It’s time for our inaugural ASUN Power Rankings of the 2021-22 season! It is still extremely early in the season as we are just a few weeks into the year and many teams are still trying to figure out their rotation. At the ASUN level, it’s also very difficult to gauge the strength of teams compared to others as the non-conference scheduling strategies vary greatly. Keep that in mind with this week’s power rankings, and also remember that we place a lot of value on wins to this point. It is early, and these will change significantly throughout the season.
This week’s Power Rankings are based on games played through November 28th.
Note: National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote change in power rankings since previous ranking.
Note: The previous ranking we are using is from the preseason coaches’ poll.
1. FGCU 6-2 #189
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The Eagles have the best win of anybody in the conference to this point, as they knocked off #80 Rhode Island, 67-66, at home on Nov. 23. FGCU’s only two losses have come to top 30 teams in Loyola Chicago and USC. The rest of their wins have been against two non-Division I programs and lower ranked Division I teams in Western Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana, and Purdue Fort Wayne. Was the win over Rhode Island a fluke or does head coach Michael Fly have FGCU back near the top of the ASUN?
This week: 12/1 @ FIU, 12/4 vs Dartmouth
2. Eastern Kentucky 5-3 #190
no change
One of three ASUN newcomers this season, EKU was pegged to finish 2nd in the preseason coaches’ poll. So far their losses have come by 1 to James Madison, by 3 at West Virginia, and an 88-75 setback at Radford. The Colonels have two non-Division I wins and wins over #185 Milwaukee, Albany, and Eastern Illinois.
This week: 12/4 @ Western Kentucky
3. Jacksonville St 3-3 #127
no change
Like EKU, Jacksonville State joins the ASUN this year and they are also expected to compete near the top of the league. On opening night, the Gamecocks lost at the buzzer to Wichita State, 60-57. They also lost in triple overtime to Troy and to Valparaiso, 78-70. JSU has three Division I wins as they have defeated Alabama A&M, Drexel, and Elon.
This week: 12/4 vs South Alabama
4. Lipscomb 5-2 #198
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Like FGCU, Lipscomb has a very impressive win as they knocked off #107 Dayton on the road, 78-59. They also have questionable losses to Charleston by 9 and Tennessee Tech by 11, both on the road. Their other wins have come against South Carolina State, Loyola Maryland, and two non-Division I wins. Questions remain about just how good the Bisons are this season and whether or not they will be competing for a conference championship once again.
This week: 12/2 @ Belmont, 12/5 vs Chattanooga
5. Liberty 3-3 #131
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It has been a disappointing start to the new season by three-time defending conference champions Liberty as the Flames have lost games to LSU, Iona, and Manhattan. The first two losses came against what will turn out to be very good teams while Manhattan could contend in the MAAC before the season is over. The Flames got back in the win column the last two times out defeating Bethune Cookman and Maryland Eastern Shore by margins smaller than anticipated. Featuring 8 of 13 scholarship players as either freshmen or sophomores, head coach Ritchie McKay will likely get his team competing for a fourth straight league crown before this season is over.
This week: 12/2 vs Missouri
6. Jacksonville 3-2 #270
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Under first year head coach Jordan Mincy, the Dolphins have had to replace virtually an entire roster this season. They have picked up a couple of wins over non-Division I teams and defeated North Carolina A&T by 9 on Nov. 13. Jacksonville’s losses have come to UCF and Minnesota by an average of 10 points. Questions continue about this Jacksonville squad.
This week: 12/2 @ Charleston Southern
7. Kennesaw St 3-4 #278
4
Many expected Kennesaw State to make a rise this season after struggling to find wins the past few years. Head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim has upgraded the talent level for the Owls, and they began to show some promise late in the year last season. A dominating, 89-52, win over Charleston Southern shows they have the talent. Their four losses have all come to top 100 teams in Iowa State, Creighton, Belmont, and Wake Forest.
This week: 12/1 vs Mercer, 12/5 @ Wofford
8. Bellarmine 2-5 #187
4
It’s impossible to have a true read on the Knights so far this season as their first five games came against the likes of Purdue, Murray State, Saint Mary’s, Gonzaga, and UCLA. They dropped all of those contests, as expected. Bellarmine picked up their first win this past Tuesday, defeating #315 Central Michigan, 76-69, followed by a win over non-Division I Franklin.
This week: 11/30 @ West Virginia, 12/5 vs Defiance
9. Stetson 2-3 #224
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The Hatters opened the season with a seven point victory over Florida Memorial, a non-Division I foe. They have losses to Georgia Tech and Miami Ohio, as well as a two point loss at home to Campbell. Stetson did pick up a Division I win over Lamar by one point.
This week: 12/1 @ Florida Atlantic, 12/4 @ Florida International
10. North Alabama 3-3 #297
1
Last year’s ASUN runner-up in the conference tournament, North Alabama has two non-Division I wins and defeated #338 Alabama State, 81-69, in their last game. They have losses to Mississippi State, and dropped two games in the ASUN/MAAC challenge to Manhattan (55-51) and Iona (81-65).
This week: 12/1 vs Mississippi Valley State, 12/5 vs Carver
11. North Florida 1-7 #261
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The Ospreys are another team that is difficult to get a read on as they have played a challenging schedule so far this season. UNF has played 7 of 8 games away from home, playing Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Grand Canyon, Arizona State, UCLA, Kentucky, and Florida International, losing all of them. They defeated non-Division I Webber International on Nov. 20 for their only win so far this season.
This week: 12/2 vs Edward Waters, 12/5 @ Florida Atlantic
12. Central Arkansas 1-6 #341
no change
The third and final newcomer to the ASUN this season, Central Arkansas defeated #177 Oral Roberts, 70-67. Other than that it has been tough sledding, with three losses to open the season against top 100 teams Saint Louis, Butler, and Baylor. Following the win over ORU, the Bears have fallen to New Orleans, VMI, and Presbyterian.
This week: 12/1 @ Arkansas, 12/4 @ Arkansas State
