“BACKCOURT CLUB NEWS”
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF
THE MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM
FEBRUARY 2017 • VOL. 8, NO. 2 • LEWISBURG, PA 17837
A NOTE FROM HEAD COACH NATHAN DAVIS
Dear Friends of Bison Basketball,
It is hard to believe that the postseason tournament has
arrived. It has been over two and a half months since we
opened our season at home versus Manhattan. There have
been ups and downs as there are with any season. Fortunately, to this point we have had more ups than downs.
So far, our team has displayed the characteristic that I
feel is vital to success moving forward. That characteristic
is mental toughness. I could not be more pleased with
how our players have responded to adversity throughout
our season. Their ability to bounce back when things are not going as we would
like has been fantastic.
We still have a long way to go and a great deal of improvement is necessary for us
to conclude our season the way we hope. We have shown tremendous improvement
in a number of areas, but we must understand that there is not a single area that we
can not still improve.
The postseason road ahead will be challenging and long. Fortunately, our players
have shown they possess the characteristics necessary to be successful. I can not tell
you how excited I am by the prospects of this team moving forward. It will not and
it should not be easy, but I believe we are up for the challenge.
I hope to see you in Sojka for the Patriot League Tournament later this week.
Go Bison!
Sincerely,
Nathan Davis
Men’s Basketball Coach
Bison Seniors and Their Families
FOULLAND NAMED
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BISON WELL REPRESENTED
ON ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
The Bucknell men’s basketball team
just won the Patriot League regular-season title by three
games over the
rest of the pack,
so it stood to reason that the Bison
would be handsomely rewarded
in the 2017 allleague balloting.
That notion was
realized
when
four players were
named to All-Patriot League Teams, including junior center Nana Foulland,
who became the second player in league
history to sweep the Patriot League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the
Year honors.
Foulland and junior forward Zach
Thomas were both First Team All-Patriot
League selections. Junior guard Stephen
Brown was named to the Second Team,
and sophomore guard Kimbal Mackenzie
was a Third Team honoree. In addition,
Foulland and Brown were both named
to the Patriot League All-Defensive
Team, and Nathan Davis garnered Patriot
League Coach of the Year honors for the
second year in a row.
Bucknell’s four all-conference selections were its most since 2012, when
See POSTSEASON HONORS, pg 3
Men’s Basketball Office Contact Information
Head Coach: Nathan Davis
Phone: 570-577-1267
E-Mail: [email protected]
Assistant Coach : John Griffin ’08
Phone: 570-577-1358
E-Mail: [email protected]
Assistant Coach: Paul Harrison
Phone: 570-577-3078
E-Mail: [email protected]
Assistant Coach: Joe Meehan
Phone: 570-577-3072
Email: [email protected]
Manager of Basketball Operations:
JB Brown
Phone: 570-577-3552
E-Mail: [email protected]
Fax: 577-1660 Web Site: www.bucknellbison.com
2016-2017
SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Date
Opponent 11/11
11/13
11/16
vs. Manhattan
at Wake Forest
vs. Robert Morris
Time / Result
W, 76-64
L, 94-74
W, 75-62
Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational
11/19 at Butler
L, 86-60
11/21 at Vanderbilt
W, 75-72
11/24 vs. Norfolk State#
W, 84-58
11/25 vs. No. Colorado#
W, 75-63
# - Las Vegas, Nevada
11/30
12/03
12/06
12/17
12/19
12/22
12/30
01/02
01/05
01/08
01/11
01/14
01/18
01/21
01/25
01/28
02/01
02/06
02/08
02/13
02/15
02/19
02/22
02/25
vs. Richmond
at La Salle
at Fairfield
at Siena
vs. Mount St. Mary’s
vs. Princeton
at Navy*
vs. Army-West Point*
at American*
at Holy Cross* vs. Lehigh*
at Colgate* vs. Loyola-Md.*
vs. Boston Univ.*
at Lafayette*
at Army-West Point* vs. American*
vs. Holy Cross*
at Lehigh*
vs. Colgate*
at Loyola-Md.*
at Boston Univ.*
vs. Lafayette*
vs. Navy*
W, 73-68
L, 83-73
W, 75-64
L, 71-68
W, 81-65
L, 72-70
W, 59-55
W, 84-76
W, 69-60
W, 68-49
L, 82-71
W, 83-69
W, 76-63
W, 70-59
W, 78-55
W, 96-75
W, 80-60
W, 82-68
L, 79-71
W, 75-58
L, 78-77
W, 86-66
W, 94-64
W, 82-60
Patriot League Tournament
(all games played at Sojka Pavilion)
03/02 Quarterfinals
7:00 p.m.
03/05 Semifinals
12 or 2 p.m.
03/08 Championship
7:30 p.m. ET
ALUMNI CORNER WITH
ABE BADMUS ’07
1. Where are you now and what are you doing?
I live in Williamsport, pa. I am the general manager at the
liberty arena, an affiliate of the liberty group.
2. What do you miss the most about your Bucknell playing days?
I miss my teammates. I miss Being around motivated and hungry guys who wanted to
succeed in everything they did.
3. What were you able to take
from your time as a Bucknell
student-athlete that has helped
you in your current career?
I’ve learned that you have to
earn the things you want in life.
It will take unmatched effort to
do so, but it is very much worth
it. Coach Flannery used to tell
us “nobody owes you anything”.
This is especially true in the corporate world. Competition is in
every aspect of business.
4. What advice would you give
the current student-athletes in
the Bucknell basketball program?
Don’t waste your time on things
that don’t contribute to you becoming a Better player/student/
person/teammate.
5. Of all the teams you played
against while at Bucknell, which
would you consider your biggest
rival?
That’s hard to answer because I
disliked them all pretty equally. I
think Holy cross was the best rival because they made us be at our best in order to beat
them.
THE DAY OF GIVING IS COMING!
Zach Thomas, All-Patriot
League 1st Team Selection
The chance for you to maximize your gift to Bucknell Basketball is
coming soon! Stay tuned for more information on the BISON MARCH
FOR EXCELLENCE ... a 24-hour day of giving to Bucknell Athletics
from 12:00 noon on March 21 to 12 noon on March 22.
Any gift to men’s basketball during that time period will help the
program potentially earn extra support in the MARCH FOR EXCELLENCE challenge. Go Bison!
The Official Newsletter for Bison MEN’S BASKETBALL Alumni, Friends & Supporters
Pg. 2
Q&A WITH JUNIOR
ZACH THOMAS
Zach Thomas has been one of the league’s most
versatile players this season. Thomas is the only
Patriot League player who ranks in the top 10 in
points (3rd), rebounds (6th) and assists (10th),
and he is the only player in the league who ranks
in the top 10 in all three shooting categories:
field-goal percentage (5th), 3-point percentage
(4th) and free-throw percentage (2nd). In all,
Thomas ranks in the top 12 in the Patriot League
in eight different statistical categories.
1. What have you enjoyed most about the season thus far?
I have enjoyed winning games and hanging with the squad.
2. What is your goal for Patriot League play?
Goal is to win the regular season championship and tournament.
3. What have you enjoyed most about your experience at Bucknell
thus far?
I’ve enjoyed getting to know the guys on our team the most and also
having a successful team.
4. What are your strengths as a basketball player?
Strengths are scoring and passing the ball.
5. What advice would you give to an incoming freshmen basketball
players?
The season is a long grind so make sure you know how to manage
your time and balance everything.
Q&A WITH
MATT O’REILLY
Matt O’Reilly has attempted 136 shots during
his career at Bucknell. Of those, 131 have come
from beyond the 3-point arc. He ranks 13th nationally in 3-point attempts per minute at 0.32.
1. What have you enjoyed most about the season
thus far?
I have enjoyed the rigor of our schedule. We’ve
played tough teams and had some tough road
trips but we’ve played well regardless which has been fun.
2. What is your goal for PL play?
My goal is to cement ourselves as the top of the league and get
home games throughout playoffs. More specifically I want to
have success in the PL tourney.
3. What have you enjoyed most about your experience at Bucknell thus far?
My teammates. I have been surrounded by great people which
have made my first two years great.
4. What are your strengths as a basketball player?
I think my ability to be vocal, have fun and specifically my ability to shoot.
5. What advice would you give to an incoming freshmen basketball players?
Come in with an open mind, understand that college basketball
is a lifestyle but it’s more than just the games and practices but
also about your teammates and the relationships that you develop
along the way.
POSTSEASON HONORS, cont. from pg. 1
Mike Muscala, Bryan Cohen, Cameron Ayers and Joe Willman
were all honored. The Bison have now garnered at least one first
team all-league selection in 31 of the last 34 years, dating back
to its days as a member of the East Coast Conference. This was
the first time Bucknell had two first-teamers since 2013 (Muscala
and Ayers).
2016-17 Men’s Basketball All-Patriot League Team
and Major Awards
Player of the Year: Nana Foulland, Bucknell (Jr., C)
Defensive Player of the Year: Nana Foulland, Bucknell (Jr., C)
Rookie of the Year: Will Rayman, Colgate (Fr., F)
Coach of the Year: Nathan Davis, Bucknell
First-Team All-Patriot League
Eric Fanning, Boston University (Sr., G)
Nana Foulland, Bucknell (Jr., C)
Zach Thomas, Bucknell (Jr, F)
Tim Kempton, Lehigh (Sr., C/F)
Andre Walker, Loyola Maryland (Jr., G)
Second-Team All-Patriot League
Justin Alston, Boston University (Sr., F)
Stephen Brown, Bucknell (Jr., G)
Kahron Ross, Lehigh (Jr., G)
Jarred Jones, Loyola Maryland (Sr., F)
Shawn Anderson, Navy (Jr., G)
Third-Team All-Patriot League
Kimbal Mackenzie, Bucknell (So., G)
Malachi Alexander, Holy Cross (Sr., F)
Matt Klinewski, Lafayette (Jr., F)
Nick Lindner, Lafayette (Sr. G)
Austin Price, Lehigh (Sr., G)
All-Defensive Team
Charlie Jones, American (Sr., G/F)
Nana Foulland, Bucknell (Jr, C)
Stephen Brown, Bucknell (Jr., G)
Malachi Alexander, Holy Cross (Sr., F)
Bryce Dulin, Navy (Jr., G)
Stephen Brown,
All-Patriot League
2nd Team Selection
& All-Defensive
Team Selection
All-Rookie Team
Sa’eed Nelson, American (Fr., G)
Mark Gasperini, American (Fr., F)
Tommy Funk, Army West Point (Fr., G)
Tyler Scanlon, Boston University (Fr., F)
Will Rayman, Colgate (Fr., F)
Kimbal Mackenzie,
All-Patriot
League
3rd Team
Selection
The Official Newsletter for Bison MEN’S BASKETBALL Alumni, Friends & Supporters
Pg. 3
Men’s Basketball Office
Bucknell University
One Dent Drive
Lewisburg, PA 17837
Q&A WITH THE CLASS OF 2021
JIMMY SOTOS, Chicago, Illinois (Conant High School) -- Point Guard
1. What are your strengths as a basketball player?
My shooting, court vision and the ability to make plays for myself and others
2. Why did you choose Bucknell?
Great combination of academics and basketball. Also, I want to play in the NCAA Tournament
and Bucknell has a great chance at that each year.
3. What do you think will be the biggest adjustment you will have to make as a college freshman?
Learning to play with a shot clock.
JOHN MEEKS, Graham, North Carolina (The Burlington School) -- Guard/
Wing
1. What are your strengths as a basketball player?
My strengths are playing hard, being versatile, and I am coachable
2. Why did you choose Bucknell?
I felt like it was the right fit. I will be getting a top-notch education while I play the game I love.
3. What do you think will be the biggest adjustment you will have to make as a college freshman?
The Official Newsletter for Bison MEN’S BASKETBALL Alumni, Friends & Supporters