Holy Cross Crusaders
Record: 14-19 (5-13 Patriot League)
Head Coach: Bill Carmody (1st season)
Season Recap: Holy Cross closed out the regular season second-to-last in the league with its fifth straight loss, falling 83-68 to Boston University. The Crusaders ranked dead last in field goal percentage, shooting at a 41.3 percent clip, but caught fire when it counted, winning four tournament games on the road. As the No. 9 seed, Holy Cross knocked off both of the top two seeds to claim its sixth league title and 13th NCAA tournament berth, outlasting top-seeded Bucknell 77-72 in double overtime in the second round and shocking Lehigh in the championship game with a 15-2 run that led to a 59-56 win.
Three Crusaders are averaging in double figures—Malachi Alexander, Robert Champion and Karl Charles. At least one of the three exploded for 20 or more points in all but one of their tournament games, including a combined 47 points from Charles and Alexander in the first round against Loyola.
How they make a run: An upset-minded Holy Cross keeps its momentum going from the Patriot League Tournament and makes it into the field of 64 with a win against Southern University.
How they falter: The Crusaders are outmuscled on the glass as they were in four of their last five games of the regular season and cannot establish a rhythm on their possessions, leading to a loss in the play-in game.
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