2023 | Preseason Preview | ASUN Conference

[TuscanSota]

Hi everyone! Today we are going to go over the Atlantic Sun conference, or what we know as ASUN. Here are today's rankings within the conference:

 

11.  Eastern Kentucky Colonels | Ovr.: 353 | Off.: 346 | Def.: 330

What's the matter colonel, chicken? Actually... yes. Those rankings aren't a lie, this team is projected to be one of the worst in the league whatsoever. If rock-bottom were a place, EKU would be there. Their only saving grace is Sr SG Rodolfo Ildefonso, a SG who is excellent as a mid-range jumper, and jr PG Raymond Burton, who is also above average. They are unfortunately also an 'F' overall. This team only has one player above an 'F', and that's 'D' overall Brandon Mackay. Colonels should have low expectations this season.

10.  North Florida Ospreys | Ovr.: 307 | Off.: 322 | Def.: 277

Congratulations North Florida, you are almost out of the 300's range. The Ospreys at best are very mediocre across the board. Sr C Sean Bass can maybe pull off a 3pt shot, but overall this team consists of mainly 'C' level shooting, defense, and rebounding. This team has no strengths, no weaknesses, and that may ultimately define how bad this team will be.

 

9.  Central Arkansas Bears | Ovr.: 264 | Off.: 302 | Def.: 243

Central Arkansas brings something at least to the basketball table in the Atlantic Sun, and their serving is in the form of decent mid-range jumpers SG John Manning, SF Harold Reilly, PF Monroe Kiel, and PF Thomas Smooth. They surprisingly have some good rebounders too. Unfortunately, the AI coach could not teach this squad a single thing about how to do a lay-up. 

 

 

8.  Lipscomb Bison | Ovr.: 253 | Off.: 254 | Def.: 254

It's very rare finding a team on this list who's offense is just as good as their defense. The Bison pull off this mark in great fashion. This Nashville-based squad is one which rely on senior talent this season, considering that Sr PG Joseph Fergason will be their lead scorere, and just about every senior can either hold the ball, or grab a rebound. There are a lot of mediocre offensive options on this bison squad, so they will be leaning quite heavily into Fergason's skillset.

 

7.  Stetson Hatters | Ovr.: 251 | Off.: 260 | Def.: 251

I'd like to tip my hat to Stetson University for their clever logo which is a cool looking S, with a hat in the middle. Now with that pun out of the way, I'm projecting this team to be very similar to North Florida in that there are ton's of F-grade players with C-level attributes on this team, with Sr SG Henry Batten being the only one I'd trust to drive to the basket. Hatters should pull off a decent perimeter defense, but that won't be enough when facing some of the tougher competition in the ASUN.

6.  Bellarmine Knights | Ovr.: 245 | Off.: 237 | Def.: 249

One common theme for many of these new teams is that they are very mediocre, and whoever they recruit this season will likely see starting time. Bellarmine's strengths are sparce and it will have to rely on the AI to truly prove that they deserve the #6 spot. Sr SG Jacques Mills, Jr PF Malcolm Jamison are the best offensive options for mid-range and 3pts separately, and So PF Roland Brown, if he get's playing time, will be the one player to cover when facing the basket.  That, and their best defender is senior C Kevin Waldron -- who can defend, but not shoot. Bellarmine needs an identity, and they may have it next season.

 

5.  Austin Peay Governors | Ovr.: 240 | Off.: 266 | Def.: 219

Unlike most of the teams lower in the rankings, Austin Peay's has a couple of A attributes in a sea of D's and C's. C Mark Pauley and PF Jeremy Smallridge are going to be a defensive duo on the perimeter defending the basket, with Jr SF James Beasley pulling off a pretty nice three point shot, and is supposed to be decent with his layups too. This team will need to be divisive in their minutes in order to make the most of their strengths, it's going to be difficult because many of these players make up the weaknesses others have, but there's no reliable backups when one is clearly covered.

4.  North Alabama Lions | Ovr.: 236 | Off.: 275 | Def.: 209

North Alabama is #4 on this list because despite having an okay starting five for a new team, their best player is remarkable. For a new team. 3 star Senior SF Steven Wilson is pretty good defender with the suprising ability to drive to the basket. He's developed into quite the leader for this Lions team and is expected to captain this offense quite handedly. This Lions team will be decent in the pain this season, and should be above average on the defense. They are still unfortunately an above 200 rated team.

3.  Queens Royals | Ovr.: 218 | Off.: 209 | Def.: 238

The Queens University of Charlotte, or Queens, is a team that doesn't have any standout players, but they have plenty of 'okay' options when it comes to any type of shot. That's not bad, but it's also not good enough. I'm a bit surprised in fact that they're #3 on this list. You probably aren't surprised either. Because we're still in the 200's. At a glance, their key strengths are in their rebounding and ball handling, and that ironically comes from their most recent freshman class. The future should be bright for this team, but this season, even at #3, will be bleak.

2.  Florida Gulf Coast | Ovr.: 153 | Off.: 171 | Def.: 84

The Gulf Coast Eagles break the 200 barrier, but that's only because they also happen to be one of the original 32 teams. This team has a, much, much better roster of players, and there are alternative role-players who can make mid-range and inside shots in the event one of these players is double-teamed. They have two excellent defensive players in redshirt Sophomore C Frances Daly and Sophomore C Daniel Currie, who are considered the team's best defenders. Both are excellent anywhere near the rim, and there are still offensive talents like Sr SG Marlin Richard, who is known to swishing his shots through the basket from any range. Just... don't look at their incoming freshmen.

1.  Jacksonville Dolphins | Ovr.: 22 | Off.: 15 | Def.: 34

@Ricky Campbell and his Dolphins should win this conference handidly. The Dolphins roster developed nicely in the offseason and have some of the best playmakers we may see this year. redshirt Freshman James Levin reportedly worked on his jumpshot over the summer and improved on his ball-handling skills notably. Along with him, there are plenty of payers like Sr SF Cordell Mcleod, JR PG Sang Mattingly, who I'm expecting to make plenty of shoots. Honestly, there are so many options on this team to go with that can play-lights out teams in the ASUN will have trouble defending any player on this roster.