KCOU
☰ Navigation

KCOU

Mizzou's student radio for 40 years

KCOU Stream

Your browser does not support the AUDIO tag
KCOU 88.1 FM

KCOU Sports Stream

Your browser does not support the AUDIO tag
  • Music
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Specialty Shows
  • Recording Studio
    • Equipment List
  • Schedule
  • About
    • Contact
    • Join Us
    • Public Inspection File
  • Donate
  • What Was That?

2016-17 Atlantic Sun Men’s Basketball Preview: North Florida, Returning Player Of The Year Look to Make Noise

  • Posted on November 14, 2016
  • by kcou-admin
  • in Sports

By: Daniel Yelovich

Favorite: North Florida

(Credit:

(Credit:WCities, Flickr)

 

Returning the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, Dallas Moore and leading the nation in 3-point field goals and ranking 5th in scoring at 84.3 PPG last year, the Ospreys look to do more of the same this year. Losing to a superior Florida team in the first round of the NIT, North Florida will carry over a mature attitude in big games, and hopefully the tournament.

Dark Horse: NJIT

A deep team with two returning high-scoring guards in Damon Lynn (18.3 PPG) and Tim Coleman (13.7 PPG). Just recently joining the Atlantic Sun last year, the Highlanders are improving steadily every year after making a jump to Division I in 2006. Their non-conference schedule always seems to be very tough (last year- @Kentucky, @Providence), which could help them develop a solid conference record, like it did last year and set up a run at the A-Sun title.

Bold Prediction: Florida Gulf Coast

Who other than Dunk City?! Forward Marc Eddie Norelia set the program record for double-doubles last season as a junior. FGCU always rises to the challenge in big games. In the A-Sun final last year, freshman Zach Johnson came up with the game-winning block to lock in FGCU’s title. Brought to relevancy in 2013, after #15 FGCU upset #2 Georgetown in the NCAA tourney, the Eagles are just as competitive every year. Former coach Andy Enfield left after the magical season and current coach Joe Dooley has had a career coaching record of 64-39 (.621). An assistant coach of the 2007-08 Kansas Jayhawks national championship team, it’s safe to say that the man knows how to win.

Player to Watch: Dallas Moore

Yes, again, the A-Sun player of the Year and the leading scorer in the conference is returning to a confident North Florida squad. The 6-1 smooth, left handed guard from Saint Petersburg, Florida has increased his shot percentage every year by a substantial amount while taking more shots. As a sophomore, Moore shot 48.1% attempting an average of 12.5 shots a game. Improving a lot as a junior, He shot 51.6% averaging 14.6 shots a game. When looking at a player’s overall game, we must examine other parts of their game. Moore nearly doubled his assist average while decreasing his fouls and turnovers. Seeing major improvements in multiple areas is a good sign for a player’s development. It will be interesting to see if Moore will average more than 20 PPG and lead North Florida to the NCAA tournament.

In Trouble: Jacksonville Jacksonville

Losing your Senior leader/leading scorer is never going to be easy. Jacksonville lists 5 freshmen on their roster looking to fight for valuable minutes in an unknown rotation. Senior Marcel White will look to lead a team with a lot of questions. The 6-6 forward was presented with an opportunity to play significant minutes last year after a frustrating first two years. In his freshman and sophomore year, he averaged 17 Minutes a game which quickly jumped to 32 Minutes a game last year. Last year, senior leader Kori Babineaux carried the load for Jacksonville leading the team in Minutes, Points, Assists, and Field Goal %. It will be interesting to see if Marcel White can thrive with a young, unexperienced team as the leader.

Tags: Atlantic Sun, CBB, College Basketball, NJIT, North Florida, Sports

About kcou-admin

View all posts by kcou-admin →
← 2016-17 Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Preview: UNC-Wilmington Looks To Repeat
2016-17 Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Preview: Flyers Top Stacked League →

Recent Posts

  • Missouri men’s basketball stuns in upset over Tennessee
  • Where will Brad Hand land?
  • Mizzou’s strong start lifts Tigers in win over the Gamecocks
  • Mizzou Hoops postpones game schedule due to COVID-19
  • Different Bulldogs, same result
Follow @kcou

Follow @kcounews

Follow @kcousports

Published by the Division of Student Affairs. 2500 MU Student Center  Columbia, MO 65211

© 2017 Curators of the University of Missouri. All rights reserved. DMCA and other copyright information. An equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer