College Basketball
Atlantic Sun Conference
BELMONT
The Bruins' dedication to teamwork shows up in the assist column. Ten players have at least 10 assists this season, including six with more than 40 and three with more than 60. Belmont leads the Atlantic Sun and ranks 12th nationally with 17.8 assists per game. Does anyone know where Belmont is? It is a small college in Tennessee and competes with Vanderbilt and Tennessee. At 19 – 8 and 1 game lead in the League play we are not going out on limb to suggest Belmont will once again represent in the NCAA Tournament come March.
CAMPBELL
The Fighting Camels continue to lead the conference in rebounding margin (plus-3.1). They have won the battle of the boards 17 times in 23 games. This team works hard but it hardly shows in the win column as they are 10 – 15 over all and 5 – 7 in League play.
E. TENNESSEE STATE
The Buccaneers lead the Atlantic Sun in field-goal percentage (45.9) and free-throw percentage (73.0) and rank second in 3-point shooting (36.5). Three starters are shooting better than 50 percent from the field and four starters are shooting better than 70 percent from the free-throw line. This team is just 1 ½ games out and just a half game out of 2nd place in the league. A skilled team that will make some noise before the season is out and a team to watch next year.
FLORIDA GULF COAST U
Florida Gulf Coast overcame a 36-24 halftime deficit against South Carolina-Upstate on Feb. 10 by shooting 65 percent from the field in the second half, including 73 percent (8-of-11) from behind the arc in a 72-69 victory. The Eagles have shot 50 percent or better from the field in four of their last eight games.
GARDNER WEBB
Gardner-Webb is one of three Atlantic Sun teams with four players scoring in double figures, along with East Tennessee State and Campbell. Thomas Sanders leads the Bulldogs at 17.7 points per game, followed by Grayson Flittner (14.2), Aaron Linn (11.8) and Nate Blank (10.7). Anytime you can put four starters that score in double figures you are a dangerous league team no matter what your record is.
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville can't find its rhythm in the Music City. The Dolphins were drummed out of first place with last week's losses at Belmont and Lipscomb, and they have lost six straight regular-season games in Nashville by an average margin of 14.5 points. Take Belmont out of the mix and this is your league champion, however, we are not sold on the team as of yet and feel they are going to fall into 3rd place before the season is over.
KENNESAW STATE
Only two of Kennesaw State's top six scorers are shooting better than 40 percent from the field in conference play freshman forward Tanner Jacobs (45.8 percent) and senior forward Shuan Stegall (44.1 percent).
LIPSCOMB
Lipscomb swept its three-game home stand and has restored Allen Arena as one of the toughest places to play in the Atlantic Sun. That's good news for the Bisons, who host the conference tournament there next month (and again next season). This gives them a ligament at wining the conference tournament.
MERCER
Mercer has attempted 156 fewer 3-pointers than its opponents this season, an average of 6.5 attempts per game. The Bears have been outscored 663-441 from behind the arc, or by about 9.3 points per game and yet they still find themselves 6 – 7 in league play and sitting above 5 other teams.
NORTH FLORIDA
The Ospreys rank 340th out of 341 Division I programs in 3-point shooting at 25.9 percent, ahead of only Maryland-Eastern Shore at 25.1 percent. At 0 – 12 in league play this team has no where to go but up. Considering they are a Florida team one would hope they have a better future. They have managed just 2 wins this season.
SOUTH CAROLINA-UPSTATE
Several South Carolina-Upstate players are ranked among the Atlantic Sun leaders in conference play. Jeremy Byrd is tied for first in steals and tied for ninth in assists. Davis ranks fourth in rebounding and sixth in field-goal percentage. Nick Schneiders is ninth in blocked shots. While this team is just 4 – 7 there is upside and next year could make some noise in this conference.
STETSON
After starting the first nine conference games, junior center Tim Lang came off the bench in both of Stetson's victories last week. Senior forward J.J. Hirst made his first A-Sun start of the season vs. South Carolina-Upstate and junior forward Eric Diaz got the nod vs. East Tennessee State. This team is better then they are playing right now and are currently holding a post in the conference tournament.