Colgate Ready to Open Title Defense

Raiders looking for another league title after tough non-conference schedule

It's a new season for Colgate men's basketball.

After a tough non-conference schedule, which included an historic victory over Syracuse, the Raiders are charging into the Patriot League season, eager for a fresh start.

Colgate is looking to continue the success of last season, which ended with a 14-2 record and a ticket to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship as a 14th seed, the highest they've ever placed in the tournament. It was their second trip in three years to the big dance.

But to secure another shot at glory on the national stage, the team will have to battle through league competition, which was scheduled to start Jan. 1 at Lafayette, but the game was postponed because of COVID protocols involving the Lafayette men's basketball program. Instead, the Raiders will begin the season on Jan. 4 at Lehigh.

Winning on the road is never easy, said Head Men's Basketball Coach Matt Langel.

"In conference play, the games are all important," Langel said. "No matter how a team has done in non-league play, because our schedules are all different, the league is a new season and a fresh start for all teams. This season, we start on the road, and any coach will tell you that winning on the road in conference is a challenge."

The pandemic prevented the Raiders from playing non-league games last season. But this year, Colgate had the benefit of a full non-conference schedule with road games against teams like NC State, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, St. John's, and Northeastern. It was a grueling test unlike any Colgate had seen in years.

"This is the most challenging non-conference schedule a team I have coached has played," said Langel, who's in his eleventh season as head coach.

The outcome was a struggle for the Raiders, who head into the conference season with a 4-9 record.

Nelly Cummings slices through the Pitt defense.

The Raiders, however, achieved one of the greatest victories in Colgate Athletics history when they pummeled Syracuse 100-85 in the Carrier Dome on Nov. 20. It was Colgate's first win over their crosstown rivals since 1962, going winless in 54 attempts before that game.

What followed was elation among Colgate students and alumni. The feedback from fans was greater than anything the team had seen during its March Madness runs.

It was a special moment for the players. But with their next opponent — a road game at Harvard — days away, Colgate had little time to savor the win.

The players say the tough schedule will prepare them for league games.

"Just being able to play teams not in our conference that present challenges every single game have been important for us," Nelly Cummings '22 said. "We've been through some tough times together. Losing isn't easy, especially after winning so much. We feel very confident that once we get our mojo back, we will be rolling."

Colgate has dominated the Patriot League over the last four seasons, going a combined 50-16 with four straight appearances in the conference championship, winning two titles. The Raiders were picked second in this year's preseason poll behind Boston University.

Jack Ferguson '22 said the team hopes to use the experiences from their previous March Madness appearances to take the next step.

"When I first got here four years ago, our goal was to win the Patriot League and make the March Madness tournament," he said. "Now that we've done that twice, our goals have been elevated. A lot of us want to win a game in March Madness."

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Players Mentioned

#0 Nelly Cummings: G; 6' 0"; Junior

#13 Jack Ferguson: G; 6' 3"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#0 Nelly Cummings
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G

#13 Jack Ferguson
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

Players Mentioned

#0 Nelly Cummings

#13 Jack Ferguson

Players Mentioned

#0 Nelly Cummings

#13 Jack Ferguson