Lehigh University men's basketball team striving to surpass last year's success

C.J. McCollum Lehigh's C.J. McCollum answers a question during a news conference March 17 in Greensboro, N.C.

Lafayette College coach Fran O'Hanlon stepped to the podium at the annual Patriot League men's basketball media day and began talking about his expectations for the upcoming season, his 18th in charge.

After giving his take on the Leopards, he looked down to his right at Lehigh University senior guard C.J. McCollum.

“Someone was talking to me earlier about being the longest tenured coach in the league and C.J. McCollum is the longest tenured player in the league,” O’Hanlon said. “He’s been here for 12 years or so it seems.”

After two more coaches gave their report for the 2012-13 season at the event held at Arts Quest, Bucknell coach Dave Paulsen was next.

Like the others, he focused on his team first before commenting on the league and like O’Hanlon, gazed to his right at McCollum.

"I'm probably speaking for all Patriot League coaches, I know all of us are just overjoyed C.J., that you decided to withdraw your name from the NBA Draft and come back to school," he said. "I know a lot of us are really, really excited about that."

McCollum, senior forward Gabe Knutson (who was also present) and the reigning league champion Mountain Hawks are viewed as the team to beat, being named atop the preseason poll, after coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history.

Despite all of the post- and preseason accolades, including preseason all-league honors for both McCollum and Knutson, Lehigh players know nothing will be given this winter.

“This year we have greater expectations and a lot more coverage and with that comes more responsibility,” Knutson said. “We’re real excited people are saying we’re going to be this and that, but when it comes down to it, it matters how we play and practice. Obviously it’s great to have all this attention but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t come through.”

“One of the biggest things we'll be trying to put last year in the rearview mirror,” said McCollum, a preseason All-American and the league’s preseason Player of the Year for the third straight year. “We had some great accomplishments but we have a lot of new pieces and new goals for the upcoming season.

“The bulk of our team has the experience; we’ve been under the bright lights and in the (NCAA) tournament twice. We know what comes with winning and that’s a lot of goals, expectations and media attention.”

Lehigh, which finished 27-8 overall in 2011-12, certainly felt the lights get exponentially brighter and the media attention grow larger after the 75-70 upset over second-seed and eight-ranked Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament on March 16.

Not only was it the first tournament win in program history, it put McCollum, the team and university on the map after becoming only the sixth No. 15 seed to beat a No. 2 seed ever.

Coach Brett Reed isn't concerned with how his veteran and experienced squad, which also returns senior forward Holden Greiner and junior guard Mackey McKnight, will deal with the lofty goals or attention this season because McCollum, who is projected to be an NBA Draft lottery selection, has handled it for three-plus years already.

“I think we have a great head start because C.J. McCollum personally plays with so much poise and confidence and handles pressure situations,” said Reed, entering his sixth season. “We have somebody we can look to that just exudes confidence and allows everyone else to be comfortable. We also have a strong nucleus of returning players who have game experience and leadership experience and aren’t going to be distracted.”

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