Atlantic Sun Conference 2003-04 Season Recap
The Atlantic Sun may not get much respect because it is a non-major conference, but this conference offers several teams with the ability to shock the nation. Just ask Missouri, which hosted Belmont in the beginning of this past season. The Tigers lost a shocker to the Atlantic Sun’s Bruins, the best upset for any team in the conference this season.
The conference features a variety styles, from frenetic to focused. The regular season championship went to Troy State, which plays a fast-paced game. The Trojans beat you by outscoring you. Meanwhile, the winner of the conference tournament, Central Florida, plays a slower, more controlled game. The Golden Knights beat you with defense and frustration.
So regardless of your style, the Atlantic Sun had something to offer you this past season.
Conference Tournament
Only eight of the conference’s 11 teams make the Atlantic Sun tournament each year, which means that the regular season is especially important for these teams. Gardner Webb, Lipscomb and Campbell failed to qualify for the tournament after disappointing seasons.
No. 2 Central Florida won the conference tournament by taking out No. 7 Jacksonville, No. 3 Belmont and No. 1 Troy State. The Golden Knights did not give up more than 63 points in any game, forcing each opponent to play the Golden Knights’ style of game. The conference championship was the rubber match between the two teams, and Central Florida’s ability to control the tempo produced the victory and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA Tournament
Central Florida’s visit to the NCAA Tournament was short-lived, however, as the No. 14 Golden Knights lost a hard-fought first-round game to No. 3 Pittsburgh.
No. 14 Central Florida (East Rutherford)
First round: Lost to No. 3 Pittsburgh, 53-44.
NIT
The invitation of Belmont and Troy State to the NIT was a nod to this conference’s improvement and competitiveness. The two schools joined Central Florida as the conference’s three best programs this past season. But neither Belmont nor Troy State could fare better than Central Florida’s one-and-done NCAA performance.
Belmont – Opening round: Lost to Austin Peay, 65-59.
Troy State – Opening round: Lost to Niagara, 87-83.
Player of the Year:
Mike Bell, Florida Atlantic
Bell was one of the most dominating forces in the Atlantic Sun conference. He led the conference in rebounding and was third in scoring, averaging 18.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
Coach of the Year:
Kirk Speraw, Central Florida
It’s easy to collect a bunch of athletes and tell them to go score points. But Speraw taught his team to play great defense that allowed Central Florida to play competitively with anyone, including No. 3 Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Greg Davis, Troy State
Davis led the conference in steals last season and presented all sorts of problems for opposing offenses. Leading Troy State’s pressure attack, Davis frequently turned a turnover into a fastbreak that created points at the other end.
Rookie of the Year:
Haminn Quaintance, Jacksonville
Quaintance simply was a beast last season for Jacksonville. At 6’6, he is one of the Atlantic Sun’s bigger players. His explosiveness and athleticism allowed him to dominate the frontcourt, collecting 8.8 rebounds per game and leading the conference with 3.0 blocks per game. He promises to be a force to reckon with for years to come.
Belmont Bruins 21-9, 15-5
The Bruins had a strong season, highlighted by a road victory against Missouri. Belmont also beat Air Force early in the season. Given the Falcons’ success, the win looks even better in retrospect. Belmont never lost more than two consecutive games this season. The only disappointment from the season can be that the Bruins did not win the conference tournament hosted at the school’s home court.
Team MVP: Senior forward Adam Mark
Scoring Leader: Mark (18.6 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Mark (8.0 rpg)
Assist Leader: Sophomore guard Brian Collins (4.1 apg)
Starters Leaving: 2
Mark (graduating) and guard Steve Drabyn (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Collins (10.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.1 apg)
Freshman guard Josh Goodwin (8.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Junior guard Jese Snyder (7.0 ppg)
Belmont returns several talented players, but the Bruins will have to adjust to life without Adam Mark. He moves on after a great season, and Belmont will likely turn to sophomore Brian Collins. The supporting cast has great experience in wins against Missouri and Air Force and the NIT loss. This team should remain competitive in the conference next season.
Campbell Camels 3-24, 3-17
The Camels had a rough season, one of the roughest of any team in Division I. Campbell won just three games, against Jacksonville, Lipscomb and Mercer. The team opened with a 13-game losing streak and carries a fresh four-game losing streak into next season.
Team MVP: Senior guard Tarick Johnson
Scoring Leader: Johnson (12.3 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Junior forward Dominique Klein (6.3 rpg)
Assist Leader: Freshman guard Anthony Atkinson (4.4 apg)
Starters Leaving: 2
Johnson (graduating) and guard Derek Gray (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Atkinson (11.0 ppg, 4.4 apg)
Klein (8.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg)
Freshman forward Diego Aquiar (7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Sophomore guard Corey Parker (7.2 ppg)
The good news for the Camels is that the team’s leading rebounder and leading assist man both return. But the Camels losing their leading scorer off a team that struggled to find any offensive consistency. Next season will likely be another struggle for Campbell as the conference’s best teams continue to improve at a faster rate than the Camels. Hopefully, the team will have a few easier non-conference games to build some confidence before entering conference play.
Central Florida Golden Knights 25-6, 17-3
Central Florida didn’t win any great non-conference games and paraded through the Atlantic Sun relatively easily. So this team was an unknown quantity for most people around the country who wondered what No. 14 Central Florida would offer against No. 3 Pittsburgh in the NCAA Tournament. What the nation saw was a great defensive team that went toe to toe with one of the Big East’s best. Central Florida’s performance in the NCAA will help keep this conference on the map. The Golden Knights’ successful season is a tribute to this team and to the entire conference.
Team MVP: Senior forward Dexter Lyons
Scoring Leader: Lyons (18.3 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Senior center Roberto Morentin (6.9 rpg)
Assist Leader: Junior guard Gary Johnson (4.2 apg)
Starters Leaving: 3
Lyons (graduating), Morentin (graduating) and forward Josh Bodden (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Junior guard Gary Johnson (7.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.2 apg)
Junior forward Marcus Avant (4.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Central Florida’s success may not last for too long, unfortunately. The team’s MVP, Dexter Lyons, graduates, along with two other starters, who helped build this contender. Junior Gary Johnson will inherit the responsibility of carrying this team back to the NCAA Tournament. That may be a bit of a stretch, but the Golden Knights should remain in the top half of the conference standings next season.
Florida Atlantic Owls 9-19, 6-14
Florida Atlantic played several tough non-conference teams, such as Georgia, South Florida and Miami, but lost every game. In conference play, the Owls jumped out to a 5-4 record before limping through a nine-game losing streak that nearly put the team out of the conference tournament. The Owls picked up a critical win against cellar dweller Campbell to clinch a spot in the tournament.
Team MVP: Junior forward Mike Bell
Scoring Leader: Bell (18.0 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Bell (9.7 rpg)
Assist Leader: Senior guard Earnest Crumbley (5.2 apg)
Starters Leaving: 2
Crumbley (graduating) and guard Jeff Cowans (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Bell
Junior forward Pierre Tucker (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Junior center Robert Williams (8.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Junior Mike Bell is a legitimate star and returns for his senior season, hoping to lead his team to more success. But he loses two members of his supporting cast and must hope that other players develop. A monster season from Bell could move Florida Atlantic out of the bottom third and into the middle of the pack. If several other players can take the heat off Bell, this team has the tools to move beyond the first round of the conference tournament.
Gardner Webb Bulldogs 9-20, 6-14
Gardner Webb had the misfortune of coming up on the wrong end of several close games. The Bulldogs nearly upset Kansas State of the Big XII and played well against the SEC’s South Carolina. But Gardner Webb rarely found a way to win close games in either non-conference or conference play. The Bulldogs finished in ninth place and failed to qualify for the conference tournament.
Team MVP: Sophomore forward Brian Bender
Scoring Leader: Bender (12.7 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Bender (7.0 rpg)
Assist Leader: Sophomore guard Andre Manning (2.9 apg)
Starters Leaving: 3
Forward Tim Behrendorff (graduating), guard Chris Wiggins (graduating) and forward Brendan Clowry (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Bender (12.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
Junior guard Josh Chiles (7.6 ppg)
The Bulldogs return sophomore Brian Bender, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. But Gardner Webb loses three starters from a team that didn’t exactly excel last season. This coming season figures to be rough as teams will be able to lock down Bender and force the Bulldogs to find alternative sources of offense. Look for the team to finish near the bottom of the pack.
Georgia State Panthers 20-9, 14-6
The Panthers entered conference play as one of the favorite to win the regular season crown. Non-conference wins against Tulsa and Auburn supported the argument for a strong season. But the Panthers slipped a little bit in conference play, enduring a four-game losing streak that dropped Georgia State out of competition for the conference regular season championship. The Panthers rallied late in the season with a six-game winning streak heading into postseason. The team ran out of steam in the conference tournament semifinals against Troy State.
Team MVP: Senior center Nate Williams
Scoring Leader: Williams (14.7 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Williams (6.9 rpg)
Assist Leader: Sophomore guard Herman Favors (3.6 apg)
Starters Leaving: 3
Williams (graduating), forward Trello Galloway (graduating), guard Lamont McIntosh (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Favors (3.6 apg)
Junior guard Kevin Thomas (10.0 ppg)
Junior forward Marcus Brown (7.4 ppg)
Georgia State was favored to do well this past season because of the team’s experience along the starting line. But now that experience graduates, creating a void. The Panthers will need juniors Kevin Thomas and Marcus Brown to lead this team next season if Georgia State wants to remain near the top of the conference. The Panthers may slip a little early in the season, but the team will likely rebound as the team finds a consistent rotation later in the season.
Jacksonville Dolphins 13-15, 8-12
The Dolphins did not exactly play a dominant non-conference schedule, but Jacksonville went 5-2 in non-conference play. The cupcake schedule – which for a non-major conference means the schedule was packed with non-Division I creampuffs – allowed freshman center Haminn Quaintance to grow. He emerged as one of the dominating forces in the Atlantic Sun conference and will carry this team for years to come. Quaintance and company finished well in conference play and earned a trip to the conference tournament.
Team MVP: Freshman center Haminn Quaintance
Scoring Leader: Quaintance (14.3 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Quaintance (8.8 rpg)
Assist Leader: Sophomore guard Aubrey Conerly (3.7 apg)
Starters Leaving: 1
Forward Nolan McBride (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Quaintance (14.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.0 blocks per game)
Junior guard David Lee (14.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
Junior guard Woury Diallo (12.0 ppg)
Junior center Jure Lozancic (9.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Freshman forward Jarred Stockton (9.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
With only one player graduating and the return of freshman Haminn Quaintance, Jacksonville should be one of the most improved teams next year. The Dolphins should challenge Troy State for the conference title. Many teams will not be able to match up with Jacksonville, and the Dolphins must relentlessly attack opponents. An aggressive game plan accompanied by stingy defense should carry this team to the top of the conference standings.
Lipscomb Bisons 7-21, 4-16
The Bisons struggled most of this past season, especially away from home. Lipscomb won only one game on the road – at Gardner Webb. That performance won’t get you very far in any conference. The Bisons inability to win on the road meant that wins were few and far between, and the team ended the season with a seven-game losing streak.
Team MVP: Freshman guard Brian Fisk
Scoring Leader: Fisk (11.5 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Senior forward Chad Hartman (5.7 rpg)
Assist Leader: Fisk (2.8 apg)
Starters Leaving: 3
Hartman (graduating), forward Albert Hacker (graduating) and guard Jason Jackson (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Fisk (11.5 ppg, 2.8 apg)
Sophomore guard James Poindexter (10.5 ppg)
The good news for the Bisons is that freshman Brian Fisk is only a freshman, so the team has a solid young player around whom to build the team. Fisk led the team in scoring and assists, although his statistics are not particularly gaudy. This team lacks offensive threats and will need some lucky breaks to avoid falling to the bottom of the standings once again next season.
Mercer Bears 12-18, 9-11
The Bears did not avoid tough competition early in the season as Mercer played – and lost – to Xavier, Illinois, Iowa State and Alabama. The experience helped Mercer play tough throughout conference play as the Bears finished in the middle of the pack. Senior Scott Emerson was the team’s most productive player, leading the squad in every major statistical category.
Team MVP: Senior forward Scott Emerson
Scoring Leader: Emerson (15.3 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Emerson (8.2 rpg)
Assist Leader: Junior guard Tyler McCurry (2.2 apg)
Starters Leaving: 3
Emerson (graduating), forward Delmar Wilson (graduating) and forward Wesley Duke (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Junior guard James Odoms (11.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Sophomore guard Andrew Brown (7.5 ppg, 2.0 apg)
The problem with a single player leading your team in every major statistic is that your team frequently becomes one-dimensional. And Mercer must replace that one dimension – senior Scott Emerson, who graduates in May. Junior James Odoms and sophomore Andrew Brown are the best returning players and must step forward to keep the Bears from slipping in the standings. This team should find its way into the conference tournament barring any major injuries or disappointing play from key players.
Stetson Hatters 12-15, 10-10
The Hatters’ season was filled with several streaks. Stetson had an eight-game losing streak early in the season because the team played the likes of Miami, Florida, Colorado State and Florida State. The team rebounded in conference play with a five-game winning streak that brought the team above .500 in the Atlantic Sun standings. The rest of the season was a relative stalemate as the team finished at .500 in the conference and earned a berth in the conference tournament, in which the Hatters lost to Georgia State in the first round.
Team MVP: Sophomore guard E.J. Gordon
Scoring Leader: Gordon (16.8 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Gordon (7.1 rpg)
Assist Leader: Gordon (3.1 apg)
Starters Leaving: 2
Forward Kevin Craig (graduating) and guard Derrick DeWitt (graduating)
Key Returning Players:
Gordon (16.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 steals per game)
Sophomore guard Anthony Register (14.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Junior forward Boris Djordjic (9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Stetson is one of the Atlantic Sun schools looking to make a move upward in the standings this coming year as the team returns its nucleus of sophomores E.J. Gordon and Anthony Register. Gordon is a potential Atlantic Sun player of the year and will be the focus of opposing defenses. Register will need to have a big season to take some of the pressure off of Gordon. If these two excel, the Hatters could be one of the top three teams in the conference next season.
Troy State Trojans 23-7, 18-2
The Trojans played relatively weak competition in non-conference play, but the team was more than prepared to dominate the Atlantic Sun. The Trojans beat every team at least once and swept everyone except for Central Florida and Georgia State. Troy State had a 13-game winning streak entering the conference tournament championship game against Central Florida, in which the Golden Knights finally cooled off the Atlantic Sun’s hottest team.
Team MVP: Junior guard Greg Davis
Scoring Leader: Davis (15.5 ppg)
Rebound Leader: Junior forward Rob Lewin (8.0 rpg)
Assist Leader: Davis (8.3 apg)
Starters Leaving: 0
Key Returning Players:
Davis (15.5 ppg, 8.3 apg, 2.4 steals per game)
Lewin (15.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 blocks per game)
Junior forward Kendrick Johnson (12.6 ppg,5.7 rpg)
Junior guard Herbert Evans (11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
Junior forward Jerome Stamper (9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
With every starter returning from last season’s regular season championship team, Troy State will easily be the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic Sun. The conference title should be theirs to lose. But this season showed that the regular season is less important than the conference tournament for the Atlantic Sun’s best teams. Troy State may be able to dominate competition during the regular season, but the Trojans must follow through with a postseason streak to earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. If Troy State can play and beat some mid-major teams or weaker squads from conferences like the ACC and SEC, the Trojans may be able to earn an NCAA Tournament bid as high No. 12. Think Manhattan of this past season. That could be Troy State next season.
