We’re just hours away from the season tip-off for most of the Patriot League. Four teams start on the road tonight, with Colgate and Army hosting their season openers. Bucknell kicks off the season tomorrow night at Albany, and Holy Cross opens at home Sunday. Here is a little preview of the teams that Patriot League squads will be facing tonight as the season opens up.

Lehigh at Oregon, 10:00 pm:
Oregon is led by Malik Hairston, a big scorer who can shoot and slash equally well. He’s a tough rebounder and shot blocker as well. Point guard Aaron Brooks is a good passer but sometimes tries to force his own shot. The Ducks have a very deep and talented backcourt behind those two, but not a lot of firepower up front. Their forwards will dwarf Lehigh’s in size, but not in scoring potential.

Oregon is going to pose quite a challenge for the Mountain Hawks. Oregon can throw a variety of guards at the freshman point guard Marquis Hall, pressuring him on offense, and can keep fresh legs on Jose Olivero all game. It’s difficult to imagine Lehigh pulling this one out. If they do, it will be on the strength of a great offensive game by forwards Jason Mgebroff and Bryan White.

Stony Brook at Colgate, 7:00 pm:
After a disastrous 2005-06, Stony Brook brought in a very strong freshman class, led by outside shooter Kyle Wright and athletic wing Marcus Robinson. Additionally, GWU transfer Ricky Lucas and holdover Mitchell Beauford make a strong backcourt combo. Up front, Stony Brook has a couple of very raw centers, led by Andrew Goba, and an undersized forward in Tre Cunningham.

This is the oddest of occurrences: A Patriot League team with a size advantage. The Chones brothers should be able to push around their opponents on offense, and Marc Daniels will be able to play help defense as Goba is not a big scoring threat. Several Stony Brook players are going to be in their first career NCAA game. This game looks like a prime candidate for a Patriot League win.

Stetson at Army, 7:00 pm
Stetson returns only five player’s from last year’s squad. They’re led by two-guard Gabe McMillen, the Hatters’ best returning scorer. J.J. Hirst and Eric Diaz, who frontcourt role players last year, will be asked to carry the offensive burden, especially against a team like Army that’s undersized in front.

Stetson is going to struggle in the early season with so many new faces, and if Matt Bell and Jarell Brown can hit their shots, Army will have a chance in this game. It seems to tall an order, though, to predict an Army victory here.

American at Fairfield, 7:00 pm
Fairfield’s Michael Van Schaick, a tough three-point shooter, spearheads the offense. Danny Oglesby and Jonathan Han, a pair of good shooters, round out Fairfield’s backcourt. Fairfield forwards Geoff Middleton and Mamadou Diakhate are quick, but at 6-9 and 6-6 respectively they are undersized compared to American’s frontcourt.

If these really are the new Eagles, with more focus on frontcourt scoring, then this game could be a coming-out party for Brayden Billbe and Paulius Joneliunas. Fairfield can match American’s backcourt, though, so if the Eagles play the way they did last year, Fairfield should handle them.

Lafayette at Wagner, 7:00 pm
Wagner’s Durell Vinson is a force, a good interior scorer and strong rebounder. Guard Mark Porter, a good shooter, will move over to the point this year for the Seahawks. Wagner has an undersized frontcourt, led by 6-6 James Ulrich and 6-5 Doug Elwell.

Lafayette is lining up with a team they can handle. Wagner is similar to the Leopards: A lot of wing players, not much on the interior. Wagner has better shooters, which should be the difference, but Lafayette has a chance.

Navy at Loyola (Md.), 6:00 pm
Loyola is coming off its first winning season in over a decade. Loyola is led by slasher Gerald Brown, a transfer from Providence. Josko Alujevic and Jawaan Wright provide some interior strength, and Shane James is a do-everything guard.

Loyola is a tough team, and reports are Navy is not playing well heading into the season opener. It’s tough to imagine the Midshipmen pulling together and dispatching a tough opponent in Loyola.

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