ASUN Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By Logan Butts | Sep 12, 2018

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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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 16: Kenny Cooper #21 of the Lipscomb Bisons reacts after a score against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

No. 2 – FGCU

2017-18 Record: 23-12 (12-2)

Finish: First round loss in the NIT

Leading Returning Scorer: Dinero Mercurius (What a name!) – 7.9

Top Nonconference Games: at Michigan State, at Illinois State, vs South Dakota State, at UMBC, at Ole Miss

The Eagles lost two legit stars in Brandon Goodwin, who recently signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, and Zach Johnson. Those two player plus glue guy extraordinaire Christian Terrell made up a significant portion of the ASUN regular season champions’ offense last season and Johnson and Goodwin carried FGCU in that classic ASUN Championship game in March. But, like always, the Eagles have reloaded on transfers from high DI schools. Never count out Dunk City.

No. 1 – Lipscomb

2017-18 Record: 23-10 (10-4)

Finish: First round loss in the NCAA Tournament

Leading Returning Scorer: Garrison Mathews – 21.7

Top Nonconference Games: at TCU, at Middle Tennessee, at Louisville, at Clemson, vs Vermont

With the team’s top six scorers (including two first-team All-Conference members in Garrison Mathews and Rob Marberry) returning as well as the return from injury of former starting point guard Nate Moran who sat out all last season, the Bisons enter the season loaded. Fresh off of their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, and with every major contributor to that run in tow, Lipscomb will be hungry for a repeat, but with a potential regular-season crown to add to the fold this time around.

Next. Ivy League Rankings. dark

After a championship game for the ages broadcast on national TV last season, the ASUN may be drawing in more casual college basketball fans this season. It looks like the competition could prove the new viewers made the right choice.

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