2019-2020 Patriot League preview: Can Bucknell hold onto the top spot?

Army Black Knights
Last season: 11-19 (6-12, 7th)
Predicted finish this season: 10th

Key returners (last season’s stats)
F- Kate Murray, 6’0, SR: 7.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 21.3 MPG, 16 starts
G- Morgann Yancey, 5’8, SR: 4.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 38 3PT FGs made, 20.5 MPG, 22 starts

G-Libby Tacka, 5’9, SR: 5.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 24.7 MPG, 9 starts

G-Sarah Bohn, 5’7, SO: 4.2 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 23.6 MPG, 12 starts

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)
F- Madison Hovren, 5’11- 19.1 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 45.0% FG, led team in steals with 39, 33.3 MPG, 30 starts, led Patriot League in scoring and rebounding, First Team All-Patriot League (graduated)
G- Jess Lewis, 5’9- 8.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 5.2 APG, led Patriot League in assists, 34.1 MPG, 30 starts (graduated)

Newcomers
F- Kamryn Hall, 5’11, (Sacramento, CA), FR: Versatile forward who can handle the ball, a physical presence in the paint, consistent mid-range jumper and ability to score from three-point range, played for C.K. McClatchy High School

F- Sabria Hunter, 6’1, (Austintown, OH), FR: Power forward with touch around the rim, can score off the dribble, named First Team All-Northeast Ohio Region as a senior, all-time leading scorer and rebounder for Austintown Fitch High School, four-time First Team All-Conference
G- Natalie Rhine, 5’6, (Allentown, PA), FR: Combo-guard, graduated Bethlehem Catholic in 2018, won Class 4A state title in 2017, attended a prep year for United States Military Academy Preparatory School last season, high school teammate of incoming freshman, Hope Brown
G- Hope Brown, 5’9, (Phillipsburg, NJ), FR: Shooting guard, graduated Bethlehem Catholic in 2018, won Class 4A state title there in 2017, attended a prep year for United States Military Academy Preparatory School last season, high school teammate of incoming freshman, Natalie Rhine. Played freshman and sophomore seasons at Phillipsburg High School. 1,000-point scorer for career

G- Summer Emblem, 5’9, (China Spring, TX), FR: Three-time All-District selection for China Spring High School, First Team All-Super Selection as a senior

G- Espi Varoz, 5’3, (Albuquerque, NM), FR: Combo-guard with three-point range, two time First Team All-State selection, Second Team All-State honoree, four-time First Team All-District, played for West Mesa High School

G- Jaida Strippoli, 5’6, (Ossining, NY), FR: Quick point guard, a New York All-State selection, four-time All-League, four-time all-section, team claimed two Class AA state championships for Ossining High School

Head Coach: Dave Magarity, 14th season

Record at Army: 248-150

Career NCAA record: 561-485 (253-259 at D1 Marist Men’s Basketball, 60-76 at D1 St. Francis (PA) Men’s Basketball)

Magarity is headed into his 37th year on the bench as a head coach, his 14th for the women’s team at West Point.  He’s guided the program to two Patriot League titles in 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 while overseeing the most successful stretch in school history.

Last season’s 11-19 mark snapped a streak of six-consecutive winning seasons.  Seven freshman joined the team last year and seven more join them this year. If youth is to be served at Army this season, Magarity will need to rely on his experience to shape the young group into a playoff contender.  Good thing for him, he’s got plenty of it–the veteran coach has been on the bench for over 1,000 games as a head coach. This year will be a test he’s passed before but, in a league with more parity than ever, he’ll need to find the answers early.

Key non-conference games:
Nov. 5- v. William & Mary
Nov. 10– at Arizona State
Nov. 26- v. TCU
Dec. 9- at St. John’s
Dec. 29- v. Bryant

Outlook: The youth movement is in full effect on the hardcourt at West Point. Seven freshmen will join seven sophomores and five upperclassmen to form one of the youngest teams in the league. First team All-Patriot star Madison Hoven has graduated. She led the league in both scoring and rebounding and anchored a struggling team last season. They’ll miss her big time. Her physicality and competitiveness pushed Army all season. Point guard Jess Lewis, who was the league-leader in assists, has also graduated.  She was a steady hand out there and a tough defender. These are some big shoes to fill.

It looks like another reset of a season for the Black Knights. They’ll be an athletic group with several new faces likely to get playing opportunities.  And while the inexperience of a younger team can lead to costly mistakes, it can also lead to surprising results—both good and bad, but probably a little more of the latter.

Army will play physical and rebound well but until they can put together a unit that can score consistently, it might be long season at West Point.  If anyone can figure out and help direct this youthful unit to an improved season, it’s Magarity. He’ll need to come up with the answers or they’ll be facing a finish near the bottom of the league.

Best Case Scenario: The Knights embrace the youth movement and the freshman class proves surprisingly successful to grab some key early-season wins in conference play. Senior Morgann Yancey expands on her three-point game and converts at a career-best rate. Classmate Katelyn Murray provides great post play and Army stays competitive through their re-build.

Worst Case Scenario: Coming off a season in which it had difficulty scoring, this Army team finds it an even greater struggle to score without Madison Hovren. Lots of new faces translate to lots of mistakes and the losses mount. The Knights find themselves in a battle to avoid a last-place finish.

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