A quick breakdown of power in the ASUN divisions
Jul 5, 2021 12:57:12 GMT -6
gemofthehills likes this
Post by Whup Em All on Jul 5, 2021 12:57:12 GMT -6
For any of you who missed Cleburneslim 's post over on the football forum, the ASUN will start out with two East-West divisions.
I was curious how the power breaks down across each division, so I've noted the teams which are historically strong (or at least, for recent D-II move-ups, appear to have turned the corner) in hoops, diamond sports, and volleyball. I define "strong" as contending for a conference championship, not necessarily winning the championship. Also, I give teams credit for turning it up a notch in the postseason, even if their overall record is mediocre.
WEST
Jacksonville State - men's hoops, women's hoops, baseball, softball, volleyball
Eastern Kentucky - men's hoops, softball
North Alabama - men's hoops (2021 ASUN runner-up), women's hoops
Lipscomb - men's hoops, softball, volleyball (2021 ASUN champs)
Bellarmine - men's hoops
Central Arkansas - baseball, softball (2021 SLC runner-up), volleyball
EAST
Kennesaw State - softball (2021 ASUN runner-up), volleyball
Liberty - men's hoops (2021 ASUN champs), women's hoops (2021 ASUN runner-up), baseball (2021 ASUN runner-up), softball (2021 ASUN champs)
Jacksonville U - women's hoops, baseball (2021 ASUN champs), softball
North Florida - softball
Stetson - baseball
FGCU - men's hoops (recent struggles, but an outstanding signing class this spring), women's hoops (2021 ASUN champs), baseball, softball, volleyball (2021 ASUN runner-up)
Bottom line: It looks like a lot of the historical power teams in the ASUN are in the East, but EKU and UCA will give JSU some immediate competition in several sports, and it's hard to discount the progression of the D-II move-ups in the West. UNA, Lipscomb, and Bellarmine were all powerhouses in several sports at the D-II level and have their own motivations for matching that success in D-I. (For UNA, it's a certain ornithologically named team to their southwest. For Lipscomb and Bellarmine, it's our old friends from the OVC, Belmont.) They've become competitive in men's hoops in a very short time, and Lipscomb already has a volleyball championship in their trophy case. If they don't bottom out, it looks like the two divisions could be equally strong within 3-5 years, if not sooner.
I was curious how the power breaks down across each division, so I've noted the teams which are historically strong (or at least, for recent D-II move-ups, appear to have turned the corner) in hoops, diamond sports, and volleyball. I define "strong" as contending for a conference championship, not necessarily winning the championship. Also, I give teams credit for turning it up a notch in the postseason, even if their overall record is mediocre.
WEST
Jacksonville State - men's hoops, women's hoops, baseball, softball, volleyball
Eastern Kentucky - men's hoops, softball
North Alabama - men's hoops (2021 ASUN runner-up), women's hoops
Lipscomb - men's hoops, softball, volleyball (2021 ASUN champs)
Bellarmine - men's hoops
Central Arkansas - baseball, softball (2021 SLC runner-up), volleyball
EAST
Kennesaw State - softball (2021 ASUN runner-up), volleyball
Liberty - men's hoops (2021 ASUN champs), women's hoops (2021 ASUN runner-up), baseball (2021 ASUN runner-up), softball (2021 ASUN champs)
Jacksonville U - women's hoops, baseball (2021 ASUN champs), softball
North Florida - softball
Stetson - baseball
FGCU - men's hoops (recent struggles, but an outstanding signing class this spring), women's hoops (2021 ASUN champs), baseball, softball, volleyball (2021 ASUN runner-up)
Bottom line: It looks like a lot of the historical power teams in the ASUN are in the East, but EKU and UCA will give JSU some immediate competition in several sports, and it's hard to discount the progression of the D-II move-ups in the West. UNA, Lipscomb, and Bellarmine were all powerhouses in several sports at the D-II level and have their own motivations for matching that success in D-I. (For UNA, it's a certain ornithologically named team to their southwest. For Lipscomb and Bellarmine, it's our old friends from the OVC, Belmont.) They've become competitive in men's hoops in a very short time, and Lipscomb already has a volleyball championship in their trophy case. If they don't bottom out, it looks like the two divisions could be equally strong within 3-5 years, if not sooner.
