The (Basketball News)
By Ralph Lauro, College Basketball Staff Writer
OUTLOOK: The Atlantic Sun enjoyed one of its most successful seasons to date in 2003-04, as it sent three teams to the postseason for just the second time ever. UCF, Troy and Belmont all earned invitations to the postseason with UCF representing the conference in the NCAA Tournament. The Atlantic Sun also had four teams post 20 or more victories for the second straight season and only the second time in league history. Troy, UCF, Georgia State and Belmont all eclipsed the 20-win plateau, as the Knights finished with a league-high 25 wins. Good things are expected once again from the A-Sun this season, with the field being wide open. Troy, which won the regular season crown last year and the league tournament championship the year before, is always a favorite to win the A-Sun title and this year is no exception. Georgia State, which finished fourth in the league standings in 2003-04, also has a strong club, as does defending champion UCF. Stetson is also expected to contend after a 10-10 finish in league play a year ago. Jacksonville, Gardner-Webb and Florida Atlantic don’t have enough to finish in the upper half of the standings, but they are good enough to contend for a winning season. Belmont was hit hard by graduations, and after a third place finish last season it may find itself near the bottom of the standings this time around. As for Mercer, Campbell and Lipscomb, they didn’t finished with a winning record in league play this past year and little should change in 2004-05.
CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Georgia State
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Georgia State; 2. Stetson; 3. Troy State; 4. UCF; 5. Jacksonville; 6. Gardner-Webb; 7. Florida Atlantic; 8. Belmont; 9. Mercer; 10. Campbell; 11.Lipscomb
TEAM BY TEAM ANAYLSIS:
GEORGIA STATE - The Panthers completely turned things around last season after posting just a 14-15 mark the previous year. The team went an impressive 20-9 overall in 2003-04, in addition to finishing in fourth place in the league standings (14-6). With two starters and five veterans returning from last year’s squad, Georgia State should be able to post another 20-win season. The Panthers are led by guard Kevin Thomas, who averaged 10.0 ppg on 63 treys a year ago. Herman Favors will accompany Thomas in the backcourt after averaging 7.0 ppg and 3.4 apg last season. Juco transfer Travis DeGoot, ranked by some as the top JC prospect at his position, will give Georgia State some much needed depth along the perimeter. Up front Georgia State has a few question marks with Marcus Brown and Sylvester Morgan being the most experienced players. Brown averaged 7.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg a year ago, while Morgan added 1.7 ppg and 1.8 rpg in limited action. The Panthers will count on incoming freshmen and three juco players to help fill the void in the frontcourt.
STETSON - The Hatters haven’t had much to cheer about over the last few seasons, but that may all change this year. The team returns four of its starters from last year’s club, which went 12-15 overall and an even 10-10 in league play. Included in the returning starters is the backcourt duo of E.J. Gordon and Anthony Register, who accounted for 45.9 percent of the team’s total offense last season. Gordon led the Panthers in scoring (16.8 ppg), rebounding (7.1 rpg) and steals (66), while Register finished second in scoring (14.4) and first in three-point percentage (.400). In the frontcourt Stetson is paced by forward Mark Stiles and center Borislav Djordjic. Both started over 17 games last season and combined for 14.4 ppg and 8.5 rpg. In addition to the four returning starters, a pair of major-conference transfers become eligible this season, giving the Panthers some much needed depth. Transfers Will Holloman and Karl Hollingsworth were both runners-up for Mr. Basketball in their respective states as high schools seniors, and will surely have an impact for the Hatters this season.
TROY - The Trojans have won at least a share of the A-Sun regular season title in each of the last four seasons, including last year’s 18-2 finish in league play. Troy however, was denied its second straight trip the NCAA Tournament with a 60-55 setback to second-seeded UCF in the A-Sun Tournament championship game. Still, the club earned a NIT berth, losing out to Niagara, 87-83 in the first round. The Trojans now must replace all five starters from last year’s club, which posted a solid 24-7 overall mark. Troy however, returns several players with experience which is a direct result of head coach Don Maestri’s run-and-gun and mass substitution system. Versatile forward Eddie Baker and sharp-shooting guard Jacob Hazouri both missed last season, but should be starters and key players for the club this time around. Forward Ryan Heck is also primed for a breakout season after averaging 8.0 ppg and 3.2 rpg off the bench a year ago. Forward Corey Hornsby (5.5 ppg) and guard Zavier Mathis (5.1 ppg) will also contend for starting jobs after playing pivotal roles off the bench last season. The Trojans will also benefit from six juco transfers.
UCF - The Golden Knights won their third A-Sun Tournament Championship (most among current A-Sun members) last year after finishing in second place in the league’s regular season standings at 17-3. The team finished 25-6 overall and gave Pittsburgh all it could handle in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling 53-44. UCF, which will be leaving for C-USA at the end of this season, now must replace three starters from last year’s club. Guard Gary Johnson is the team’s top returning starter after averaging 7.6 ppg and 4.3 apg a year ago. He will be accompanied by Kingsley Edwards, who averaging 3.4 ppg and 2.6 apg off the bench last season. Up front Marcus Avant is the only returning starter, and he will need to do better than his 4.1 ppg average last season. Josh Peppers (3.8 ppg) and Will Bakanowswky (2.9 rpg) both saw time off the bench last season, but neither is much of a scoring threat in the low post. JUCO transfers Marcus Johnson and Anthony Williams are eligible to play this season and should have an immediate impact in the scoring department.
JACKSONVILLE - The Dolphins were the most inexperienced team in the nation last season, relying heavily on freshmen and juco transfers. Despite the lack of experience, Jacksonville was able to post a decent 13-15 overall mark and an 8-12 conference ledger. With four starters back from a year ago, the Dolphins are primed for a winning season this time around. Forward Haminn Quaintance is arguably the league’s most versatile player, and that was evident last season when he earned A-Sun Freshman of the Year honors after leading the Dolphins in scoring (14.3 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg). Joining him in the frontcourt is seven-foot center Jure Lozancic, who averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg a year ago. Ljubisa Vrcelj also has good size (6-10) and may contend for a starting job after averaging 3.2 ppg and 2.7 rpg off the bench last season. The duo of David Lee and Aubrey Conerly give Jacksonville one of the better backcourts in the A-Sun. Lee averaged 14.0 ppg and 3.7 rpg last season, while Conerly chipped in 8.3 ppg and 3.6 apg. A crop of newcomers that includes four juco transfers will give the Dolphins some much needed depth.
GARDNER-WEBB - The Bulldogs enter their third season of competition in the A- Sun after an eighth place finish (6-14) last year. The 2004-05 season marks the first time that Gardner-Webb is eligible for the conference tourney and the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. Two starters and several key reserves return from last year’s team which posted a 9-20 overall mark. Forward Brian Bender is the team’s top returning starters after leading the Bulldogs in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) last season. He will be joined in the post by center Simon Conn, who averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.0 rpg off the bench last year. Josh Chiles will run the team at the perimeter after averaging 7.6 ppg and 2.1 apg as a starter a year ago. Reserves Andre Manning (5.8 ppg) and Chris Gash (4.6 ppg) will also seen time in the backcourt. Along with a healthy core of returning players, Gardner-Webb has the top-ranked recruiting class in the A-Sun. The Bulldogs’ six-person class includes local product Tim Jennings, who is one of the top recruits in the nation.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC - The Owls are coming off a rather disappointing season in which they finished just 6-14 in league play and 9-19 overall. FAU returns three starters from last year’s club, led by Preseason Player of the Year Mike Bell, who averaged 18.0 ppg and 9.7 rpg in his first season with the Owls in 2003-04. Forward Pierre Tucker (9.6 ppg and 3.9 rpg) and center Robert Williams (8.0 ppg and 5.6 rpg) are the other two returning starters and give the Owls perhaps the best frontline in the conference. FAU however, will face the daunting task of replacing the most productive backcourt in school history in Earnest Crumbley and Jeff Cowans. Kahleaf Watson, who averaged 6.7 ppg and 2.5 apg off the bench last season, is the team’s most experienced player in the backcourt and will need to step up in a big way if the Owls hope to compete for a winning record.
BELMONT - The Bruins are coming off a dream season in which they made their first Division-I postseason appearance in school history. Although Belmont lost to Austin Peay (65-59) in the first round of the NIT, its season was deemed a success. The team finished 21-9 overall and 15-5 in league play, which was good for third place. The Bruins must now replace of pair of all- conference players and 1,000 point scorers in forward Adam Mark and guard Steve Drabyn. Brian Collins is one of only two returning starters from last year’s club, and will be counted on to lead the Bruins in 2004-05. He was instrumental in last season’s success, averaging 10.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 4.1 apg. He will be joined in the backcourt by Jese Snyder, who averaged 7.0 ppg as a starter last season. Up front the Bruins have little experience and size, as only center Andrew Preston is over 6-6. Preston will be counted on to lead the Belmont attack in the paint after averaging 2.3 ppg and 1.3 rpg off the bench last season. Forwards Adrian Jones (4.9 ppg) and Dan Oliver (1.3 ppg) will also see an increase in playing this season. Belmont was one of the most prolific three-point shooting teams in the nation last year, and with very little size up front, it might rely on that strategy even more this season.
MERCER - The Bears were one of the better home teams (8-2) in A-Sun play last season, but their 1-9 road mark left a lot to be desired. Mercer finished just 9-11 in league play and 12-18 overall, but things could have been better if it had won more than just two its 18 total road contests. Returning from last squad is three starters in James Odoms, Wesley Duke and Adrew Brown, who combined for 30.0 ppg and 11.5 rpg a year ago. Odoms averaged 11.7 ppg at the forward spot, while his counterpart, Duke, added 10.5 ppg and 6.3 rpg. As for Brown, he averaged 7.5 ppg and 2.0 apg at the point and will be paired up with Jacob Skogen, who produced 7.1 ppg off the bench last season. Center Will Emerson is also expected to have a bigger impact this time around after averaging 5.5 ppg and 3.0 rpg a year ago.
CAMPBELL - The Camels won just three games (3-24) in head coach Robbie Lang’s debut last season, but things should be better in year two with three starters and seven letter winners returning. Campbell is led by guard Anthony Atkinson, who earned a spot on the league’s All-Freshman team after averaging 11.0 ppg and 4.4 apg a year ago. Forwards Dominique Klein and Colin Hunt round out the returning starters and combined for 14.2 ppg and 8.8 rpg last season. Reserves Diego Aguiar (7.9 ppg) and Russ Gibson (4.3 rpg) give the Camels solid depth in the frontcourt and could move into starting roles. Campbell featured the youngest team in the A-Sun last season and that trend will continue this year with only one senior and two juniors on the roster.
LIPSCOMB - The Bisons’ first season in the A-Sun was a dismal one, as the team finished next-to-last (4-16) despite having a lineup filled with experienced player. The team finished 7-21 overall, and improving on that may be out of the question this year, as the entire frontcourt must be replaced. Lipscomb does return a pair of talented guards and their two leading scorers from last in all-freshmen team member Brian Fisk and junior James Poindexter. Fish averaged 11.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 2.17 apg a year ago, while Poindexter added 10.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg. Filling in for the vacant frontcourt will be the trio of Matt Jarboe (6.1 ppg), Cameron Robinson (3.5 ppg) and Charlie Jenney (1.8 ppg), all of whom were reserves last season. The Bisons are eligible to compete for a postseason berth for the first time, but don’t appear capable of taking advantage of it.
