Lipscomb Basketball: Will the Bison go back to the NCAA Tournament in 2019?

Lipscomb Basketball earned their first Atlantic Sun tournament title and berth to the NCAA Tournament. Will the 2018-19 season be just as successful?

Since joining the Atlantic Sun in 2003, the Bisons have had just two coaches, Scott Sanderson and current head man Casey Alexander. Alexander replaced Sanderson after the 2013 season and has garnered half of his 84 victories at the school in just the last two seasons.

Last season the Bisons finished the regular season at 23-10 and 10-4 in the conference. The 10-4 record could’ve been even more dominating as they began 1-3 and finishing 9-1, with three of the four losses coming by six points or less. Alexander’s squad finished the season on an eight-game winning streak capped off by a 12-point win over perennial conference favorite Florida Gulf Coast in the Atlantic Sun title game.

Statistically speaking the Bisons had a successful season last year. They ranked in the top 50 nationally in categories like points (82.1), assists (15.7), rebounds (34.67), defensive rebounds (28.18), and turnovers forced (15.48). Where the team struggled was with valuing the basketball as they turned the ball over nearly as much as they took it away, committing 14.9 per game.

The team is well positioned for a repeat as the top six scorers from last season return. Seniors-to-be Garrison Matthews and Rob Marberry are the top returning point-getters who averaged over 37 points and 11 rebounds between the two of them. Kenny Cooper was the team’s leading assist man as a sophomore with 3.9, he also poured in 10 points per game. The Bisons’ depth also returns with junior forwards Matt Rose and Eli Peppers and their 15 points and nearly 11 rebounds, and the 6-5 Michael Buckland does a little bit of everything for Alexander with 7.5 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Bisons’ recruiting class will consist of four players, two big men, and two guards. Ahsan Asadullah is a 6-8 260lb. center that Alexander envisions as an anchor in the post for their offense. Jaxon Strates is a 6-8 forward who adds versatility to the Bisons’ roster. In the backcourt, Lipscomb adds Jake Wolfe who is a 6-5 swingman from Illinois who averaged 18 points, five rebounds and six assists as a junior and Alex Jones, a 5-10 guard from Georgia.

The chorus is in place and if the pieces the team has in place for complimentary verses come together, the Bisons could have another hit season on their hands, singing and dancing their way to the NCAA Tournament, again.