could compete for the PL title.

Pro deo et patria and GO EAGLES!