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Thursday, October 12, 2006
Clueless A Today
In today's USA Today, Bucknell is mentioned as one of McPaper's "Unsung teams worthy of attention".

We don't have a problem with that, or with the writer's analysis, which argues Bucknell's emphasis on defense should give the Bison a chance at another banner season.

But then the guy (or gal, we found no byline) tries getting cute by writing:
Once a regular resident of the Patriot League basement, Bucknell has had consecutive 20-plus win seasons in addition to consecutive first-round victories in the NCAA tournament (Kansas in 2005 and Arkansas in 2006).
Where do they get these ideas? It reminds us of a writer we encountered while covering the Amish shootings last week, who datelined their stories as coming from Paradise.

When it was pointed out that Paradise was actually a town about 6 miles away, the writer said, "That is O.K. Death in Paradise sounds better."

Yeah, but it is not true. Neither is the fairy tale about Bucknell rising from the depths of the league. In 16 years of Patriot League play, Bucknell has never finished in the Patriot League basement. Not once.

In fact, the Bison, who have won more Patriot League games than any other school, boast the best winning percentage in conference play of any school still in the conference. Bucknell has experienced only two losing seasons in conference play and has seven first or second place finishes over that span.

Bonus links Lots of previews today of George Mason, which has both Bucknell and Holy Cross on its schedule this season.
  • The Examiner
  • USA Today
  • Washington Times
  • Washington Post
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