A reversal of fortunes

For much of the last decade American has settled near the middle of the Patriot League as Holy Cross racked up conference titles.

But when the league tournament begins tonight, it will be a case of reputations reversed, with top-seeded AU playing host to No. 8 Holy Cross at Bender Arena.

The Eagles are the No. 1 seed for only the second time since joining the conference in 2001-02, falling short of winning the conference tournament each and every time since. The Crusaders occupy the basement at regular season’s end for first time.

“In any given year, I’m not sure that anybody really knows what to expect because college kids, they develop,” American coach Jeff Jones said. “Our guys, Garrison [Carr], Cornelio Guibunda, are perfect examples of guys that just weren’t given the chance. They were able to really flourish. Then you factor in the craziness that goes into any sporting event: the bounce of the ball, injuries, all kinds of factors.”

Those factors have played into AU’s unpredictable season, from its road upset of Maryland to its five-game winning streak that led to the program’s third regular-season Patriot League crown.

But the Eagles (18-11, 10-4) have been through enough low points this season — including a recent loss at Navy — to understand the No. 1 seed doesn’t mean much.

AU’s journey to this point has been stunning, at least for anyone outside the program. The Eagles finished last season 16-14 with a 7-7 conference record and were voted fifth in the conference’s preseason poll.

“I certainly wouldn’t have thought — at the beginning of the year — I wouldn’t have made the statement to anybody, ’Yeah. I think we’re probably gonna be the No. 1 seed.’ ” Jones said. “But as we got into it, I think we kept improving throughout the course of the year, and the guys had a great attitude.”

AU began eroding its reputation as an also-ran with its 67-59 win over the Terrapins on Dec. 22, then challenged Dayton and went on a run through the Patriot League.

But despite their victories, both on the court and against pent-up expectations, the Eagles players still have to face Holy Cross, which has won five Patriot League tournament titles — the most of any team.

“Seeing the No. 8 seed next to Holy Cross, I don’t really think about it as much as we’re playing Holy Cross,” said Carr, a junior guard averaging a team-high 18.1 points. “The seed doesn’t mean anything to me ’cause you still have to go out there and play.”

Holy Cross (15-13, 5-9) was the preseason pick to win the conference. But Jones said the No. 8 seed doesn’t indicate how good Holy Cross can be.

Holy Cross holds a 10-3 edge in the all-time series, and the last time AU made the NCAA tournament — though not the Division I variety — was 1960, the year Jones was born.

Now AU has a chance to complete a goal that was once unthinkable: Make the NCAA tournament for the first time.

“You take every game one game at a time and one practice at a time, but in the back of your mind, you’re always thinking about big accomplishments, such as being in the tournament,” Carr said.

Second-seeded Navy, which was voted seventh in the preseason poll, has shattered expectations and has its own chance to make a run as it faces seventh-seeded Bucknell at Alumni Hall tonight.

The Midshipmen haven’t finished above the conference’s fifth spot since 2000-01. And it was just one season after Navy’s success that AU last flourished as the No. 1 seed — until running into Holy Cross.

Even though AU has never beaten Holy Cross in the Patriot League tournament — let alone win it — one statistic bodes well for Jones’ team. In the conference’s 17 seasons, the No. 1 seed has emerged as the tournament winner 13 times.

Still, junior guard Derrick Mercer said AU can’t think about its top seed or how many wins it needs to complete the elusive goal of making NCAA tournament.

“Even with the success we’ve had this season, we can’t rest on that. And every day we have to prove [ourselves],” Mercer said. “Being in first place, we haven’t taken practices any lighter than as if we were in last place. We still come out here, practice hard everyday and act as if we haven’t accomplished anything.”