HAMILTON – Less than eight months removed from hoisting the Patriot League trophy for the third time in four years, the Colgate men's basketball team starts a new journey Monday night when the Raiders open their 2022-23 season at Buffalo. 

The journey is guided by 12th-year head coach Matt Langel, who was recently named one of the country's top mid-major coaches by CBS Sports. The Raiders return three starters from last year's championship team, including fifth-year senior Tucker Richardson, who swept the Patriot League preseason awards as Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Colgate was picked first in the preseason poll after receiving 17 of the 20 possible first-place votes by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Raiders have tied or beaten the preseason projections for 11 consecutive years with Langel at the helm. 

"As this group has come together through the summer and into the fall, the focus has been working today for what lies ahead," Langel said. "We are fortunate to return guys with significant experience who understand that the preseason recognition and excitement surrounding this team comes from what has happened in the past. 

"With that said, the group also recognizes the earned responsibility to represent Colgate Basketball in the great opportunities that the season presents."

Colgate's coaching staff looks a little different this season with the additions of new assistant coaches Camryn Crocker and Trey Montgomery joining Pat Moore '15. Damon Sherman-Newsome '15 also joined the staff as the team's director of operations. 

The assistant coaching tree traces back to Langel's roots at Penn. Crocker was a standout guard and senior captain for the Quakers, while Montgomery most recently served four years as an assistant coach for the Ivy League institution. Moore and Sherman-Newsome, two standout guards who played for Langel, both graduated from Colgate in 2015. 

Back Court Preview
Colgate's backcourt is anchored by Richardson, who is rewriting the record book. The Flemington, N.J., native is already the only player in program history to reach 1,000 points, 500 assists, and 400 rebounds. He ranks 16th all-time in scoring (1,259), 15th in rebounding (601), third in assists (428), sixth in steals (148), and seventh in 3-point field goals made (215). 

Richardson isn't the only returning fifth-year senior, as Oliver Lynch-Daniels is back after leading the Patriot League in 3-point field goal percentage last season at 54.5 percent (48-for-88). He fell just short of the minimum attempts per game, but that clip would have led the nation by a large margin. Lynch-Daniels averaged 6.8 points and 22.5 minutes in 32 games last season. 

Ryan Mofatt, a two-year starter, returns for his senior season after knocking down shots at a 52.0 percent clip in 2021-22. Moffatt, who reached double-figure scoring 14 times, ranked second in the Patriot League in 3-point field goal percentage (45.2%) and eighth in field goal percentage (52.0%). The Lancaster, Pa., native averaged 9.8 points in 30.7 minutes per game. 

Other guards looking to join the rotation include senior Pearson Parker, junior Alex Capitano, and newcomers Braeden Smith, Brady Cummins, and Chandler Baker. The incoming class meshes with a veteran-laden backcourt that ranked at or near the top in every offensive category last season. 

"It is comforting to return the experience and production that Tucker and Oliver have provided," Langel continued. "But it's also exciting to see how their roles will change as they are now the most veteran players, charged with leading a perimeter with less experience but significant depth and talent."

Front Court Preview
Senior forward Keegan Records is coming off an All-League season after averaging 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 2021-22. The South Kingstown, R.I., product led the Patriot League in field goal percentage (64.1%) and became Colgate's first player to lead the conference in blocks per game (1.5) since 2009. 

Jeff Woodward is coming off a strong sophomore season after being named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team in 2020-21. In 35 games played last season, Woodward averaged 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field. 

Junior Sam Thomson appeared in 35 games off the bench, averaging 2.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game. Thomson and senior Malcolm Bailey (6-10, 220) join Colgate's strong returning core of forwards in 2022-23. 

"Last year, the consistency of our front court was critical to the team's success. Considering we return Ryan, Keegan, Jeff, and Sam, I'm confident that we have great stability at those spots. I'm not, however, expecting more of the same from them. They have worked hard this off-season and I'm very much looking forward to seeing how the improvements they have made as players – and now upperclassmen leaders – translate to the season ahead."

Schedule Outlook
Colgate opens its season at Buffalo on Nov. 7 and remains on the road for an Ivy League tilt at Brown three days later. The Raiders host Wells for their home opener Nov. 13 and will welcome Monmouth (Nov. 21), Vermont (Dec. 10), and Cornell (Dec. 22) before league play.

Colgate faces Syracuse on Nov. 15, returning to the Dome for the first time since knocking down 18 3-pointers to beat the Orange last year, 100-85. Competing in the Cathedral Classic hosted by Penn, the Raiders head to Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Weekend to face Delaware, Penn, and Hartford Nov. 25-27 at the Palestra. December road trips include Auburn and Binghamton. 

Colgate's title defense begins Dec. 30 when the Raiders travel to Baltimore to face Loyola. The defending champions host each Patriot League opponent once during the regular season, starting with Navy in a rematch of last year's conference championship on Jan. 5. 

"Like most years, we built this year's schedule with a number of goals in mind. Most importantly, we wanted to challenge ourselves with competitive games that serve to prepare us for our goal of competing for another Patriot League Championship. In securing those games, there is a nice balance this season of regional rivalries with a few trips that we believe will provide unique and memorable opportunities in addition to challenging competition."