Busting Brackets
Fansided

ASUN Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By Logan Butts

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Brandon Goodwin #0 of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles dribbles the ball in the second half against the Florida State Seminoles during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 16: Brandon Goodwin #0 of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles dribbles the ball in the second half against the Florida State Seminoles during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 16, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 30: Diandre Wilson #15 of the N.J.I.T Highlanders drives to the rim against Jevon Carter #2 and Daxter Miles Jr. #4 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on November 30, 2017 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 30: Diandre Wilson #15 of the N.J.I.T Highlanders drives to the rim against Jevon Carter #2 and Daxter Miles Jr. #4 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at the WVU Coliseum on November 30, 2017 in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

No. 7 – Kennesaw State 

2017-18 Record: 10-20 (6-8) 

Finish: First round loss in ASUN Tournament 

Leading Returning Scorer: Tyler Hooker – 10.8

Top Nonconference Games: Schedule has yet to be released 

Losing sharpshooting scorers Nick Masterson and Scott James will hurt the Owls who have not won more than 14 games in over a decade. It will take quite a run to bring Kennesaw State out of the morass of the middle-to-lower section of the ASUN. Shoutout to Al Skinner, the former Big East Coach of the Year for Boston College and NBA player who now coaches the Owls.

No. 6 – NJIT

2017-18 Record: 14-16 (7-7) 

Finish: First round loss in ASUN Tournament 

Leading Returning Scorer: Abdul Lewis – 12.1

Top Nonconference Games: at Houston, at LIU Brooklyn 

Anthony Tarke’s departure will be tough for the Highlanders, but NJIT returns most of the contributors from last season’s underachieving roster. With seniors Lewis and Diandre Wilson ready to lead the team, NJIY could sneak into the top half of the league and pile up some wins thanks to a relatively easy nonconference schedule.

No. 5 – Jacksonville 

2017-18 Record: 15-18 (8-6) 

Finish: Second round loss in ASUN Tournament 

Leading Returning Scorer: Jace Hogan – 17.1

Top Nonconference Games: at Grand Canyon, at Notre Dame, at Indiana 

The high-scoring duo Hogan and JD Notae return for the Dolphins, but the question of who is going to deliver those two the ball is still in the air as veteran combo guard Devin Harris (no, not that veteran combo guard named Devin Harris) has graduated. Ohio State transfer big man Dave Bell can also suit up for JU this season after sitting out last year.

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