Colgate looking to become this year鈥檚 Cinderella team
HAMILTON, N.Y. (BVM) 鈥� Colgate men鈥檚 basketball is getting used to this time of year with its second consecutive berth in NCAA tournament action. With the Raiders鈥� victory in the Patriot League championship, head coach Matt Langel has secured one of the best five–year stretches in program history, becoming the only New York team in this year鈥檚 tournament.
Following Selection Sunday, the Raiders secured the No. 14 seed in the NCAA tournament in back-to-back years. The matchup against No. 3-seeded Wisconsin will provide a likely-road environment, with the game being played at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
“I am super excited for the next step and for these guys to have the chance to play on this stage in this event with all of the fans,” Langel . “This experience is what makes this time of year so special. To be a part of it and to be in a venue like Fiserv playing in front of a great crowd will be an awesome experience and one that I know our guys are excited about.”
Colgate will look to use the experience they picked up from last season, returning all but one of the team鈥檚 starters that faced off against Arkansas in the Round of 64. The veteran group won鈥檛 be surprised this time around by the step-up in competition as they ride into tournament action on a 15-game winning streak.
“The Big Ten is one of the best basketball conferences if not the single best conference in the country,鈥� . 鈥淲isconsin has veteran, experienced players. They are extremely well coached and very disciplined 鈥� a lot of things that we’ve tried to model our program after 鈥� team over self and super consistent game in and game out.”
With a target on their backs after an impressive 2021 season, Colgate found a way to get past some early–season struggles, dominating Patriot League competition behind a 16-2 conference record this season. Led by Jack Ferguson, Patriot League tournament MVP, Tucker Richardson, a selection to the all-Patriot League tournament team, and Nelly Cummings, the trio of guards paced the Raiders throughout the rough stretch to open the season.聽
The team鈥檚 4-10 start put Colgate behind the eight ball until early January. From then on, the Raiders would only lose one of the next 20 games. The streak would pave the way for Colgate as they headed into the Patriot League tournament as the No. 1 seed. Following wins over Bucknell and Lehigh, Colgate found themselves one win away from another tournament bid.聽
The newfound momentum would continue for the Raiders in the championship matchup聽 as they showed that their early season struggles were far behind them in a win over Navy. With a now battled–tested team, this year鈥檚 group has put themselves in a familiar spot heading into hostile territory.
鈥淚 feel like the luckiest coach in the country,鈥� Langel . 鈥淚 basically coach a team with zero issues. It鈥檚 truly a special, special group, and I think you can see it in the way they play the game.鈥�
The turnaround on the season has only added to Lange鈥檚 recent resume. After taking over in 2011, the Colgate coach now has five straight seasons with an above .500 record along with three NCAA tournament appearances. The change in the program has already allowed Lange to put himself in rare territory, becoming the first coach in Raiders history to reach the tournament more than twice.聽
Along with Lange, his senior guards will make their final run at March success, as they finish their careers with three trips to the NCAA Tournament. With their older group getting their second and third cracks at the Big Dance, the Raiders are hoping to be this year’s bracket busters.
