Like everything in this season of COVID-19, this is a very unique men’s basketball season in the ASUN. Much of it has to do with the schedule format with teams playing two game series on back-to-back nights at one location. It makes for unbalanced schedules and it is very difficult to win games on consecutive nights against the same opponent.
This week’s Power Rankings are based on games played through January 24th.
Note: National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote change in power rankings since previous ranking.
1. Liberty 12-5, 4-2 #106
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The Flames are coming off an open weekend that followed a series split at Stetson. Liberty remains in control of its own destiny when it comes to the ASUN regular season title, but the margin for error continues to shrink as the season moves deeper into the calendar. Three of Liberty’s first four conference series have come on the road, with two of them coming against the top two preseason ranked teams outside of the Flames. Not an easy start to the schedule, but the Flames have a favorable finish to their schedule.
This week: 1/29, 1/30 @ Jacksonville
2. Bellarmine 7-5, 4-2 #212
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The Knights dropped their first ever ASUN games at home to Lipscomb, but have since won four straight with wins at FGCU and on their home floor against Stetson. The ASUN newcomers are now tied for 2nd place in the league standings with games against winless Kennesaw State up next. It’s time to take the Division I newbies for real.
This week: 1/29, 1/30 @ Kennesaw State
3. North Alabama 9-3, 5-1 #247
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The Lions are sitting alone in first place after their sweep of Jacksonville at home this past weekend, as UNA has now won 5 straight games, including two in overtime. The two wins over Jacksonville are a nice feather in the cap, but the Dolphins will likely end up near the bottom of the ASUN standings when the season is over. The Lions also won two at Kennesaw State, as everyone has done so far this season, that followed their ASUN opening series split with Stetson on their home floor. UNA still has series with UNF, Liberty, Bellarmine, and Lipscomb on the schedule. Will they be able to maintain the strong start?
This week: 1/29, 1/30 @ North Florida
4. Lipscomb 10-8, 5-3 #223
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The Bisons dropped two straight at home against North Florida and Florida Gulf Coast before responding with a win on Saturday against FGCU. We may look back at Lipscomb’s series sweep on the road against Bellarmine as being one of the best performances this ASUN season. At 5-3 and road series on the docket against Stetson, Jacksonville, and North Alabama, Lipscomb has its work cut out for itself to contend for a regular season title.
This week: 1/29, 1/30 @ Stetson
5. North Florida 6-10, 4-2 #295
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The Ospreys started the season 0-7 and 1-8 with a loss to Flagler. Not much was expected out of them in conference play, but they have earned series splits with Jacksonville and Lipscomb, both on the road, and swept Kennesaw State this past weekend. We will find out a lot about this year’s UNF team over the next two weeks as they take on UNA and Liberty.
This week: 1/29, 1/30 vs North Alabama
6. Stetson 4-8, 2-4 #238
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The Hatters split the series with both North Alabama and Liberty as they began ASUN play at 2-2 and had positioned themselves to make a run. That all came to a screeching halt being swept at Bellarmine this past weekend, including losing Saturday’s game after leading by 20 in the second half. This coming weekend’s games against Lipscomb become must wins now if Stetson hopes to contend for a regular season title.
This week: 1/29, 1/30 vs Lipscomb
7. Florida Gulf Coast 6-5, 1-3 #273
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The Eagles didn’t get their ASUN season started until Jan. 15 due to a pause from COVID concerns. FGCU had nearly a full month off before getting back on the court at home against Bellarmine. They would drop both of those games to begin 0-2 in conference play, but FGCU would get their season headed back in the right direction with a series split at Lipscomb. Following a scheduled open weekend, the Eagles host Stetson before facing Kennesaw State. This is their window to make a push to compete for a regular season title.
This week: 2/5, 2/6 vs Stetson
8. Jacksonville 9-7, 3-3 #310
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The Dolphins enjoyed their time at the top of the ASUN standings at 3-1 which found them in many bracketologists’ brackets heading into a showdown with North Alabama this past weekend. Jacksonville dropped both of those games, including Friday night by just one point in overtime, and have now lost three straight. Their next six games? Two against Liberty, two against Bellarmine, and two against Lipscomb. Hope they enjoyed their time in first place.
This week: 1/29, 1/30 vs Liberty
9. Kennesaw State 3-13, 0-8 #347
no change
The Division I losing streak now stands at 33 and the ASUN losing streak has reached 25. 2nd year head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim has a much more talented team than last year’s squad, but it may be hard for him to keep them all focused and believing they can win.
This week: 1/29, 1/30 vs Bellarmine
