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American off to fast start in the Patriot League under first-year coach Mike Brennan

American Basketball

American University Athletic Communications

American Basketball

American University Athletic Communications

After longtime coach Jeff Jones left for Old Dominion and four players graduated from last year’s ten win team, expectations were low for Mike Brennan in his first year at American. The Eagles, who entered this season after having graduated four players, were picked to finish 9th in the ten team Patriot League. Brennan was an assistant for Jones from 2007-09 at AU, and had been working on Georgetown’s staff for the past four years -- suffice to say, he knows the school and the Washington D.C. area well.

While coaching under Jones, he helped American advanced to consecutive NCAA Tournaments. When the job opened up, Brennan’s interested immediately peaked."I knew it was a job I wanted,” Brennan told NBCSports.com by phone. “It was a great experience working with Jeff. I realized what a great school American is; it attracts people from all over the world. It’s a similar type of institution that I’ve been used to working at.”

For Brennan, the transition back across town was near seamless, but what about the players?

A 1994 graduate of Princeton who coached under John Thompson III for nearly a decade at both his alma mater and Georgetown, the Princeton-style offense has been ingrained in him. Brennan knows it as well as anyone, but inheriting a roster full of players who have never played in it thought to be a challenge.

“It’s been difficult, but they have done well. I think we have the right sort of players for it. I followed the team closely while at Georgetown, so I had an idea of what the personnel was like...In this kind of offense, players have to be individually sound because I am asking them to do multiple things on the court. Asking [Tony] Wroblicky to move around and pass on the perimeter isn’t easy for a big guy who’s never done it, but he’s been great.”

American began the season 3-7 with their only wins coming against lowly UMBC, St. Francis PA, and Howard. Their first two losses to George Mason and Ohio State, however, acted as a harbinger of things to come. The Eagles tough defense, and slow methodical offense -- American plays at the fifth slowest pace in the country -- kept them in these games.

“It’s been more of a progress. We kept harping on the fact that as a staff that we weren’t interested on wins and losses right away. Instead, we got better on a daily basis. I kept telling them, ‘Fellas, I see you getting better. Keep working.’ I think they saw the results, despite not the record being what we wanted.”

The results have come in a big way.

American won their final non-conference game against Maryland Eastern Shore with ease, and have begun Patriot League play by winning their first five games. Heads officially began to turn when they went on the road and defeated Bucknell and Holy Cross by double-digits.

“I would say I am a bit surprised just because the league is so tough top to bottom. I knew every game was going to be really tough, but I was very confident that we’d have a chance going into each game. I know it’s going to get more difficult. The film is out there so other teams will continue to make tweaks. “

Perhaps most impressive is that American has had to do their winning on the road, where four of their first five games have come. Those around the Patriot League are no doubt surprised by the Eagles’ fast start and, truth be told, Brennan himself is surprised, too.

Follow @KLDoyle11