Nov. 10, 2015
THE FLATS – Each week up until the beginning of basketball season, Ramblinwreck.com takes a look at an opponent on Georgia Tech’s non-conference schedule. This week, we look at Colgate, an opponent the Jackets have never played before.
Date: December 23, 2015
Location: Hamilton, N.Y.
Conference: Patriot League
Home arena: Cotterell Court (1,750)
2014-15 Record: 16-17 overall, 12-6 in the Patriot (2nd place), 195th in NCAA RPI
Post-Season: Patriot League Tournament Semifinals, lost to American 73-62
NCAA Championship Appearances: 2 (last in 1996)
All-time series record: first meeting
Head coach: Matt Langel (entering 5th season, 48-78)
Starters returning/lost: 1/4
Top scorer returning: Austin Tillotson (10.7)
Top rebounder returning: Austin Tillotson (2.0)
Quick preview for 2015-16
Head coach Matt Langel coached the team to its best record last season in his four years at the helm. The Raiders finished one game under .500, but went 12-6 in the Patriot League to earn a second place finish in the conference. To get over the hump and have a winning season, Colgate will depend on Austin Tillotson. Tillotson, a rising senior guard, is the team’s only returning starter. He averaged almost 11 points per game and a couple of rebounds last year. The Raiders graduated four starters, including two of their leading scorers and several top rebounders. Colgate has just two seniors and a total of four upperclassmen on its roster, and will need other players to step up on both ends of the floor. The Raiders have six incoming freshmen, and will likely need contributions from them for Langel to have a successful 2015-16 season.
Quick recap of 2014-15
Last year Colgate won just one of its first eight games to start the season. The Raiders won their first three conference games and three out of their last four to finish the season. Langel coached Colgate to 12 wins in the Patriot League, the most during his four years as head coach. Colgate had a non-conference record of 4-11, and went 6-12 on the road. The 2014-15 Raiders ranked toward the bottom of the Patriot League in scoring offense, offensive rebounding, blocked shots, and steals. The team ranked in the top three in scoring defense, defensive rebounding, field goal shooting, and three point shooting. However, the Raiders ultimately didn’t score enough points to win games down the stretch.
Greatest program accomplishment
Back-to-back NCAA Tournament Appearances and Conference Tournament Champions (1995, 1996) – Colgate basketball began in 1900, joined the Patriot League in 1986, and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice. The Raiders have not been to the NCAA Tournament since they made back-to-back trips in 1995 and 1996. Colgate won the Patriot League conference tournament both seasons, and was also regular season co-champions three years in a row from 1994-1996. In 1995 and 1996, the Raiders lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to a number one seed. In ’95, Colgate lost to Kansas by 14, and in ’96 Connecticut eliminated the Raiders with a nine-point win.
Greatest player in program history
Adonal Foyle (1995-1997) – Born in Canouan, Saint Vincent, Adonal Foyle finished his basketball career at Colgate as the school’s all-time leading rebounder (1,103) and second in all-time scoring (1,776). He averaged over 20 points and nearly 13 rebounds over the course of his career. A two-time Patriot League Player of the Year (1996, 1997), Foyle led the Raiders to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history in 1995, and again in 1996. The two appearances are the only ones in Colgate basketball history. After three seasons, he left as the NCAA’s all-time blocks leader with 492 rejections. He was drafted in 1997 as the eighth overall pick by the Golden State Warriors. After he was drafted, Foyle later graduated magna cum laude from Colgate in 1999. He averaged over four points, nearly five rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game during his 13-year NBA career. Foyle played for the Warriors from 1997-2007, and also played with the Magic and Grizzlies.
Place to visit on campus or in the city
Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse, N.Y. – Just a little over an hour away from Colgate, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is located in Syracuse, N.Y. Founded in 1914, the zoo is ranked in the top 10 percent of zoos in the country. The zoo is home to over 700 animals of many different shapes and sizes. At the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, there are a variety of fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The zoo holds the only giant Pacific octopus in upstate New York. In addition, the zoo houses many birds, monkeys, apes, penguins, and elephants. Perhaps the most popular animal is the African lioness named Kierha. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 362 days a year.
