The start of the 2023-24 Basketball season is about a month away. Practice officially started last week with the exception of a couple teams (UNF & UNA) that went out of country for a few exhibition games. That also means that the preseason mags & websites have now posted their predictions. I like The Almanac, Blue Ribbon Yearbook and Major Madness the best for ASUN coverage. This is how those folks see the league shaking out this year. I have totaled the three and given where each site see's each school finishing (Blue Ribbon/Almanac/MM).

1. (3) EKU (1/1/1)
2. (9) FGCU (5/2/2)
3. (10) Stetson (4/3/3)
4. (13) KSU (3/5/5)
5. (16) Lipscomb (6/6/4)
6. (18) Bellarmine (7/4/7)
7. (18) UNA (2/8/8)
8. (24) APU (8/10/6)
9. (26) Queens (9/7/10)
10. (28) Jacksonville (10/9/9)
11. (34) UNF (11/11/12)
12. (35) CAU (12/12/11)

I found a couple things interesting. The Almanac picking UNA #2 and the other two sites picking them 8th. I think Pujols's is a terrific coach and he has a lot of pieces to work with this year. UNA finishing near the top would not shock me. EKU is loaded. Every eligible player that could return did for the Colonels. It took Donnie Jones a little time to get things rolling in Deland but he has it going now. #3 for them seems reasonable. As does #2 for FGCU. Chambers is a proven coach and they have a very talented roster.

The three sites were pretty consistent when it came to the All ASUN team. Four players were unanimous selections, Blackmon/Stetson, Burden/KSU, Blanton/EKU, & Ognacevic/Lipscomb. Other players mentioned as 1st team are Hunter/CAU, Thompson/FGCU, McKee/Queens, Swenson/Stetson, & Tipton/Bellarmine.

In a anonymous poll on The Almamac the Coaches selected Blanton/EKU as "Best Pro Prospect", Burden/KSU as "Player that Scares You the Most" and Suder/Bellarmine as "Breakout" player. Major Madness picked Iziah Cozart as Defensive Player of the Year.

It should be a very competitive year in the ASUN.

We had a thread for basketball season going but thanks for posting this. Interesting info!

(10-05-2023 11:44 AM)Courtside Wrote:  The start of the 2023-24 Basketball season is about a month away. Practice officially started last week with the exception of a couple teams (UNF & UNA) that went out of country for a few exhibition games. That also means that the preseason mags & websites have now posted their predictions. I like The Almanac, Blue Ribbon Yearbook and Major Madness the best for ASUN coverage. This is how those folks see the league shaking out this year. I have totaled the three and given where each site see's each school finishing (Blue Ribbon/Almanac/MM).

1. (3) EKU (1/1/1)
2. (9) FGCU (5/2/2)
3. (10) Stetson (4/3/3)
4. (13) KSU (3/5/5)
5. (16) Lipscomb (6/6/4)
6. (18) Bellarmine (7/4/7)
7. (18) UNA (2/8/8)
8. (24) APU (8/10/6)
9. (26) Queens (9/7/10)
10. (28) Jacksonville (10/9/9)
11. (34) UNF (11/11/12)
12. (35) CAU (12/12/11)

I found a couple things interesting. The Almanac picking UNA #2 and the other two sites picking them 8th. I think Pujols's is a terrific coach and he has a lot of pieces to work with this year. UNA finishing near the top would not shock me. EKU is loaded. Every eligible player that could return did for the Colonels. It took Donnie Jones a little time to get things rolling in Deland but he has it going now. #3 for them seems reasonable. As does #2 for FGCU. Chambers is a proven coach and they have a very talented roster.

The three sites were pretty consistent when it came to the All ASUN team. Four players were unanimous selections, Blackmon/Stetson, Burden/KSU, Blanton/EKU, & Ognacevic/Lipscomb. Other players mentioned as 1st team are Hunter/CAU, Thompson/FGCU, McKee/Queens, Swenson/Stetson, & Tipton/Bellarmine.

In a anonymous poll on The Almamac the Coaches selected Blanton/EKU as "Best Pro Prospect", Burden/KSU as "Player that Scares You the Most" and Suder/Bellarmine as "Breakout" player. Major Madness picked Iziah Cozart as Defensive Player of the Year.

It should be a very competitive year in the ASUN.

Interesting pre-season look. I would totally agree on taking EKU first in the league. Do not understand the over respect of FGCU. They have had the most talent in the league since Bellarmine came in (the time frame for which I have paid attention), and have not lived up to the talent. Last year they were especially underperforming. I think UNA is the second pick in the ASUN, they looked good at the end of last season. KSU is a complete unknown, other than they are not going to be as good as last season. I like Bellarmine 3rd. The two freshman on the ASUN all freshman team are going to be greatly improved from last season. Look for Johnson to lead the team in scoring, BU shares the ball too much for him to lead the league in scoring, but he will have multiple 30 + games.

FGCU was so weird last season because they had a great run through their non-conference schedule (including beating USC to start the season) and then doing so poorly in the conference.

I think it's hard to know about UNA this season. They lost their best player to the portal but return several veteran players and the ASUN Freshman of the Year.

Of course, this is all talk of men. I'm sure FGCU will dominate the women's side of things again unless it's an odd season. With Liberty being gone, it will be interesting to see if anyone can challenge them.

Pomeroy (Kenpom) Preseason ratings have been released. The ASUN looks like this.

EKU #135
FGCU #149
Lipscomb #196
APU #202
Queens #205
Stetson #207
UNA #218
KSU #223
Bellarmine #232
Jacksonville #254
UNF #277
CAU #319

Preseason Coaches and Media polls.

The ASUN Tip-Off show is on ESPN+ today. I’m sure it will stay up on replay for a bit for those who missed any of it.

FGCU women play uk at HOME.

FGCU Men play Final Four team FAU at HOME.

The women's game is really a surprise!

Both games should be a sellout.

In KenPom's Conference Rankings the ASUN is #18 out of 33 Conferences. That rank is in between two historically very good conferences #17 Southern (SoCon) Conference and #19 Mid-American (MAC) Conference. I don't think that the ASUN has ever been better or more competitive. This with Liberty and JSU moving on makes it even more impressive.

(10-17-2023 09:30 AM)Courtside Wrote:  In KenPom's Conference Rankings the ASUN is #18 out of 33 Conferences. That rank is in between two historically very good conferences #17 Southern (SoCon) Conference and #19 Mid-American (MAC) Conference. I don't think that the ASUN has ever been better or more competitive. This with Liberty and JSU moving on makes it even more impressive.

Ive said for a time now, if the core of the ASUN stays together with what has come in, it will continue to get better.

The Dolphins hoping for a bounce back year after last year's disappointment.

https://judolphins.com/news/2023/10/19/m...phins.aspx

I hear that UNF "got worked" in a scrimmage vs The Citadel

(10-21-2023 01:10 PM)Courtside Wrote:  I hear that UNF "got worked" in a scrimmage vs The Citadel

I must admit I was surprised to see them getting first place votes in the preseason polls. They lost Hendrickson and Placer.

(10-21-2023 01:35 PM)unalions Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 01:10 PM)Courtside Wrote:  I hear that UNF "got worked" in a scrimmage vs The Citadel

I must admit I was surprised to see them getting first place votes in the preseason polls. They lost Hendrickson and Placer.

They also lost through the Portal 6-10 Jadyn Parker - ETSU (20.8 mpg/6.8 ppg/4.2 rpg), 6-9 Jonathan Aybar - FIU (17.6/9.5/3.7), & 6-2 Jarius Hicklen - OK State (33.8/10.5/3.7).

They do return 6-7 F/G James Dorian (22.5/6.1/5.1) for his 6th year and several 6-6'ish shooters.

I think they will be hard pressed to match last year's 9-9 record and 7th place finish in the league.

Coach Scotty is not gonna let it go. I doubt anything changes for this season but maybe his pleas will help teams in the future.

CRAWFORD | Why Scott Davenport won't give up fight for Bellarmine NCAA eligibility

https://www.wdrb.com/sports/crawford-why...bac73.html

(10-25-2023 04:19 PM)unalions Wrote:  Coach Scotty is not gonna let it go. I doubt anything changes for this season but maybe his pleas will help teams in the future.

CRAWFORD | Why Scott Davenport won't give up fight for Bellarmine NCAA eligibility

https://www.wdrb.com/sports/crawford-why...bac73.html

Stupid rule. NCAA is a dying Dinosaur.

(10-25-2023 07:56 PM)Courtside Wrote:  

(10-25-2023 04:19 PM)unalions Wrote:  Coach Scotty is not gonna let it go. I doubt anything changes for this season but maybe his pleas will help teams in the future.

CRAWFORD | Why Scott Davenport won't give up fight for Bellarmine NCAA eligibility

https://www.wdrb.com/sports/crawford-why...bac73.html

Stupid rule. NCAA is a dying Dinosaur.

I agree, but who voted on the rule? The NCAA leaders don't create rules. Schools vote on the rules just like they did for the new $5M fee to move from FCS to FBS.

I am projecting Jacksonville to go 17-13 Overall and 9-7 in the ASUN.

(10-30-2023 10:29 PM)Courtside Wrote:  I am projecting Jacksonville to go 17-13 Overall and 9-7 in the ASUN.

I had pretty high expectations for them last season that they obviously did not live up to. You are not sounding optimistic that they will rebound this season. I actually went to the JU v. BU game last season and even though JU lost, I thought they played well. It was possibly BU's best played game of the year. I think Mincy is a very good coach and am looking for them to do better this season