2024 Preview
Superlatives:
Best Overall Team: Lipscomb
Best Overall Player: Jacari Lane, UNA
Best Shooter: Jacari Lane, UNA
Best Defenseman: Robert McCray V, JU
Sleeper Team (Conference): Jacksonville
Sleeper Team (March): North Alabama
North Alabama Guard jacari lane; jacari lane via instagram1. Lipscomb Bisons
2023 Record: 20-12
Half of last season’s two headed backcourt monster returns for the Bisons, as veteran Willson Pruitt will look to lead a Lipscomb team welcoming back frontcourt centerpiece Jacob Ognacevic after an injury riddled 2023. Lipscomb ranked 12th in the country last season in effective field goal percentage, a staggering statistic considering the Bisons ranked in the bottom 30 nationally in offensive rebounding. The return of Ognacevic will shore up the rebounding concerns along with 6-11 big man Grant Asman.
2. Austin Peay Governors
2023 Record: 19-16
The Governors played at one of the slowest paces in the country last season, ranking 326th in tempo. The style worked — the Governors played for the ASUN Championship and ranked inside the top-150 in adjusted offensive efficiency. Gone, however, are four starters, all of whom averaged over 12 points per game. Sixth man Sai Witt and Isaac Haney return after averaging 13 and 11 points, respectively.
3. North Alabama Lions
2023 Record: 15-17
The conference’s best player resides in Florence with the Lions. Returning stud point guard Jacari Lane will now be paired up with UAB transfer (and former UNA guard) Daniel Ortiz, forming one of the most dangerous backcourts in the ASUN. Rebounding was a challenge last season offensively, and losing 8.2 rebounds per game in forward Damian Forrest stings. The Lions will be in the mix for the ASUN’s top spot throughout the regular season and look to build off its first ever conference tournament victory last season.
4. Jacksonville Dolphins
2023 Record: 16-17
Returning guard Robert McCray V is a no-doubt all-leaguer in the backcourt for the Dolphins, but surrounding the junior star will be the challenge for coach Jordan Mincy. The Dolphins poached Monmouth guard Jakari Spence and will rely on returning big man Kendal Munson for interior points. The Dolphins will look to improve on its 269th ranking in offensive efficiency last season.
5. Eastern Kentucky Colonels
2023 Record: 17-14
Two years removed from a CBI finals appearance and a regular season conference title in 2023, the Colonels return just one starter in third leading scorer Devontae Blanton (14.0). EKU was outed in the first round of the ASUN tournament by Jacksonville last season, a game characterized by the Colonels season-long kryptonite of three-point defense, which ranked 360th of 362 nationwide.
6. Stetson Hatters*
2023 Record: 22-13
The cupboard is relatively bare in DeLand, as the Hatters, fresh off an ASUN Championship, return one starter. Guard Tristian Gross averaged just 4 points per game last season, but is surrounded by two seven footers in the frontcourt and dynamic forward Josh Massey on the wing. Regression seems imminent for the Hatters in Donnie Jones’ sixth season.
7. North Florida Ospreys
2023 Record: 16-16
The nation’s number one team in three point shooting last season returns three starters, none of which averaged over 11 points per game. The Ospreys said goodbye to all-league guard Chaz Lanier (Tennessee), as coach Matthew Driscoll searches for his next floor commander. Queue Jaylen Smith, a shaky guard capable of scoring at all levels.
8. Central Arkansas Bears
2023 Record: 9-23
The conference’s second worst record belonged to the Bears in 2023 as Central Arkansas ranked near — if not at — the bottom of every advanced statistic category. Only 24.5 points per game return to the lineup, spearheaded by Elias Cato’s 11.9 average. The Bears struggled tremendously on the defensive side, ranking in the bottom-20 nationally while allowing a staggering 37.9% of opposing three-pointers to hit.
9. Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
2023 Record: 14-18
“Dunk City” heads into 2024 returning just 14.8 points per game from a team that finished four games below .500 in 2023. Dallion Johnson will be looked to for offensive consistency to overcome early season growing pains as the Eagles ranked near the bottom of the ASUN with just 31.2% of its minutes from the bench last season. FGCU brought in dynamic guard Jevin Muniz to compliment Johnson on the offensive end.
10. Queens Royals
2023 Record: 14-19
McNeese transfer forward Nasir Mann will be looked towards for leadership after three starters and nearly 50-points of production leave Charlotte in a hurry. A team built mostly through the portal, the Royals will look to enhance offensive production from a unit which ranked 219th in the country last season. Look for transfer guard Leo Colimerio to run the offense.
11. West Georgia Wolves
2023 Record: -
New to Division-I level, struggled at Division-II level last season.
12. Bellarmine Knights
2023 Record: 8-23
The Knights won the ASUN Championship in 2022 but could not proceed to the NCAA Tournament due to transition restrictions. Since then, Bellarmine is 24-41 with two premature conference tournament exits in its back pocket. Curt Hopf returns this season, however — a dim light for one of college basketball’s struggling programs.