We have reached the final week of the regular season as teams look ahead to next week’s ASUN Tournament. Here is our updated ASUN Power Rankings, based on games played through February 19.
Note: National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote change in power rankings since previous ranking.
1. Kennesaw State #142 (21-8, 13-3)
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The Owls got a program defining win this past Thursday by knocking off Liberty in front of a sellout crowd at the KSU Convocation Center. The win put Kennesaw in sole possession of first place entering the final three games of the regular season. They were unable to maintain that lead as they lost their first game at home on Saturday against Queens. The Owls remain tied with Liberty at the top of the ASUN standings, but KSU holds the tiebreaker with their head to head win. If they win their two games on the road this week, Kennesaw State will be the 1-seed in next week’s ASUN Tournament. If they drop a game, it leaves the door open for Liberty.
This week: 2/22 at North Alabama, 2/24 at Central Arkansas
2. Liberty #46 (22-7, 13-3)
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The Flames led for over 32 minutes of Thursday’s clash between the two teams at the top of the ASUN standings but were unable to maintain a double digit lead in the closing minutes, falling at Kennesaw State. Liberty bounced back with a big win at Jacksonville State on Saturday, and can, at the minimum, ensure at least a share of the ASUN regular season title for the fourth time in five seasons by winning two games this week against Queens.
This week: 2/22 at Queens, 2/24 vs Queens
3. North Alabama #228 (18-11, 10-6)
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The Lions are arguably the hottest team in the conference right now, having won five straight and nine out of ten. This comes on the heels of North Alabama starting league play at 1-5. Wins this week, both on the road, at Bellarmine and Eastern Kentucky (in overtime) has pushed UNA within striking distance of a top four seed and being able to play an ASUN quarterfinal game on their home court.
This week: 2/22 vs Kennesaw State, 2/24 vs Jacksonville State
4. Eastern Kentucky #185 (18-11, 11-5)
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The Colonels entered the week looking to be in really good shape to secure the third seed, but a loss on their home floor to the surging North Alabama Lions has now opened the door for Stetson and UNA to make things interesting this week.
This week: 2/22 at North Florida, 2/24 at Jacksonville
5. Stetson #158 (16-11, 11-5)
no change
The Hatters picked up two tough wins against FGCU this week to remain near the top of the standings and currently in possession of a top four seed and home game for the quarterfinals. If Stetson takes care of business on their home floor this week, they can finish no worse than as the fourth seed.
This week: 2/22 vs Austin Peay, 2/24 vs Lipscomb
6. Lipscomb #183 (17-12, 9-7)
no change
The Bisons used a second half comeback Saturday against Jacksonville to avoid disaster by losing two straight at home. Lipscomb lost to North Florida in double overtime, 114-111, on Thursday.
This week: 2/22 at FGCU, 2/24 at Stetson
7. Bellarmine #272 (13-16, 8-8)
no change
The Knights got a split at home this past week against North Alabama and Central Arkansas, knocking off the Bears on Sunday. The defending ASUN tournament champions should be fairly safe to make the tournament this year provided they stay in the top 10. If the Knights pick up just one win on the road this week, they will be able to lock up a top 10 finish.
This week: 2/22 at Jacksonville, 2/24 at North Florida
8. North Florida #239 (12-16, 7-9)
no change
UNF picked up a huge win on the road in double overtime against Lipscomb before falling at Austin Peay in a game that ended in a brawl that carried over into the locker room. Austin Peay’s season is all but over, but it will be interesting to see the fallout from that melee affects North Florida moving forward.
This week: 2/22 vs Eastern Kentucky, 2/24 vs Bellarmine
9. Queens #218 (17-12, 7-9)
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Queens is an interesting team to try and figure out and this past week shows that perfectly. First, the Royals lose at Jacksonville State, a team that won’t even qualify for the ASUN Tournament. Then, Queens follows that up by becoming the first team to defeat Kennesaw State on their home floor, pushing the Owls back into a tie for first place with the team that Queens will play twice this week – Liberty.
This week: 2/22 vs Liberty, 2/24 at Liberty
10. FGCU #177 (16-13, 6-10)
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After losing two games this week to Stetson, the Eagles are in serious jeopardy of not even making the ASUN Tournament.
This week: 2/22 vs Lipscomb, 2/24 vs Austin Peay
11. Jacksonville #229 (13-14, 6-10)
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The Dolphins are currently tied with FGCU for the 10th and final spot in next week’s conference tournament. Who would have thought that even a month ago?
This week: 2/22 vs Bellarmine, 2/24 vs Eastern Kentucky
12. Central Arkansas #328 (9-20, 4-12)
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A tough week for the Bears, losing to Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine on the road as they are now officially eliminated from the ASUN Tournament.
This week: 2/22 vs Jacksonville State, 2/24 vs Kennesaw State
13. Jacksonville State #259 (11-18, 4-12)
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Last year’s ASUN representative in the NCAA Tournament was officially eliminated from the ASUN Tournament this season after losing to Liberty at home on Saturday.
This week: 2/22 at Central Arkansas, 2/24 at North Alabama
14. Austin Peay #322 (9-20, 3-13)
no change
The Governors ended their 11-game skid on Saturday by knocking off North Florida. Of course, the win is being overshadowed by the brawl that has gone viral on social media that happened at the end of the game.
This week: 2/22 at Stetson, 2/24 at FGCU
