ASUN MBB PREDICTIONS 7-9

7. Kennesaw State

Coach Abduh Rahim gets a reset on his entire roster after Guard Tyler Hooker (13.5 ppg) graduated. The Owls finished last season 1-28, and were winless in ASUN Conference play.

The Owls bring in the top recruiting class in the ASUN, and according to 247 sports, the 42nd rank class in NCAA Men’s Basketball, heading into this season. It’ll be interesting since this is a tough team to scout since the Owls have lost so many players overall and gained an extremely strong class.

We look at Stetson, and how Head Coach Donnie Jones brought a winning culture for the first time in years to the Hatters, and wonder will this be the blueprint for the Owls? It’s a “trust the process” feeling in year two of Coach Abduh-Rahim, but KSU could be onto something in the near future, if this class translates into what it’s predicted to be.

Non-Conference:

11/10 @Iowa State

11/19 MERCER

12/2 @Belmont

Additions:

6’3 FR G Chris Youngblood

6’5 FR G Brandon Stroud

6’3 FR G Kasen Jennings

6’9 FR F Cole LaRue

6’6 F Mayson Quartlebaum

6’7 JR F Alex Peterson

6’11 R-SO F Nate Jennings

8. Jacksonville

Coach Jasick faces the task of rebuilding a team that struggled again in ASUN play this last season. Leading scorer Destin Barnes (12.1 ppg) transferred to USCB after a strong junior season and David Bell (12.0 ppg/ 10.0 rpg) who averaged a double double last season, graduated. The Dolphins head into this next season without their top five scorers offensively, and this will put Coach Jasick back on the hot seat, like he has been, the past few seasons.

Non-Conference:

TBD @Kansas State

Additions:

6’10 FR F Cameron Boozer

6’9 FR F Zameron Boozer

6’8 JR F Dontarius James

6’4 R-SR G JJ Rhymes

9. Bellarmine

Bellarmine begins ASUN Conference play after previous success in NCAA Division II, playing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GVLC). The Knights went 20-8 last season and played exhibition games vs Louisville and Notre Dame. Bellarmine may take a page out of UNA’s book, and surprise a few teams, but success right out of the gate in D1 play, is hardly normal. 6’3 JR Guard Dylan Penn (11.6 ppg) returns as the top scorer from last season’s team, along with 6’0 SR Guard CJ Fleming (9.6 ppg) providing a veteran backcourt for a new team to NCAA Division I basketball.

Head Coach Scott Davenport has a huge challenge ahead of him, but will be entering his 16th season with the university and has brought a winning culture to Bellarmine, which includes the Knights advancing to four Final 4’s and capturing 5 GLVC conference titles.

Non-Conference:

12/21 @Gonzaga

Additions:

6’10 SO F Sam DeVault

6’7 FR F Eli Roberts