Up until last year, Colgate had owned the Patriot League. From the 2018-19 season to the 2023-24 season, Colgate had won at least a share of the regular season title, and only missed the NCAA tournament once. Last year? American and Bucknell broke the system. The Eagles and the Bison split the regular season crown, and American won the Patriot League tournament. Can Colgate get back to the top of the conference, or has their hold on the Patriot League been broken? We’ve got an answer and a best bet in the Patriot League for you.
Are you looking for a sports book to get a little action on the Patriot League winner? Check out MyBookie.ag to start the season off right and use promo code SGPN to score a 100% bet back bonus!
2025-26 Patriot League Basketball Champion Best Bet
Navy to win the Patriot League
Colgate looks like it’s rebuilding, but Navy appears primed to launch. The Midshipmen have not one, but two players who should figure on the All-Patriot League team at the end of the year. Navy will win the regular season championship for the first time since it won a share in 2020-21.
Austin Benigni and Donovan Draper return to the Naval Academy for the 2024-25 season. Either one could win Patriot League Player of the Year. Benigni averaged 18.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 34 games last year. Draper scored 8.8 points per game while also pulling down 8.2 rebounds per game last year. These two are the base of the Navy roster.
Benigni will be joined in the backcourt by a pair of returning juniors. Jordan Pennick averaged 10.3 points per game last year and was one of the better defenders for Navy last year. Jin-woo Kim should also start in the back court this year. Kim is one of the better threats from three-point range on the Navy roster.
Seven-foot Aiden Kehoe returns to Navy for his senior year. Kehoe will start at center and function as the key rim protector for the Midshipmen. He averaged 9.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last year.
As far as the bench goes, Navy returns a mixed bag of players who have been with the program for a few years. Junior guard Cam Cole should be an important rotation piece for the backcourt. Senior wings Sam Krist and Mike Woods should also see time in the Navy rotation this year. Both offer experience and will play hard on the defensive end.
Navy has a pair of players that could start for some mid-major programs. They also have an experienced big man with impressive side for a Patriot League team. Their bench has remarkable depth, but an injury to either of their stars or Kehoe would be a challenge to overcome. As long as the Midshipmen can keep their vital pieces healthy, they should contend for the Patriot League regular season championship.
John Perry takes over as head coach from Ed Dechellis this year. It’s Perry’s first season in the big chair, but he’s been with the Midshipmen since the 2013-14 season. He’s worked with most of these kids for multiple seasons and inherits one of the better rosters in the recent history of Navy’s basketball program. It’s rare for a first-year coach to win a conference, but Perry isn’t a normal first-year coach. Lock up the Midshipmen to win the Patriot League this year.
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis on every college basketball game for the 2025-26 season, make sure you tune into The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
