At long last, we’ve reached our final pre-Patriot League play ranking. Six teams have midweek tune-up games this week, with only Bucknell and Lafayette resting, before Saturday marks the opening day of conference games.

The last seven days have seen only a handful of games as the players were focusing on final exams. There will be a lot more action this week, as teams begin to prepare for league play.

It’s becoming a bit of a cliche: Patriot League team plays power conference team. Patriot League team stays close for 20-30 minutes. Patriot League team loses by double digits in the end.

The Patriot League had another big week, going 14-6 overall. No individual school was worse than .500 on the week. These big preseason performances help the entire league, and when conference play begins every team’s RPI is better off for the league’s overall performance. Light schedule on deck this week, with student-athletes across the country prepping for final exams.

This week saw Bucknell become the last Patriot League squad to get a win (at Yale) and Holy Cross become the last to take a loss (at Syracuse). The league has finally fallen a game under .500. On the docket this week: Nine home games for league teams and just six road games (plus a neutral-site Bucknell/George Mason clash).