The American University men’s basketball team is the team to beat as the reigning Patriot League champions. But in October the Patriot League preseason poll predicted the Eagles would finish fourth. The Colgate Raiders, who were champions in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, have been consecutively ranked first in the preseason poll after a championship.
As the Eagles look to defend their trophy, some players take not being the first seed in the poll as a sign that voters underestimate their ability.
“It is a little disrespectful just to see that Colgate has won it five years in a row, and they’ve been picked first every single year. So to be fourth is a little crazy,” junior forward Greg Jones said. “But we don't really pay attention to that stuff at the end of the day.”
Jones, who is the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, suspects that a deciding factor of the rankings was the loss of veterans like Matt Rogers, Elijah Stephens and Colin Smalls. However, he is a believer in the team’s new youth movement.
“I think a lot of people are just going to think that we're in a rebuilding stage. Little [do] they know, our coaches are some of the best in the country,” Jones said.
In contrast, Eagles head coach Duane Simpkins understands why teams like Navy — who the Eagles beat in the 2025 Patriot League Championship — were ranked above them. He credits it to the fact that they’ve retained key veterans like Preseason Player of the Year Austin Benigni. Simpkins said the Eagles feature nine promising freshmen on the team, but these players currently lack Division I experience.
Experience is critical for success, according to Simpkins, and he trusts his veterans to be leaders and instill a championship culture into the new players.
“Everything that we tell them, they assume it’s the gospel,” Simpkins said. “From that standpoint, the guys have been really bought in, and it's been reinforced by our returning players.”
Simpkins said the front court of the team looks different, but he’s excited to see his new forwards get a shot.
“Losing Matt Rogers was a huge void to fill. But from a length and athletic standpoint, Carson McDonald, we haven’t had a big like him since I’ve been here. He’s going to be a pretty good rim protector,” Simpkins said. “Chris Eagan, he’s left-handed. He gets that ball in the left block, he’s a handful.”
As Jones steps into more of a leadership role, he said that he and the coaching staff have communicated about the expectations for the season and having a winner’s mentality.
“Nothing is bigger than this program. No one person is bigger than this program,” Jones said. “Nothing changes just because we have a bunch of freshmen coming in.”
Senior guard Geoff Sprouse currently sits seventh in all-time 3-pointers made at American. But Sprouse said his legacy on the program’s record book doesn’t outweigh the desire for team success.
“[I] take it game by game, not really thinking about it,” Sprouse said. “Just thinking about any way I can help the team win. So if that happens, it happens.”
The three-point sniper Sprouse will be stretched into a new role this season. He’s played shooting guard his whole basketball career, but over the off-season, he’s been working on his ball handling to be the primary point guard for the squad and to initiate the offense.
“These coaches have been in my corner every step of the way, so I’m very grateful for that, helping me achieve what I want to achieve and getting me ready,” Sprouse said.
This year’s non-conference schedule includes some tough matchups against schools in stronger conferences like Wake Forest, Virginia and Rutgers. Sprouse is excited to show out for those games.
“It’s going to be a challenge, we’re prepared for it. We’re working hard every day in practice,” Sprouse said. “We’re really talented, so I think we’re going to shake up a lot of those Power Four schools that we play.”
Last season, Jones averaged 10.3 points with 50.2 percent efficiency, along with 3.9 rebounds while playing excellent defense. Sprouse averaged 6.9 points, shooting an above average 36.5 percent from 3-point range and 2.1 rebounds. Both said they have aspirations to play professionally after college and have been preparing to take on more of the offensive load for the Eagles. Once again, they have championship and March Madness ambitions.
This article was edited by Connor Sturniolo, Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Avery Grossman, Audrey Smith, Ava Stuzin and Ryan Sieve.
