Rugged defense lifted Bucknell into NCAAs

Need perseverance?

Try beating the perennial basketball power of your league with an elusive NCAA Tournament berth on the line — on their home court.

That’s how Bucknell made it and earned an invitation to play Kansas University on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Oklahoma City.

As if the deck wasn’t stacked high enough against the Bison, they had to play the Patriot League championship game last week against Holy Cross in the Crusaders’ gym.

Bucknell defeated Holy Cross, 61-57, to earn the key to the Big Dance.

Now, perennial national power Kansas awaits.

“For the last two days, since we beat Holy Cross in the championship, we have all been dreaming about the possibilities of who and where we might play,” Bucknell coach Pat Flannery said. “I think once we saw Kansas come up on the board, the reality is starting to sink in that we have to prepare to go play a really good team.”

Maybe Bucknell already did, though. Its non-conference schedule was hardly a cupcake, with losses to Iowa State and Villanova — teams that defeated Kansas, as well.

But the Bison won some big games, too.

Bucknell bested both MAAC co-champs (Rider and Niagara) and won at Saint Joseph’s, the A-10 champ.

After starting the season 4-4, Bucknell reeled off 18 victories in 23 tries to close the season, including back-to-back non-conference road wins at Saint Joseph’s and No. 10 Pittsburgh around the New Year.

The Pittsburgh game is how the average fan knows Bucknell. The then-unbeaten Panthers were stunned, 69-66, by the Bison, behind a spread-out offense and — here’s that word again — perseverance down the stretch.

That victory propelled the Bison to an 11-game winning streak, and their level of play has remained high ever since. But can Bucknell knock off Kansas?

“We will be ready to play them,” Flannery said. “We play a tough non-league schedule to hopefully prepare for a situation like this. We have played right with teams like Pitt and Saint Joseph’s and Iowa State, so I certainly don’t expect any intimidation factor at all.”

Friday’s tilt will be Bucknell’s first in the Big Dance since 1989, when it was one-and-done against Syracuse. Even if the Bison don’t advance any farther this time around,

Flannery is happy his program can get caught up in the madness of March.

“Everyone that’s part of a college basketball program should get to experience the NCAA Tournament,” Flannery said. “It’s really a thrill, and I’m so happy that our players and our school have a chance to go through it.”

Rugged defense and offensive balance are the keys for the Bison, who held seven teams under 50 points this season and feature three players between 12.2 and 12.7 ppg.

Kevin Bettencourt is probably the best known Bison, but the team’s best player may be wingman Charles Lee. They also have a legitimate 6-foot-11 center in sophomore Chris McNaughton.