ASUN Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2019-20 season
By Logan Butts
Last season was a successful one for ASUN Basketball. Will the 2019-20 season live up to that high standard?
ASUN Basketball put themselves on the map last season. Although the conference had experienced postseason success before (FGCU making one of the greatest Cinderella runs of all time, Mercer taking down Duke), the 2018-19 campaign proved that, at least in the top half of the conference, that the ASUN was a mid-major league deserving of national recognition.
With the introduction of the NET rankings, a lack of quality Power 5 teams outside of the top-20 squads, and a number of unusually powerful mid-major crews, last season was something of an anomaly for the smaller schools. And the ASUN took advantage.
Before some untimely losses down the stretch, Lipscomb, the presumptive favorite in the ASUN, was looking at an at-large worthy resume. The Bisons failed to make the NCAA Tournament, but the senior-heavy crew mustered up the strength for one last hurrah: a run to the NIT championship game.
Meanwhile, newcomers Liberty crashed the party, upsetting Lipscomb at home in a classic ASUN title game, then knocking off 5-seed Mississippi State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Flames came in hot and finished even hotter.
This season, Liberty returns nearly everyone, while the Bisons lost nearly everyone. The power dynamic has flipped.
FGCU, the previous conference king, is looking to get back on track this season. North Florida, a recent tournament-winner as well, may be Liberty’s biggest competition this year.
After such a successful season for the league, let’s take a look at where the ASUN is headed this season with some preseason power rankings.