American University hired Duane Simpkins to take men’s basketball to a higher level. The way the season started last year — beating teams that they were expected to beat, like Siena, and losing to the better teams, like Villanova — was a good sign. It showed that the team knew how to win and wasn’t folding under the new coach.
Coming into conference play, the Eagles went over .500 and entered the conference tournament as the 4-seed. The Eagles' fan base had high hopes going into the first round of the Patriot League tournament against 5-seed Bucknell, who American already beat twice last year. While beating a team three times in a single season is difficult, nobody could have predicted the massacre that would ensue to end the Eagles’ season.
Coming into this year, the American men’s basketball team needs confidence, believing they can go far into the postseason. This confidence must continue through the whole season and not fade away as the season goes on. From the way the season ended last year, this was not the mindset of the players. It was embarrassing not only for the players and coaches but also for the fans who were anticipating an extended postseason.
These results can only happen if certain aspects of the game change within the team. One statistic, the only one where the Eagles fared worse than their opponents last season, was turnovers. The Eagles averaged just under 11 turnovers per game, which is not too alarming. However, they forced fewer turnovers on opposing teams, creating an opportunity for those teams to rack up points on the Eagles.
These goals have to be met, and strong leadership is needed on the team. Graduate student Matt Rogers, a 6-foot-9-inch forward who averaged over 16 points and six rebounds per game last season, is set to once again be the Eagles’ most productive player after being named the preseason Patriot League player of the year. Rogers will need to bring leadership skills along with his skills as a player. The Eagles’ other returning players, such as senior Elijah Stephens and sophomore Matt Mayock, need to bring leadership to this particularly young roster.
If small mistakes can be fixed as they occur throughout the season, the Eagles will find success in time for the Patriot League tournament. They are due for a successful season too. The last time the Eagles made the NCAA Tournament, the iPhone 6 was the newest Apple product and its current players were in elementary and middle school. After 11 years, the Eagles should be ready to go back.
I expect the Eagles to be highly competitive this season and live up to, if not exceed, their preseason prediction of finishing second in the Patriot League. They will have difficult games throughout the season, but if the Eagles can confidently put up a fight in those games and retain that confidence no matter the results, they are in a position for a successful season.
This article was edited by Penelope Jennings, Delaney Hoke and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Emma Brown, Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Ariana Kavoossi, Ella Rousseau and Nicole Kariuki.
