By: Mark Wasik
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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Coming on the heels of the most successful season in school history, Kennesaw State will now enter the 2023-24 campaign with its highest preseason conference rankings ever as the Owls were selected to finish fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference Coaches' Poll and second in the ASUN Media Poll, the league office announced Monday afternoon at the 2023 Atlantic Sun Men's Basketball Tipoff sponsored by ServePro.com at Austin Peay's F&M Bank Arena. In addition, senior guard Terrell Burden was named to the preseason All-ASUN team, making the second-straight year an Owl has earned preseason honors from the conference.
Burden was one of the most electrifying players in the Atlantic Sun a year ago and claimed both Second Team All-ASUN and NABC District 3 accolades as he led the Owls to their first-ever ASUN regular season and tournament championships, as well as the first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in the school's Division I history. The Smyrna, Ga. native averaged 13.5 points and 4.1 assists per game, and was at his best at the end of the season, averaging over 16 points per game as the Owls won 16 of their final 19 games. The 2023 ASUN Tournament MVP hit a free throw with under a second left in the championship game and snapped a 66-66 tie with Liberty to send the Owls to the Big Dance.
Eastern Kentucky, which returns most of last year's third-place team, is this year's ASUN favorite in the coaches and media poll. On the coaches' side, the Colonels received 140 points (eight first place votes), while teams two through five were separated by just seven total points. FGCU was picked second with 106, Stetson was one point back in third (105), Kennesaw State had one first place vote and 103 total points for fourth, and Lipscomb was fifth (99). In the media poll, EKU finished with 32 first place votes and 552 total, while KSU was selected second with 444 points (six first place votes). Lipscomb (432), FGCU (382) and Bellarmine (350) rounded out the top five in the media poll.
The Owls posted the first winning season in school history (Division I era) last year, shattering numerous school records on the way to a 26-9 overall record, and a 15-3 mark in ASUN play. KSU is under new leadership this year, as first-year head coach Antoine Pettway has taken over at the helm of the program after a long career as an assistant coach at his alma mater Alabama. Despite the loss of three starters from last year's NCAA squad, KSU does bring back two of its top three scorers in Burden and senior forward Demond Robinson (11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Pettway also brought in the highest-rated recruiting class in the Atlantic Sun, highlighted by freshman guard RJ Johnson from Huntsville, Ala., while the Owls also brought in transfers Rongie Gordon (UAB), Jamel King (West Virginia) and Jusaun Holt (Georgia).
The Owls will begin the 2023-24 season at home on Tuesday, Nov. 7 against Oakwood University in the Convocation Center. Season ticket sales, renewals and single-ticket sales are all now available. Season ticket packages start at only $119 for the Owls' 13-game men's basketball home schedule. All ticket info is available at KSUOwls.com/tickets.
2023-24 Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team
Devontae Blanton, EKU
Terrell Burden, Kennesaw State
Jacob Ognacevic, Lipscomb
DeMarcus Sharp, Austin Peay
Garrett Tipton, Bellarmine
Camren Hunter, Central Arkansas
Isaiah Cozart, EKU
Isaiah Thompson, FGCU
Jacari Lane, North Alabama
AJ McKee, Queens
Jalen Blackmon, Stetson
2023-24 Atlantic Sun Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll
Place Team (1st place votes) Votes
1. Eastern Kentucky (8) – 140
2. FGCU – 106
3. Stetson – 105
4. Kennesaw State (1) – 103
5. Lipscomb – 99
6. Bellarmine – 81
7. North Alabama (1) – 74
8. Austin Peay (1) – 71
9. Jacksonville – 51
10. Queens – 47
11. North Florida (1) – 36
12. Central Arkansas - 23
2023-24 Atlantic Sun Preseason Men's Basketball Media Poll
Place Team (1st place votes) Votes
1. Eastern Kentucky (32) – 552
2. Kennesaw State (6) – 444
3. Lipscomb – 432
4. FGCU (2) – 382
5. Bellarmine – 350
6. Stetson – 334
7. North Alabama – 284
8. North Florida (4) – 252
9. Queens – 226
10. Jacksonville – 176
11. Austin Peay (2) – 170
12. Central Arkansas - 110
