# 2019–20 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team

The 2019–20 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represented the College of the Holy Cross during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Crusaders, led by first-year head coach Brett Nelson, played their home games at the Hart Center in Worcester, Massachusetts as members of the Patriot League. They finished the season 3–29, 2–16 in Patriot League play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the Patriot League tournament to Bucknell.

## Previous season

The Crusaders finished the 2018–19 season 16–17, 6–12 in Patriot League play to finish in last place. They defeated Lafayette in the first round of the Patriot League tournament before losing to Bucknell in the quarterfinals.
Following the season, head coach Bill Carmody announced his retirement. On July 3, 2019, the school named Marquette assistant Brett Nelson as Carmody's replacement.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season ||||||
| Nov 5, 2019* 7:30 pm, BTN Plus | | at No. 7 Maryland | L 71–95 | 0–1 | Xfinity Center (13,633) College Park, MD |
| Nov 9, 2019* 1:00 pm, ESPN3 | | at New Hampshire | L 83–87 | 0–2 | Lundholm Gym (501) Durham, NH |
| Nov 12, 2019* 7:00 pm, PLN | | Fairfield | L 61–70 $^{OT}$ | 0–3 | Hart Center (1,712) Worcester, MA |
| Nov 19, 2019* 7:00 pm, PLN | | Northeastern | L 44–101 | 0–4 | Hart Center (1,432) Worcester, MA |
| Nov 22, 2019* 11:00 am, PLN | | Harvard | L 74–82 | 0–5 | Hart Center (1,972) Worcester, MA |
| Nov 29, 2019* 7:00 pm | | vs. Florida Atlantic Boca Raton Beach Classic | L 69–87 | 0–6 | FAU Arena (1,036) Boca Raton, FL |
| Dec 1, 2019* 3:00 pm | | vs. Hofstra Boca Raton Beach Classic | L 69–91 | 0–7 | FAU Arena (1,114) Boca Raton, FL |
| Dec 2, 2019* 11:00 am | | vs. Mercer Boca Raton Beach Classic | W 81–67 | 1–7 | FAU Arena (1,122) Boca Raton, FL |
| Dec 7, 2019* 10:00 pm, WCC Network | | at San Diego | L 51–68 | 1–8 | Jenny Craig Pavilion (1,025) San Diego, CA |
| Dec 10, 2019* 7:00 pm | | Massachusetts Boston | L 66–69 $^{OT}$ | 1–9 | Hart Center (1,035) Worcester, MA |
| Dec 14, 2019* 2:00 pm | | at Canisius | L 72–80 | 1–10 | Koessler Athletic Center (896) Buffalo, NY |
| Dec 22, 2019 12:00 pm, NESN | | Sacred Heart | L 68–89 | 1–11 | Hart Center (1,013) Worcester, MA |
| Dec 29, 2019* 2:00 pm, ESPN+ | | at Siena | L 62–74 | 1–12 | Times Union Center (6,202) Albany, NY |
| Patriot League regular season ||||||
| Jan 2, 2020 7:00 pm, Stadium | | at Loyola (MD) | L 70–80 | 1–13 (0–1) | Reitz Arena (420) Baltimore, MD |
| Jan 5, 2020 12:05 pm, NESN | | Navy | W 63–61 | 2–13 (1–1) | Hart Center (1,218) Worcester, MA |
| Jan 8, 2020 7:00 pm | | at Lafayette | L 64–82 | 2–14 (1–2) | Kirby Sports Center (1,276) Easton, PA |
| Jan 11, 2020 2:00 pm, PLN | | at Bucknell | L 60–75 | 2–15 (1–3) | Sojka Pavilion (2,575) Lewisburg, PA |
| Jan 16, 2020 2:00 pm, PLN | | Army | L 67–79 | 2–16 (1–4) | Hart Center (1,047) Worcester, MA |
| Jan 18, 2020 4:00 pm, NBCSWA | | at American | L 69–81 | 2–17 (1–5) | Bender Arena (964) Washington, D.C. |
| Jan 22, 2020 7:00 pm, PLN | | Lehigh | W 96–95 $^{OT}$ | 3–17 (2–5) | Hart Center (1,028) Worcester, MA |
| Jan 25, 2020 2:00 pm, NESN | | Boston University Turnpike Trophy | L 64–79 | 3–18 (2–6) | Hart Center (2,063) Worcester, MA |
| Jan 29, 2020 7:00 pm, Stadium | | at Navy | L 766 | 3–19 (2–7) | Alumni Hall (766) Annapolis, MD |
| Feb 1, 2020 2:00 pm, CBSSN | | Colgate | L 64–73 | 3–20 (2–8) | Hart Center (1,629) Worcester, MA |
| Feb 5, 2020 7:00 pm, NESN Plus | | Loyola (MD) | L 60–74 | 3–21 (2–9) | Hart Center (1,085) Worcester, MA |
| Feb 8, 2020 1:00 pm | | at Boston University Turnpike Trophy | L 68–77 | 3–22 (2–10) | Case Gym (845) Boston, MA |
| Feb 12, 2020 7:00 pm | | at Lehigh | L 82–89 | 3–23 (2–11) | Stabler Arena (752) Bethlehem, PA |
| Feb 15, 2020 2:00 pm, Spectrum News 1 | | Lafayette | L 62–72 | 3–24 (2–12) | Hart Center (1,401) Worcester, MA |
| Feb 17, 2020 7:00 pm, CBSSN | | Bucknell | L 48–69 | 3–25 (2–13) | Hart Center (1,333) Worcester, MA |
| Feb 23, 2020 2:00 pm | | at Colgate | L 60–90 | 3–26 (2–14) | Cotterell Court (985) Hamilton, NY |
| Feb 26, 2020 7:00 pm | | at Army | L 61–67 | 3–27 (2–15) | Christl Arena (817) West Point, NY |
| Feb 29, 2020 2:00 pm | | American | L 47–90 | 3–38 (2–16) | Hart Center (1,051) Worcester, MA |
| Patriot League tournament ||||||
| Mar 3, 2020 7:00 pm, PLN | (10) | at (7) Bucknell First round | L 62–65 | 3–29 | Sojka Pavilion (1,507) Lewisburg, PA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time. ||||||