2023-24 Patriot League Previews: Holy Cross Crusaders

2022-23 Regular Season Result: 10-22 (7-11) Tied for 6^th in Patriot League

2023 Patriot League Tournament Result: Lost in First Round at Loyola   

Coach: Dave Paulsen (1^st season)

Key Departures: Gerrale Gates (Forward), Nolan Dorsey (Guard)

Key Additions: Joe Nugent (Guard/Forward) Declan Ryan (Forward)

I saw two of the Crusader’s final three games of the 2022-23 season. Their February 22^nd blowout loss at Loyola, and six days later when they were back at Reitz Arena for the first round of the conference tournament where they fell to the Greyhounds again. I know this is a new year, but it is difficult to put that mental image from just eight months ago out of my head. Holy Cross looked very bad at the tail end of the season. They were very depleted (especially at the front court) and looked lost against a team that was not exactly the cream of the crop in the league.

In those eight months, they have moved on from coach Brett Nelson for Dave Paulsen who has a proven track record of winning in the Patriot League, brought in eight freshmen, and lost Patriot League all-second-team player Gerrale Gates. It has been a full offseason in Worchester.

The conversation when talking about Holy Cross starts with their backcourt. Seniors Bo Montgomery and Joe Octave are joined by 2022-23 Patriot League All-Rookie Team member Will Batchelder. Those three guards on the court together will give teams some problems. Batchelder is one of the best shooters in the league. He made 88 three-pointers on over 40% shooting from three. It took Batchelder some time to get adjusted to the college game as a freshman last season. He was up and down in the Crusader’s non-conference schedule, but the undersized guard started to take shape in league play. Throughout last season he had nine contests in which he recorded 18 points or more. Personally, I am excited to watch the battles between him and Deon Perry of Loyola and Braeden Smith of Colgate for the next three seasons assuming all three guards stay healthy and remain at their respective schools.

Bo Mongtomery entered his name in the transfer portal in the offseason but ultimately decided to come back. He is one of only four returning players in the Patriot League who scored more than 300 points, 100 rebounds, and 75 assists. He is an explosive guard who can both drive and shoot. It will be interesting to see how new head coach Dave Paulsen uses him in the offense. Joe Octave will once again suit up for the purple and white in his senior season. The Air Force transfer averaged nearly 12 ppg and 4.6 assists per game in his first season at Holy Cross.

Dave Paulsen is the most established coach out of the five newcomers joining the benches this season. Paulsen has experienced success in college basketball for the past two decades, but also specifically in the Patriot League. He led Williams College to a division three national championship in the early 2000s while posting a 61-3 record throughout two different seasons. He then led Bucknell from 2008-2015 where he won the league regular season title four times and took home two coach of the year honors. He established Bucknell as a dynasty when Matt Langel was in his early rebuilding years at Colgate. Paulsen then went to Fairfax Virginia where he finished slightly above .500 in six seasons with the Patriots. After a year as an assistant at Fordham, he has found his way back to the head seat. Paulsen’s familiarity with the league and recruiting connections in New England will presumably get this once-proud program back on track.

Holy Cross brings in eight freshmen. The most notable names from the new class are Declan Ryan. A 6’8 big man who took a prep year last season. Joe Hugent is also a name to watch. He comes to Holy Cross from the Middlesex Magic AAU program which is one of the best AAU programs in New England. They routinely produce high major college players and some NBA players.

For as good as the guard play is on Holy Cross the frontcourt could really struggle against opponents in a dominant big-man league. There are only three players on the roster that are listed above 6’6. Louth-M Coulibaly who has played in 32 games for the Crusaders over three seasons,  Michael Rabinovich who has played in 16 games for the program over three seasons, and Declan Ryan who is a freshman. Gerrale Gates was a one-man show in the low post for Holy Cross last year. The undersized center contributed 16 points per game, over a block a game, and pulled down well over eight rebounds per contest. Their frontcourt had holes last season, but the Gates’ production covered a lot of it up. Without him, I anticipate the inexperience and lack of size will greatly hurt the Crusaders’ ability in the paint.

In conclusion, the guards will be great for Holy Cross this year. That being said the frontcourt’s inexperience and lack of size I think will hold Holy Cross back from being a top-half team. I think Dave Paulsen is a great coach, and the rest of the league should be worried about what he will begin to build in Worchester over the next few seasons, but with eight freshman on the roster I do not think they flip the switch overnight.

I expect Holy Cross to finish 6^th.

I’ve put a lot of effort into these previews. Many hours were spent researching, interviewing, and writing in depth previews for all ten of the Patriot League men’s basketball teams. I enjoy covering the conference and my goal is to provide the best national coverage of Patriot League Men’s Basketball. If you enjoyed the coverage and would like to support my work my PayPal username is @HappeningHoops while obviously not expected any and all donations are always welcomed. Thank you!

All Team Previews

1. Colgate
2. Lehigh
3. American
4. Loyola
5. Lafayette
6. Holy Cross
7. Navy
8. Bucknell
9. Boston
10. Army