Each team in the Patriot League is about two weeks away from starting their out-of-conference schedule. All eight teams have pressing questions about the 2006-2007 season that need to be addressed in the preseason. In no particular order, here are 20 of the biggest questions about Patriot League teams:

1. With Charles Lee and Kevin Bettencourt graduated, who will step up as the emotional leaders at Bucknell?

2. Is Holy Cross’s Keith Simmons going to be able to overcome his body cramps and play a maximum amount of minutes?

3. Is Alex Woodhouse’s knee recovered enough for him to play a big role at Colgate?

4. Will one or both of freshmen Marquis Hall and Matt Shamis show an ability to run the point for Lehigh from the start of this season, or will that job fall to Jose Olivero?

5. Can Georgetown transfer Cornelio Guibunda provided much-needed beef for American’s frontcourt?

6. Is Army’s Marshall Jackson going to be able to change his stripes and act as the Black Knights’ point guard?

7. Will Lafayette’s 6-10 freshman Marek Koltun show enough polish to earn serious minutes from the start of this season?

8. Between Corey Johnson and Kaleo Kina, who will run the point for Navy?

9. After Billy Taylor flirted with leaving Lehigh, will he and his team still be on the same page?

10. Will Bucknell go with the great shooter Jason Vegotsky or the more well-rounded John Griffin at the starting off-guard position?

11. Can Colgate’s Jon Simon smoothly transition from shooting guard back to the point?

12. Are Pat Doherty, Torey Thomas and Colin Cunningham’s injuries going to be fully healed by the start of the season?

13. With Derrick Mercer, Linas Lekavicius and Andre Ingram penned into the starting lineup, how will American coach Jeff Jones find playing time for Arydas Eitutavicius and Garrison Carr?

14. Are Lafayette’s Marcus Harley and Derek Heckendorn healthy and sharp enough to run the point after a full year off the court each?

15. Can 6-11 senior Jimmy Sewell become an offensive player for Army to match his defensive ability?

16. Will returning Ben Biles and freshman Trey Stanton step up offensively and provide enough frontcourt power to open the game up for Navy’s great backcourt scorers?

17. Can longtime sixth man Donald Brown adjust to being an offensive focus for Bucknell?

18. Can Jason Mbegroff fulfill his promise and become an imact post player for Lehigh?

19. Has Holy Cross’s Alex Vander Baan beefed up enough to bang on the boards with other Patriot League bigs?

20. After a dissappointing (relative to preseason expectations) 2006 season, can Colgate coach Emmett Davis keep his squad focused and positive?

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