ASUN Basketball: Who will claim conference’s 2021-22 automatic bid?

ASUN Basketball has several teams capable of winning next month’s conference tournament. Is there a clear favorite?

With March beginning to draw near as we enter the month of February, every single game is vital to some teams as they hope to improve their chances for an at-large bid for this year’s NCAA Tournament. However, for conferences such as ASUN Basketball, the lone way into the Big Dance will be decided via the conference tournament for the conference’s automatic bid.

With Liberty having won the last three ASUN Basketball conference tournaments, the Flames can obviously be considered as one of the favorites once again this year. Yes, recent history could play a role in that decision, but also currently sitting atop the ASUN East at 5-1 in conference play doesn’t necessarily hurt either.

While the Flames have been impressive once again, there are also a few other notable teams that you could certainly make an argument for. Before we take a look at who those teams are, let’s look at Liberty first, however.

The Flames entered Saturday having won seven straight but fell in a battle of conference unbeatens against Jacksonville State 77-67. Sitting at 14-7 overall (5-1 in ASUN), Liberty is led by one of the top scorers in the country in star guard Darius McGhee at 22.9 PPG, as well a team that only allows 60.5 PPG.

It doesn’t just stop there for Liberty either, as the Flames also have experienced impact players such as Keegan McDowell, Shiloh Robinson, and Kyle Rode, as well as having received strong play from freshman guards Brody Peebles and Joseph Venzant. It’s clear why Liberty is considered as one of the favorites, but could some other teams get in their way of another trip to March?

When looking for the most-likely team to challenge the Flames, the previously mentioned Jacksonville State and Bellarmine are the two obvious choices.

A newcomer to the ASUN in 2021-22, the Gamecocks sit atop the ASUN West at 8-0 in conference play, as well as 15-6 overall. A team that has given opponents such as Alabama and Wichita State troubles on the road, the Gamecocks also do not lack for impact scorers led by the guard trio of Darian Adams, Demaree King, and Jalen Gibbs, as well as shooting a combined 41.2% from three as a team.

Having won 10 straight at the time of writing as well, you could certainly make an excellent argument that the Gamecocks are the ASUN favorite at the moment, especially after going to Liberty and winning on Saturday.

As for Bellarmine, the Knights started the year 0-5 due to a daunting non-conference slate that included losses to Gonzaga, Purdue, UCLA, Murray State, and Saint Mary’s, but have clicked in conference play at 7-1 (13-9 overall) with the lone loss coming on the road to the previously mentioned Jacksonville State. Led by guards Dylan Penn and CJ Fleming, the Knights are a talented group with multiple impact pieces in the backcourt that could give multiple teams trouble.

While Liberty, Jacksonville State, and Bellarmine may get most of the attention, don’t necessarily rule out any others such as Kennesaw State, Jacksonville, or Florida Gulf Coast either. With multiple teams capable of claiming the automatic bid, the ASUN Basketball conference tournament it appears will truly be must-see this season.