Eighteen days ago the Eagles were 7-14 and 2-4 in league play.
After a heartbreaking loss to Bucknell the Eagles have won three of their last four and improved their overall record, and more importantly their record in the Patriot League.
With AU’s slight improvement, it now has the opportunity to place third in the PL as upsets scramble the Patriot League standings.
“Sitting here on this date,” Head Coach Jeff Jones said. “It’s probably as crazy at this point --- as unsettled at this point --- as it’s been in the past 12 years.”
The Eagles aren’t the only team in the mix. Entering Feb. 20 five teams still have a mathematical shot at the top spot in the conference. With the top seven teams, except for Bucknell, all with four games left, anything could happen.
“I do think it’s more wide open, not just because of us,” Jones said. “But look at Lafayette and the way they’ve been able, in certain games, to really turn it on and be really, really impressive.”
Lafayette and AU’s relationship in the standings is a great example of how close the standings are. With an AU win and a loss from Army and Lafayette, the Eagles can move into third. That spot currently belongs to Lafayette and is crucial for AU.
That spot in the standings insures the Eagles a home game in the PL tourney. If the Eagles lose their next game, then they will be in danger of playing on the road for the whole tournament.
That’s a problem for a team that’s 3-10 on the road.
There are four teams ahead of AU right now. However, the Eagles hold the tiebreaker over Lafayette and Colgate. AU still has one game left against Lafayette, a game they must win to seal the tie break in their favor. The Eagles also have another game against Army. With a win against the Black Knights, AU will split the season series.
Jones stressed all season that the team’s goal is to get better every day.
“We’ve really just tried to focus on ‘let’s get better,’” Jones said in December. “Let’s try to get better each and every day. So hopefully that will be the case.”
The Eagles come home for the last time in the regular season Feb. 23 against Army.
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