After an underwhelming non-conference performance, the ASUN members now turn their attention to one another with league play beginning this week.

Power rankings are based on games played through December 31st.

Note: National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote movement in power rankings since last ranking (this is the first power rankings of the season).

1. Liberty 14-1 #65
   no change

Ritchie McKay and his Flames saw their season opening win streak of 14 come to an end on Sunday afternoon at LSU, as Liberty fell to the Tigers. The Flames were one of the final three unbeaten teams remaining in the country as they now turn their attention to defending their ASUN title. No favors given to the defending champs as Liberty begins play on the road, traveling from the furthest south ASUN location (Fort Myers, FL) to the furthest north location (Newark, NJ) in less than 48 hours. To make matters worse, NJIT doesn’t play again until Saturday when they host the Flames.

This week: 1/2 @ FGCU, 1/4 @ NJIT

2. North Florida 7-8 #188
   no change

The Ospreys have lost three straight games, but they came against Florida State, Syracuse, and Dayton. In total, they have played six teams ranked in the top 61 of the KenPom rankings as they are playing the 32nd toughest schedule in the country. Matt Driscoll’s team is poised to challenge Liberty for the ASUN regular season title.

This week: 1/2 @ Kennesaw St, 1/4 @ North Alabama

3. Lipscomb 5-8 #205
  1

Lipscomb may be only 3-8 against DI competition, but they have faced a strong schedule this season. Six of their losses have come against top 100 teams, including their most recent losses at Vermont and Auburn. We should find out a lot about the Bisons under first year head coach Lennie Acuff as ASUN play gets started this weekend with two road games. Are the Bisons a contender or pretender?

This week: 1/2 @ Stetson, 1/4 @ FGCU

4. Jacksonville 7-8 #239
  3

It’s difficult to move the Dolphins into the 4th spot on these power rankings, especially after their home loss to South Carolina State on Monday night, but such is life in the ASUN so far this season. Jacksonville didn’t really have any bad losses until that game, and their best win was a 20-point thrashing of #210 Dartmouth. While JU is probably undeserving of the #4 spot, they get it by default.

This week: 1/2 @ North Alabama

5. Stetson 6-9 #318
   no change

The Hatters got off to a great start in the Donnie Jones era before dropping 4 straight, including losses to Big South foes Longwood and UNC Asheville. They were beginning to look like the Stetson team we have come to know fighting in the basement of these power rankings until they upset South Carolina Monday night. Jones and Stetson have proven they have the ability to compete with just about any ASUN level team, they are still looking to find consistency though.

This week: 1/2 vs Lipscomb, 1/4 @ Kennesaw St

6. North Alabama 5-8 #279
  3

After starting the season 4-4, the Lions have now dropped three straight and four out of five with their only win coming against a non-Division I opponent. All four of these losses have come on the road, but losing to one of the worst DI programs, Alabama A&M, by double digits is not a good look. Tony Pujol’s squad begins league play with two winnable home games this weekend.

This week: 1/2 vs Jacksonville, 1/4 vs North Florida

7. NJIT 3-10 #266
  1

The Highlanders won a program best 22 wins a season ago, but they are currently riding a 8 game losing streak against Division I opponents. Losses like this past Sunday to UConn are expected, but NJIT also has dropped games to the likes of Binghamton, Brown, UMass Lowell, and St. Francis NY. They are off until Saturday when they open at home against Liberty.

This week: 1/4 vs Liberty

8. FGCU 3-12 #324
   no change

FGCU has some talent, but they can’t seem to put it all together to get in the win column. The Eagles are just 1-12 against DI competition this season, with their only win coming way back on November 20th in overtime against Florida Atlantic. They did put a scare into former head coach Andy Enfield and USC this past weekend before falling, 71-58. Two home games to start league play against last year’s top two teams in the league. Drop both and Michael Fly’s squad could be trying to claw its way out of the basement most of the season.

This week: 1/2 vs Liberty, 1/4 vs Lipscomb

9. Kennesaw State 1-12 #343
   no change

Credit to first year KSU head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim in putting together an all-DI schedule. They did pick up a win on December 13th against Gardner-Webb, 85-61, but have struggled since against quality mid-majors Murray State, Belmont, and Wofford. Two good home tests await for the start of conference play.

This week: 1/2 vs North Florida, 1/4 vs Stetson