Navy guard Chris Harris. (Naval Academy photo)
Projected seed
4in the Patriot League tournament: With three returning starters, including graceful-shooting senior Chris Harris, the Midshipmen appear to have the ingredients to stir in the Patriot League behind favorites Holy Cross and Lehigh. But when the conference’s preseason poll was released, Navy landed with a thud at No. 7. “There is not much difference in this league between 10-4 and 8-6 and 4-10,” said Coach Billy Lange, entering his sixth season. “It literally comes down to very few possessions.” Picked seventh two years ago, the Midshipmen finished second. Projected at No. 6 last season, they claimed third place. But the Midshipmen have been eliminated in the first round of the Patriot League tournament eight straight years, including four times in overtime.Player to watch
Chris Harris, Sr., G, 6-2: The Midshipmen boasted the league’s leading scorer the past two seasons, and in Harris they could make it three in a row. He was third in the Patriot League last season at 15.4 points per game; made 85 three-pointers, the second-highest total in program history; and converted 93 percent of his free throws in the last four minutes or overtime.Stories to follow
He’s back: Junior guard Romeo Garcia returns from a hamstring injury that limited him to nine appearances last season.
New starter?: Sophomore guard Jordan Sugars has had an impressive preseason and might start.
Tested early: The first big nonconference tests come in December against George Washington and at Seton Hall.
SCHEDULE
NOVEMBER
13, at Radford, 7; 15, at Longwood, 4; 19, Buffalo, 7; 21, at Long Island, 7; 24, Towson, 7; 28, Mount St. Mary’s, 7; 30, Quinnipiac, 7.
DECEMBER
4, Pennsylvania, 7; 6, George Washington, 5*; 9, at UMES, 7; 12, at Wofford, 3; 22, at Seton Hall, 7; 30, Coppin State, 7.
JANUARY
2, Elon, 7; 4, at Howard, 7; 9, at Bucknell, 7; 14, Lehigh, 7; 16, Lafayette, 7; 20, at Holy Cross, 7; 23, Army, noon; 27, at American, 7:30; 30, Colgate, 7.
FEBRUARY
6, Bucknell, 7; 10, at Lehigh, 7; 13, at Lafayette, 1; 17, Holy Cross, 7; 20, at Army, 2; 24, American, 7; 27, at Colgate, 2.
MARCH
3, 7, 12, Patriot League tournament.
*BB&T Classic at Verizon Center
ROSTER
| No. | Name | Yr. | Pos. | Ht. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ted Connolly | Soph. | G | 6-3 |
| 2 | Montez Blair | Fr. | G | 6-3 |
| 5 | Chris Harris | Sr. | G | 6-2 |
| 10 | Greg Brown | Jr. | G | 6-4 |
| 15 | Romeo Garcia | Jr. | G | 6-4 |
| 21 | T.J. Topercer | Sr | F | 6-7 |
| 23 | O.J. Avworo | Jr. | G | 6-0 |
| 25 | Jordan Sugars | Soph. | G | 6-3 |
| 31 | Pete Banos | Fr. | C | 6-10 |
| 32 | Scott Brooks | Sr. | F | 6-6 |
| 33 | Alex Newsome | Fr. | C | 6-9 |
| 40 | Jeremy Wilson | Jr. | C | 6-10 |
| 44 | Mark Veazey | Jr. | C | 6-11 |
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