Darren Mastropaolo does not light up the stats sheets. His rebounds and points, about three-and-a-half of each per game, hardly impress the casual fans, who tend to see the game, and judge players, by those sorts of numbers.

They don't keep stats for charges drawn, or picks set, or individual defense, so Mastropaolo's contributions get overlooked by the fans. For the same reason, writers who call him the second-best big man in the Patriot League get flack for such statements every time they make them.

Coaches judge players differently than fans, though. They watch hours of film, breaking down what opponents do on offense, trying to figure out ways to stop them. They see the things that don't show up in box scores, and they notice Mastropaolo.

"If you were in our locker room and heard our scouting reports, he gets an awful lot of credit from opposing teams," said American coach Jeff Jones after his team lost to Mastropaolo and the Bison Sunday in the league tournament semifinals.

"He is not a scorer, that is definitely not one of his strengths. He is a space eater. That might seem insignificant, but offensively and defensively, he occupies space and puts a body on people that allows McNaughton and his other teammates to move freely," said Jones.

"It's like a nose guard in football, taking on the double team and allowing the linebackers to move around . . . He is an important cog in that machine."

Jones also raved about the way Mastropaolo helps Bucknell's scorers get open.

"He is a great screener. That might not sound that sexy, but when you have shooters like a Bettencourt or (Jason) Vegotsky, or when you have great players like Lee, that puts the offensive players at an advantage. That puts the defensive players at a disadvantage. He is an important cog in that machine," Jones said.

And Bettencourt said Mastropaolo's three for three shooting against American was no fluke.

"I think you will see down the line, he can score. He doesn't maybe get the opportunities. He had three baskets today, three for three. He can do some things, it's just not his role right now," Bettencourt said.

MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY -- Pre-game introductions are handled a little different in tournament games. Instead of introducing the visiting team first, then the home side, players are introduced by position, one from each team, with the two meeting at halfcourt for a quick shake of hands.

But when swingmen Charles Lee of Bucknell and Andre Ingram of American, two guys who have matched up eight times over the past three seasons, greeted each other, they went beyond the usual handshakes, hugging briefly, and exchanging a pat on the back and a quick whisper in each other's ear.

So what was that all about?

"I have a lot of respect for Charles. He is the best player I have ever had to defend and play against in the Patriot League. I just told him congratulations on being the Player of the Year. He has had a great season. He showed why he was Player of the Year tonight. He is just a phenomenal player. He moves without the ball well, defends like crazy; he is a great player," Ingram said.

"We always have a few words for each other every time we play. It's just respect, thatafterwards

Told afterwords what Ingram had said, Lee expressed appreciation for the compliments and returned them in kind.

This was the last time the two will meet, at least in college. Ingram will be back next year for another season, but Lee is set to graduate in May.

BEST EVER? -- Jeff Jones has only been around the Patriot League for five seasons, but in that short time, he has seen some pretty good teams in the league. The 2002-2003 Holy Cross team went 13-1 in league play, 26-5 overall, beating Jones' Eagles in the league final for the second straight season.

AU was also on the short end of the 2003-2004 final, won by Lehigh.

None of those teams quite measure up to Bucknell in his estimation.

"I thought a year ago, going into the Patriot League tournament, that Holy Cross' team last year was the best one I'd seen in my four years in the Patriot League. I certainly believed that. But this Bucknell team, I think it is safe to say, is the best Patriot League team that I have seen," Jones said. "They don't have any glaring weaknesses."

REVENGE FACTOR -- To those with longer memories, last year's Bucknell win at Holy Cross in the final evened the score from the 1993 final, when second seed Holy Cross stole the title from the top-seeded Bison in Bucknell's Davis Gym.

To others, especially Holy Cross partisans with shorter memories, this Friday's game is the Crusaders' chance to exact revenge for last season.

"I am sure they will try to use it as some sort of motivation. I know we probably would. It wasn't a good way for their season to end last year. They felt they deserved it. I am sure they are going to come try to take it to us, just like we did to them last year," Bettencourt said.

Lee said last year's game has little relevance beyond motivation.

"That team they had last year was a lot different. They have different guys doing different things now. We will be a lot more focused on the first time we played them this year and the second time we played them this year instead of last year, instead of worrying about last year. Last year is over," Lee said.

"Hopefully we can try to celebrate on our home court. It will be a new experience," Bettencourt said.

And the Bison senior said Bucknell fans need not worry that Holy Cross will have a motivational edge.

Said Bettencourt, "We'll be ready."

TEDDY FACTOR -- Every time Bucknell and Holy Cross meet, somebody can be counted on to bring up the fact that Bettencourt's older brother, Teddy, was a four-year letterwinner for the Crusaders and captained HC's 1006 team.

Matter of fact, Ted Bettencourt was a freshman on that HC team that stole the '93 championship game in Davis. But his younger brother said that won;t make a whole lot of difference to him as he prepares for Friday's final.

"We are just excited to be in the championship game. Holy Cross is just another team. I know they build that up because of my brother going there, but this will probably be the 12th time I have played them," Bettencourt said.

"It's the championship game. I don't look at who we'll be playing. It is not any extra incentive. They are a good team. They are well coached and I have a lot of respect for them. That is where it ends."

THIS AND THAT -- Bucknell has now won 20 in a row against Patriot League opponents, 26 in a row at home against league foes and 12 in a row overall at Sojka . . . Bucknell is the 16th No. 1 seed to advance to the league final in 16 seasons of Patriot League play . . . Bucknell's seniors have won 76 games in their Bucknell careers, fifth most of any class in school history . . . a win in the final would move them into a tie for third on that list with the classes of 1993 and 1986 . . . a win in the final and a win in the NCAA Tournament would ties the class of 1989 for second . . . No. 1 on that list is the class of 1987 . . . That mark is probably safe for now, the Bison would need to reach the NCAA championship game to equal their 82 wins . . . This year's juniors, though, should have a shot at that mark. They have won 62 games thus far in their first three years . . . Lost in the shuffle of the opening round win over Army was Bettencourt's 1,500th career point . . . with his 16 against American he moved past Mike Joseph into fifth on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,524 . . . Bettncourt needs 11 points to tie Jaye Andrews for fourth on that list.