CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Represenatives from the UNA Lions women & men's basketball teams were in Tennessee this afternoon for the annual ASUN Basketball Tipoff event.
Women’s basketball picked sixth, seventh in preseason polls
The Atlantic Sun Conference announced its preseason women's basketball honors on Monday as part of the ASUN Tipoff event at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tenn.
Representing the Lions at today's ASUN Tipoff were head coach Missy Tiber and student-athletes Rhema Pegues, Alexis Callins and Sara Wohlgemuth.
The Lions are predicted to finish sixth the media poll with 276 points, while coming in seventh in the coaches poll with 72 points. UNA was just two points off Kennesaw State for fifth in the media poll and just six points behind Stetson in the coaches poll.
The Lions finished with an even 15-15 overall record last season, while going 10-8 in ASUN competition to tie for sixth in the standings.
Defending champions FGCU were picked to win the league in both polls, followed by Lipscomb, EKU, Austin Peay and Kennesaw State both times.
The Lions officially begin play on Monday, Nov. 6 at home against Tennessee Southern which begins at 5:30 p.m. This will coincide with the men's opener against Blue Mountain Christian later that evening at 7:45 p.m. at CB&S Bank Arena.
To view the ASUN's preseason honors, click here.
Jacari Lane earns preseason honors, UNA men picked seventh
The Atlantic Sun Conference announced its preseason men's basketball honors on Monday as part of the ASUN Tipoff event at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tenn.
The Lions were represented by sophomore guard Jacari Lane on the preseason All-ASUN team. Last season, Lane was named the ASUN Freshman of the Year, the ASUN Sixth Man of the Year and was a unanimous selection for the ASUN All-Freshman team in 2022-23. He averaged 12.7 points per game and led the Lions with 108 assists., averaging 3.3 per game.
The ASUN also announced its preseason coaches poll and media poll for men's basketball at the ASUN Tipoff event. The Lions are predicted to finish seventh in both polls, receiving one first place vote in the coaches poll.
EKU is predicted to win the league in both polls with eight of the 12 first place votes in the coaches poll and 32 first place votes in the media poll. The Colonels also had the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, Devontae Blanton, and the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Isaiah Cozart.
In the coaches poll, EKU is followed by FGCU, Stetson, defending ASUN Tournament champion Kennesaw State and Lipscomb to round out the top five. Bellarmine and North Alabama are next, followed by Austin Peay, Jacksonville, Queens, North Florida and Central Arkansas.
In the media poll, defending champ Kennesaw State was picked second with six first place votes, followed by Lipscomb, FGCU, Bellarmine, Stetson and North Alabama. North Florida, Queens, Jacksonville, Austin Peay and Central Arkansas rounded out the media poll behind UNA.
At the ASUN Tipoff event, the Lions were represented by Lane, senior KJ Johnson, junior Will Soucie and sixth year head coach Tony Pujol.
The Lions officially begin play on Monday, Nov. 6 at home against Blue Mountain Christian inside CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall. Tipoff is set for 7:45 p.m. following the women's basketball game against Tennessee Southern which begins at 5:30 p.m.
To view the ASUN's preseason honors, click here.