Kevin Buczynski was a two-time AMCC Player of the Year and three-time All-Conference selection for the Penn State Behrend men’s basketball team from 2004-08. He averaged double-digit points in each of his last three seasons to finish second in the record books in scoring with 1,689 points. Buczynski also ranks second in program history in field-goal percentage (0.592), field-goals made (641), is seventh in rebounds (689) and 10th in games played (110). He capped his career being named the Behrend Male Athlete of the Year. Right from the beginning, Buczynski showed the confidence and type of player he could be. The newcomer led all freshmen in the conference in points (7.8) and rebounds (4.5). Buczynski scored the go-ahead basket with 13 seconds left in the AMCC Championship game at Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday, February 26, for a 52-49 win. The victory marked Behrend’s second AMCC title in program history. Despite falling in the NCAA Tournament, the team finished 19-8 overall along with a 14-4 mark in the AMCC.
As a sophomore, Buczynski led the AMCC in field-goal percentage (60.6), while averaging 18.7 points and 6.5 rebounds and ranking third in points scored. The Lions earned the third seed in the AMCC Tournament and fell to Frostburg St. in the first round (59-54) yet still earned a spot in the ECAC Tournament. Behrend defeated Wesley, 68-60, before falling to Pitt-Greensburg in the semifinals, 48-45. The 523 points Buczynski scored that year earned him his first of two AMCC Player of the Year accolades and the first of three All-AMCC first-team honors. He also garnered his first National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District nod.
The following year, he scored the second most points in the AMCC, with 512, while averaging 17.7 points. He also ranked third in rebounds per game (6.9), field-goal percentage (.592), and blocked shots (41). Behrend finished 21-8 and advanced to the ECAC Championships for the second straight year. The Lions made their way into the ECAC finals after defeating Grove City (76-46) and Juniata (78-69). DeSales managed a 72-63 victory, but Buczynski claimed First Team All-Conference honors once again and was voted Team MVP.
In his senior season, Buczynski paced the team with 16.1 points (466 total points) and 6.7 rebounds per game. The Lions, who held a +12.6 scoring margin, avenged a one-point loss to Lake Erie from the previous season in the AMCC Tournament to claim their third title with a 57-54 victory on March 1, 2008. Behrend won its opening round game in the NCAA Tournament over SUNY-Farmingdale (83-62) and then fell to Rochester (65-56). The accolades poured in for Buczynski, beginning with AMCC Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. He later was named to the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team and the NABC All-District First Team, before earning the coveted Behrend Athlete of the Year.