Lehigh Picked Second In Patriot League Preseason Poll, Higgins And Whitney-Sidney Earn Preseason All-League Honors
10/11/2023 10:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh men's basketball has been picked to finish second in the 2023-24 Patriot League Preseason Poll, the league announced on Wednesday morning. The team received two first-place votes and 2022-23 All-Patriot League selections Keith Higgins Jr. and Tyler Whitney-Sidney were both named to this year's Preseason All-League Team.
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The Mountain Hawks, who were selected to finish in third place last season, concluded the regular season as the third seed in the Patriot League standings. This year, Lehigh was picked to finish in second place with 127 points and two first-place votes. The team returns twelve players to its roster while welcoming in four first-year athletes to the program to replace last year's graduating class.
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Keith Higgins Jr., who began his Lehigh career as a Patriot League All-Rookie Team selection in 2021-22, followed up on his solid first-year campaign with an even better sophomore season. The West Hills, California native averaged 14.7 points per game on 47.6% field goal percentage on route to a first team All-Patriot League nod. Higgins scored in double figures in 24 of Lehigh's 30 games a season ago, including a career-high 28 points against Army West Point on December 30. He also solidified himself as one of the league's top three-point scorers, shooting a Patriot League sixth-highest 41.4% from outside the arc.
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Tyler Whitney-Sidney earned his spot on this year's Preseason All-League Team after leading the Patriot League in free-throw percentage at 88.4%. The junior out of Somerville, Massachusetts put up 13.3 points per game on 47.3% from the field while being named to the Third Team All-Patriot League after earning All-Rookie Team honors in 2021-22. Whitney-Sidney scored in double figures in 21 of his 29 outings and led the Mountain Hawks in steals with 39.
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Other returners include senior Jalin Sinclair, who led the team in assists while coming off of the bench last season. Seniors Dominic Parolin and JT Tan and sophomore Henri Adiassa will look to provide production in the frontcourt after each starting 10 or more games in 2022-23. Junior Ben Knostman also returns to provide solid guard depth after starting 16 games a year ago.
The Mountain Hawks will open the season at home on November 6 to welcome to Cornell Big Red to Stabler Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and information on purchasing tickets can be found at www.lehightickets.com.
 Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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2023-24 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Colgate, 162 (18 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh, 127 (2)
3. American, 116
4. Holy Cross, 100
5. Boston University, 90
6. Loyola Maryland, 79
T7. Lafayette, 74
T7. Navy, 74
9. Bucknell, 50
10. Army West Point, 28
2023-24 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Keegan Records, Colgate, 5th, F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Keegan Records, Colgate, 5th, F
2023-24 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason All-League Team
Matt Rogers, American, Sr., F
Keegan Records, Colgate, 5th, F
Ryan Moffatt, Colgate, Sr., F
Keith Higgins Jr., Lehigh, Jr., G
Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Lehigh, Jr., G
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The Mountain Hawks, who were selected to finish in third place last season, concluded the regular season as the third seed in the Patriot League standings. This year, Lehigh was picked to finish in second place with 127 points and two first-place votes. The team returns twelve players to its roster while welcoming in four first-year athletes to the program to replace last year's graduating class.
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Keith Higgins Jr., who began his Lehigh career as a Patriot League All-Rookie Team selection in 2021-22, followed up on his solid first-year campaign with an even better sophomore season. The West Hills, California native averaged 14.7 points per game on 47.6% field goal percentage on route to a first team All-Patriot League nod. Higgins scored in double figures in 24 of Lehigh's 30 games a season ago, including a career-high 28 points against Army West Point on December 30. He also solidified himself as one of the league's top three-point scorers, shooting a Patriot League sixth-highest 41.4% from outside the arc.
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Tyler Whitney-Sidney earned his spot on this year's Preseason All-League Team after leading the Patriot League in free-throw percentage at 88.4%. The junior out of Somerville, Massachusetts put up 13.3 points per game on 47.3% from the field while being named to the Third Team All-Patriot League after earning All-Rookie Team honors in 2021-22. Whitney-Sidney scored in double figures in 21 of his 29 outings and led the Mountain Hawks in steals with 39.
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Other returners include senior Jalin Sinclair, who led the team in assists while coming off of the bench last season. Seniors Dominic Parolin and JT Tan and sophomore Henri Adiassa will look to provide production in the frontcourt after each starting 10 or more games in 2022-23. Junior Ben Knostman also returns to provide solid guard depth after starting 16 games a year ago.
The Mountain Hawks will open the season at home on November 6 to welcome to Cornell Big Red to Stabler Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and information on purchasing tickets can be found at www.lehightickets.com.
 Like Lehigh Men's Basketball on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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2023-24 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Colgate, 162 (18 first-place votes)
2. Lehigh, 127 (2)
3. American, 116
4. Holy Cross, 100
5. Boston University, 90
6. Loyola Maryland, 79
T7. Lafayette, 74
T7. Navy, 74
9. Bucknell, 50
10. Army West Point, 28
2023-24 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason Major Awards
Preseason Player of the Year – Keegan Records, Colgate, 5th, F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Keegan Records, Colgate, 5th, F
2023-24 Patriot League Men's Basketball Preseason All-League Team
Matt Rogers, American, Sr., F
Keegan Records, Colgate, 5th, F
Ryan Moffatt, Colgate, Sr., F
Keith Higgins Jr., Lehigh, Jr., G
Tyler Whitney-Sidney, Lehigh, Jr., G
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