OUTLOOK: The Jacksonville Dolphins won the Atlantic Sun regular-season title
with a 15-5 finish last year and with four starters back in the fold, the
program is considered to be the favorite in 2009-10. The Lipscomb Bisons also
welcome back the services of four starters and they figure to push the
Dolphins after a strong finish last season. The Mercer Bears continue the
trend of returning four starters and they have the firepower to compete for
the league crown as well. The East Tennessee State Buccaneers (2009) and
Belmont Bruins (2006-08) have combined for the last four A-Sun Tournament
titles and though each club must overcome significant losses, both have enough
remaining talent to finish in the upper half of the standings. The Campbell
Camels are coming off one of their most successful campaigns in recent memory
and with a good deal of their roster still intact, they figure to continue to
climb the standings. The Stetson Hatters will try to rebound from a
disappointing campaign despite key losses, while the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
are hoping to bounce back with an experienced roster. The North Florida
Ospreys and Kennesaw State Owls are eligible for the postseason for the first
time, meanwhile, the USC-Upstate Spartans continue their transition to the
Division I ranks.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Jacksonville
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
1. Jacksonville; 2. Lipscomb; 3. Mercer; 4. East Tennessee State; 5. Belmont;
6. Campbell; 7. Stetson; 8. Florida Gulf Coast; 9. North Florida; 10.
Kennesaw State; 11. USC-Upstate.
TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
JACKSONVILLE - Head coach Cliff Warren has put Jacksonville back on the map in
just four years, leading the Dolphins to back-to-back A-Sun Tournament runner-
up finishes. Last season, the Dolphins claimed their first-ever A-Sun regular-
season title and earned a spot in the NIT, their first postseason appearance
in 22 years. Four starters are welcomed from last year's club, which went 15-5
within the conference, so expectations are at an all-time high for the
program. Leading the way is guard Ben Smith, the conference's preseason Player
of the Year. A two-time first-team all-league choice, the 5-10 Smith averaged
16.9 ppg and 4.0 apg last season, while leading the league in minutes per game
(36). Travis Cohn will join Smith once again in the backcourt after averaging
6.8 ppg a season ago, and sophomores Chris Edwards (2.4 ppg) and Tavin Galvin
(2.8 ppg) will add depth to the backcourt. In the frontcourt, their is no drop
off, as Ayron Hardy and Lehmon Colbert return to their starting spots. The 6-5
Hardy can get it done at both ends, averaging 10.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg, while
recording 52 steals on his way to A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year honors.
As for Colbert, he started 31 games a season ago and the 6-6 forward
contributed 11.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg.
LIPSCOMB - With four starters back from last year's club that placed fourth in
the A-Sun at 12-8, the Bisons are expected to be major contenders for the
league title and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The team's
postseason hopes fall on the shoulders of Adnan Hodzic, a 6-9 Bosnia native.
The 255-pound junior center drew double teams on a nightly basis and earned
first-team all-league accolades after averaging 17.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg. Joining
the big-man in the paint will once again be 6-7 Brandon Brown and 6-5 Michael
Teller, who combined for 17.4 ppg and 10.8 rpg last season. Brian Wright adds
depth to the frontcourt and the 6-6 forward showed glimpse of his potential by
averaging 6.7 ppg as freshman last season. At the perimeter, Josh Slater is
the lone returning starter and the 6-5 guard is solid scorer (11.0 ppg) as
well as rebounder (4.7 rpg). The backcourt should receive a big boost from
newcomer Johnny Lee, who has one year of eligibility remaining after
completing his undergraduate degree at George Washington in three years. The
team lost its point guard from last season, so Lee's arrival is perfect
timing.
MERCER - The Bears went 17-15 in a somewhat inconsistent 2008-09 season that
included noticeable wins over Alabama and Auburn. It was a solid showing in
Bob Hoffman's first season at the helm, but expectations are now lofty with
the return of four starters. The most noticeable of the returnees is James
Florence, a 6-1 guard that has averaged 19.7 ppg over his first three seasons.
Florence is a slasher that produced 20.8 ppg last season and he can also share
the wealth, distributing 3.7 apg. Daniel Emerson provided a nice complement
to Florence and the 6-8 forward averaged a double-double with 13.8 ppg and
10.7 rpg in his first season at Mercer. E.J. Kusnyer, a 6-5 guard, gives the
Bears another scoring option after netting 10.5 ppg in 2008-09, while 6-7
forward Brian Mills (6.5 ppg) rounds out the returning starters.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE - After tying for second place in the regular-season
standings, the Buccaneers went on to claim the A-Sun Tournament and advanced
to the Big Dance. ETSU nearly shocked the nation in the tourney, as it gave
top-seeded Pittsburgh a run for it before falling in the end. Head coach Murry
Bartow now has to replace three starters from last year's 23-win club,
including the duo of Courtney Pigram and Kevin Tiggs, who combined for 39.0
ppg. The team was dealt another big blow in the offseason, when 6-11 sophomore
Seth Coy was killed in a car accident. The Bucs are obviously facing an uphill
battle, but they always seem to find away to succeed. If ETSU is to contend
for the A-Sun crown, it will do so behind Mike Smith, a 6-6 guard that can do
it all. Smith certainly can pick up some of the scoring that was lost,
averaging 15.3 ppg a year ago, and he is also a good rebounder, pulling in 7.7
rpg. Isiah Brown is the team's second starter welcomed back and the 6-8
sophomore stepped up down the stretch last season and should easily eclipse is
his averages of 4.7 ppg and 4.6 rpg with an expanded role. Jacolby Davis and
Tommy Hubbard (4.0 ppg) are two of the teams top defenders and the figure to
push for starting positions, along with Justin Tubbs, an Alabama transfer that
is now eligible.
BELMONT - The Bruins saw their string of three straight A-Sun Tournament
titles come to an end last season, as they were downed by ETSU in the
semifinals. Belmont still earned a spot in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament,
where it defeated Evansville to give the program a 20-win campaign for the
fifth time in six years. Rick Byrd has built the Bruins into an A-Sun power,
but he has a lot of rebuilding to do with the loss of four starters, including
Player of the Year Alex Renfroe (16.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg). Jon House is the lone
returning starter and the 6-6 forward brings versatility to the lineup,
averaging 8.3 ppg and 4.1 rpg last season. Keaton Belcher, a 6-9 forward, will
step into a starting role alongside House and he was productive off the bench
last season with 7.1 ppg. Rice transfer Scott Saunders is now eligible to play
and the 6-10, 250-pound center should be able take advantage of the smaller
frontcourts in the A-Sun. At the perimeter, Jordan Campbell is back after
suffering a season-ending injury in early December. The 6-5 junior brings
experience to the table and he will help ease the transition of two highly
touted freshmen in Kerron Johnson and Ian Clark, whom both could make an
immediate impact.
CAMPBELL - Despite fielding one of the most inexperienced rosters at the
Division I level, the Camels were able to put together one of their best
season's in program history. Campbell won 11 league games, its most since the
1995-96 season, and four starters are now back in the fold, giving head coach
Robbie Laing plenty of weapons to work with. The team's scoring will once
again come from Jonathan Rodriguez, a 6-5 forward that netted 15.6 ppg a
season ago. He is also a terrific rebounder, hauling in 8.3 rpg. Lorne
Merthie, a 6-1 guard, was the Freshman of the Year in the A-Sun last season
after averaging 9.5 ppg and he only figures to be better with a year of
experience now behind him. Junard Hartley (5.0 ppg) will once again join
Merthie in the backcourt after the 6-3 junior started all 30 games last
season, while 6-8 Kyle Vejraska (6.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and 6-4 Miles Taylor (5.9
ppg, 2.4 rpg) will return to their frontcourt roles. Guard Jabril Bailey (5.0
ppg) and forward Preston Dodson (4.4 ppg) are the team's top options coming
off the bench.
STETSON - With all five starters back, the Hatters were expected to compete
for the A-Sun title last year. Instead, the team placed seventh at 9-11,
losing several close games in a disappointing campaign. Head coach Derek Waugh
only has two returning starters to work with this year, so don't expect big
things from Stetson. The squad's featured player this season will be A.J.
Smith, a 6-0 guard that can do a little bit of everything and showed that by
averaging 12.6 ppg, 3.8 apg and 3.0 rpg in 2009-10. Sheldon Oliver is the
second starter welcomed back and the 6-5 forward will be counted on to improve
on last season's scoring average of just 5.6 ppg. Mark Lohuis, a 6-4 guard,
chipped in with 5.0 ppg primarily coming off the bench last season, but should
be in the mix as a starter this time around. Olivier Dupiton (6-7) and Graeme
Radford (6-10) add some size to the frontcourt, while Shawn Bowen (6-3) and
Brandon Williams (5-10) give depth to the backcourt.
FLORIDA GULF COAST - In their first season in Division I, the Eagles went just
11-20, as they lost all 14 of their road games. With a year of experience and
four starters welcomed back, FGCU should be improved in 2009-10. Head coach
Dave Balza will once again rely on Reed Baker provide the scoring, as the 6-1
guard led the team with 13.4 ppg as a sophomore last season. Reggie Chambers
showed great potential as a freshman last season, turning in 8.6 ppg and 2.8
apg, and he figures to be even more productive in 2009-10. In the frontcourt,
Kyle Marks (6-7) and Derrick O'Neil (6-5) are back as starters and they
combined for 18.8 ppg and 13.2 rpg a season ago. Santa Fe transfer Charlie
Lytle, a 6-8 forward, is another option to start for the Eagles.
NORTH FLORIDA - The Ospreys' transition to the Division I ranks hasn't gone so
well, to put it nicely, and after last year's 8-22 finish, 10-year head coach
Matt Kilcullen was fired. Matthew Driscoll now steps into his first head
coaching position and he inherits a program that is eligible to participate in
the A-Sun Tournament for the first time. The former Baylor assistant inherits
a team that welcomes back four starters, including Eni Cuka. The 6-2 Cuka led
the team in scoring last season with 13.2 ppg and he hit 44 percent of his
field goals. Germaine Sparkes (5.1 ppg) has good size at 6-6 and the guard is
a solid defender, posting 30 steals a year ago. In the frontcourt, 6-6 Stan
Januska is the team's top option after recording 8.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg last
season, and 6-7 Kyle Groothuis is another choice to start following a 5.6 ppg
showing. Forwards Zack Riggins (5.3 ppg) and Matt Sauey (5.6 ppg) should also
contribute, along with a several incoming players.
KENNESAW STATE - Like UNF, Kennesaw State is finally eligible for the
postseason for the first time as full-fledged Division-I members. That is
certainly good news, as is the return of all five starters. The bad news
though, is Tony Ingle's club finished just 3-17 in the league with those
starters last season. Kurtis Woods is one of the more intriguing starters
welcomed back, as the 6-3 guard showed a great deal of potential last season,
netting 10.5 ppg as a freshman. Kelvin McConnell (11.9 ppg, 2.4 apg) will join
Woods at the perimeter and he has plenty of experience and is on pace to
finish with 1,000 points for his career. Spencer Dixon (7.4 ppg) is set to
move from guard to forward after the 6-0 sophomore led the team with 46 steals
and 78 assists last season. He only shot 29 percent, however, so that helps
explain the switch of positions. Cortez Irby, a community college transfer,
will fill the void in the backcourt, as the 6-4 guard is a solid shooter. Jon-
Michael Nickerson is the team's most dependable player in the frontcourt and
the 6-6 forward produced 10.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg last season. Jonathan Whipple,
6-7 forward, will join Nickerson in the paint after notching 4.9 ppg last
season.
USC-UPSTATE - The Spartans won't earn full eligibility for the A-Sun and NCAA
Tournaments until the 2011-12 season, but that won't stop head coach Eddie
Payne from fielding a competitive team until that time. USC-Upsate returns
three starters from last year's club, which won eight league games, and the
group is highlighted by Nick Schneiders. A 7-3 center, Schneiders presents
matchup problems for every team because of his height and he led the league in
blocked shots (2.6 bpg), while averaging 9.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg last season. It
was a nice improvement after posting just 4.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg the prior
campaign. Josh Chavis, a 5-9 guard that tallied 8.3 ppg, and 6-5 forward Mezie
Uzochukwu, who netted 6.3 ppg, are the two other starters welcomed back.
De'Marion Gordon was a valuable reserve as a freshman last season, chipping in
6.9 ppg, and the 6-1 guard figures to be a starter this time around.
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