Mid-major basketball: Assessing the ASUN conference
By Logan Butts
For five years the ASUN has been waiting for a March moment as madness-inducing as Dunk City’s run to the Sweet 16 in 2013. Could this be the year?
With only one game left in the regular season, two teams have separated themselves from the pack in the ASUN Conference standings: Florida Gulf Coast and Lipscomb.
FGCU and Lipscomb sit just a few games apart in the wins column. The Eagles are 11-2 in conference play and 20-10 overall, while the Bisons are 9-4 and 19-9. Everyone else in the conference is below .500.
When the ASUN Tournament begins in less than a week, these two teams will be on a collision course for their third meeting of the season.
In January, FGCU prevailed 88-83 in Nashville thanks to a balanced attack which featured five double-digit scorers. Lipscomb got its revenge one month later with a 90-87 win in Fort Myers.
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Fans of the ASUN, mid-major schools, and college basketball in general should tune in if these teams meet for a chalk match on March 4. There will be offensive fireworks.
FGCU is led by Brandon Goodwin, the regining ASUN Player of the Year. Goodwin is an all-around threat. He averages 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game as the focus of the Eagles offense.
The senior is flanked by a pair of upperclassmen shooters in junior Zach Johnson (15.1 ppg) and senior Christian Terrell (11.9 ppg).
The Bisons are fronted by a two-headed monster in juniors Garrison Mathews and Rob Marberry. Matthews (21.7 ppg) and Marberry (15.9) give Lipscomb a nice inside-outside game when both are clicking.
Matthews (21.7 ppg) has snagged a program-record five ASUN Player of the Week awards this season. Marberry has had games of 39 and 38 points in conference play.
Each team played a handful of tough conference games, with neither able to secure top-notch win.
Lipscomb lost by 10 at Tennessee, played Alabama and Purdue close on the road for a half, and suffered a blowout loss at Texas.
The Bisons most notable non-conference victories were a pair of wins over arch rival and former ASUN foe Belmont, ending a long losing streak against one of the best mid-major programs in the nation.
FGCU lost a pair of close matchups against Middle Tennessee, fell to Wichita State by 10 on the road, and dropped a game at Rhode Island by 20.
The Eagles best non-ASUN win came against Kevin Hervey and UT-Arlington on the road, a team that has cooled off after a hot start in non-conference play.
FGCU has some history in the NCAA Tournament, most notably the unbelievable run to the Sweet 16 in their first March Madness appearance.
Meanwhile, Lipscomb has yet to make it to the big dance. They fell just short in their first year of NCAA eligibility, losing in overtime to Belmont, and have yet to make it sense.
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Whichever team makes it, with their potent offenses and talented veteran leaders, should have a decent shot at an upset bid. Unless the bottom seed wins the ASUN tournament and steals away the conference’s lone big. But, that is a story for another day