The Patriot League has been dominated by Bucknell over the last ten seasons. The Bison have won at least a share of the regular-season title eight times. However, they have only been to four NCAA Tournaments. The league has produced some NBA-caliber players from multiple schools in the 2010s.
Patriot League 2010s All-Decade Team
Starters
Guard – CJ McCollum, Lehigh
CJ McCollum is one of the most recognizable players to make this team. He captured two player of the year awards overall, with one occurring in the decade (2012). He made the first-team twice in the decade and was an AP All-American honorable mention in 2012. McCollum remains the Patriot League’s all-time leading scorer.
For his career, he averaged 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game. He is also the league’s career leader in made field goals and free throws as well as points produced. McCollum sits in the top five in 11 other categories as well. He was a big reason for Lehigh’s NCAA Tournament appearance and subsequent upset over Duke as a 15 seed in 2012. McCollum had 30 points in that game. He currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Guard – Sa’eed Nelson, American
Sa’eed Nelson is one of two players that just finished their careers to make this team. He won the league’s most recent player of the year in 2020 and also made the first-team twice. He made the mid-major All-American team as well, the first American player ever to do so. Nelson finished as the Eagles’ all-time leading scorer.
He averaged 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game for his career. Nelson is second on the Patriot League’s all-time list for made field goals, steals, and points produced. He is also the conference’s fourth all-time leading scorer. He was an explosive player that could take over a game.
Guard – Cameron Ayers, Bucknell
Cameron Ayers helped usher in the dominance of the Bison over the league, playing for the program from 2010-14. He had to wait behind two future NBA-ers, but finally captured the player of the year in 2014 as a senior. Ayers made the first-team twice during his career.
He averaged 11.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for his career. Ayers was also a sharpshooter, averaging 41.2 percent for his career from the three-point line. He sits tenth in league history in offensive win shares and eleventh in total win shares. The Bison won three titles and made two NCAA Tournaments during his time at Bucknell.
Forward – Mike Muscala, Bucknell
Mike Muscala is the biggest name in Bucknell basketball in the decade. He won the player of the year twice in the decade, as a sophomore in 2011 and senior in 2013. He became the first player in Patriot League history to win player of the year and conference tournament most outstanding player twice in a career. Muscala also captured player of the year, defensive player of the year, and student-athlete of the year in the same season for the first time in conference history in 2013.
Muscala averaged 15.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for his career. He is the conference’s career leader in five categories, including offensive rebounds and player efficiency rating. He led Bucknell to three titles and two NCAA appearances alongside Cameron Ayers. Muscala is currently a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Center – Tim Kempton, Lehigh
Tim Kempton joins Muscala as the other player to win multiple player of the year awards in the decade, winning as a sophomore and junior in 2015 and 2016. He was also the rookie of the year in 2014 and made the first-team three times. Kempton was one of five finalists for the National Center of the Year award in 2017.
For his career, he averaged 16.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. He finished as Lehigh’s career rebounding leader. Kempton is also the league’s career leader in defensive rebounds, defensive rebounding percentage, and made two-point field goals. Unfortunately, he never got to play in any postseason tournaments.
Bench
Guard – Andrew Kostecka, Loyola (MD)
Andrew Kostecka is the second player on the team who just finished up his career, joining Sa’eed Nelson. He made the Patriot League first-team twice. He also became the tenth player in conference history to lead the league in scoring in back-to-back seasons.
Kostecka averaged 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game for his career. He second in league history in all-time steal percentage. He is also fifth in offensive rating, player efficiency rating, and true shooting percentage. Kostecka played in one CBI with the Greyhounds.
Guard – Eric Fanning, Boston University
Eric Fanning played for Boston University during their first three seasons in the Patriot League. He came to the Terriers after transferring from Wagner. He was a two-time member of the first-team in three seasons in the conference.
Fanning averaged 14.1 points and five rebounds per game during his time as a Terrier. He finished in the top ten in the league in player efficiency rating in all three seasons at BU and twice in scoring. Fanning played in one CIT with the Terriers.
Forward – Ella Ellis, Army
Ella Ellis played for Army at the beginning of the decade from 2009-13. He made the first-team twice during his Black Knight career. As a senior, he led the Patriot League in free throw percentage, offensive rating, and true shooting percentage.
For his career, Ellis averaged 13.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He is in the top 15 in conference history in career made free throws, free throw percentage, true shooting percentage, and offensive rating. Ellis is one of, if not the best, service academy player of the decade.
Forward – Zach Thomas, Bucknell
Zach Thomas played for Bucknell from 2014-18 when the Bison were in dominant form. He won player of the year as a senior and was the conference tournament most outstanding player in 2017. He made the first-team twice. Thomas is the fourth player in school history to have at least 1,700 career points and 700 career rebounds.
He averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for his career. He led the NCAA in free throw makes and attempts for the 2017-18 season. Thomas in the top five on league career lists for made free throws and defensive rebounds. He won a regular-season title with Bucknell during all four of his years and played in two NCAA Tournaments.
Center – Nana Foulland, Bucknell
Nana Foulland played for Bucknell during the same years as Zach Thomas. He captured the player of the year award as a junior in 2017. He was also named the defensive player of the year that season, becoming the second player in conference history to win both in the same year, joining fellow Bison Mike Muscala.
For his career, Foulland averaged 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He also shot 57.9 percent from the field for his career, good enough for fourth all-time in Patriot League history. He is also in the top five in two-point field goals, rebounds, offensive rebounds, and blocks. Foulland was part of the same era as Thomas, winning four titles and making two NCAA appearances.
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