OUTLOOK First round: Lost to Temple, 73-47
Lafayette shoots lots of three-pointers, and Brian Ehlers is the ring leader. Ehlers, the Patiot League's two-time MVP, is a stoic personality, but also a killer. He can score, has a quick first step and shoots from the perimeter well. To beat Temple and and its matchup zone, three-point shooting is a necessity.
The Leopards have a very experienced point guard in Tim Bieg, who likes shooting the three-point shot. Tyson Whittfield, who played well in the league final against Navy, also likes to shoot from long-distance. He gets his shot off extremely quickly. Ehlers, Bieg and Whittfield will have to play well against Temple.
Inside, Lafayette has Stefan Ciosici, who at 6-foot-11, 260 pounds is a scorer and rebounder and was the Patriot League MVP two years ago. He sat out last season with an ACL tear, but he is back and playing very well. Frank Barr is a 7-foot reserve who will play a lot against Temple because of the size situation. The Leopards' best outside shooter is Brian Burke, who broke the Patriot record this season by hitting 49 free throws in a row.
Lafayette enters the tournament with great confidence. Not only did the Leopards win 24 games, but they also won't be intimidated because they played in the tournament last year and have everyone back. -- Bob Wenzel, ESPN
ROSTER
PROBABLE STARTERS |
F -- Tim Bieg (5-11, Jr., 8.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.0 apg)
F -- Tyson Whittfield (6-4, Jr., 12.6, 4.0, 2.2)
C -- Stefan Ciosici (6-11, Sr., 11.3, 6.6, 1.1)
G -- Brian Ehlers (6-4, Sr., 17.4, 4.6, 3.3)
G -- Rob Worthington (6-6, So., 3.7, 2.9, 0.5)
|
|
TOP RESERVES |
G -- Brian Burke (6-5, So., 7.3, 1.3, 2.2)
C -- Frank Barr (7-0, Jr., 6.3, 3.9, 0.6)
G -- Reggie Guy (6-3, So., 2.1, 0.9, 0.7)
F -- Michael Kuberka (6-10, So., 2.0, 2.2, 0.5)
F -- Nate Klinkhammer (6-8, Sr., 1.2, 1.3, 0.4)
|
NOTABLE
Seed, Region and Bid: 15, East, Conference Champion
Total NCAA Tournament Bids: 4
NCAA Tournament Record: 0-3 (.000)
Final Four Appearances: 0
NCAA Tournament Championships: 0
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: Regional semifinals (1957)
Final ESPN/USA Today ranking: NR
Final Associated Press ranking: NR
Final Ratings Percentage Index: 119
Final Sagarin Computer Ranking: 125
RECORD VS. RANKED TEAMS (0-0)
(Opponents ranking reflects ranking on game day)
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Overall Record: 0-3 (.000)
1999--Fifteenth seed in East Region
Lost to Miami, Florida, in first round, 75-54
1957--East Region
Lost to Syracuse in regional semifinal, 75-71
Lost to Canisius in regional third place, 82-76
Record by Region:
In East: 0-2 (.000)
In South/Southeast: 0-0 (.000)
In Midwest: 0-0 (.000)
In West: 0-0 (.000)
Record by Seed:
As a 15th seed: 0-1 (.000)
|