EKU men’s basketball gets high pre-season marks
Magazines pick Colonels second in West Division
RICHMOND, Ky. (EKU Sports) – Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports and the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook have high expectations for the Eastern Kentucky University men’s basketball team this season.
All three national publications predicted EKU to finish second in the ASUN Conference West Division this season.
The Colonels open the 2021-22 season at home on Nov. 9 against Georgetown College. Season tickets start at$59 and can be purchased online at EKUSports.com/MBBSeasonTix.
Blue Ribbon ranked EKU’s backcourt as the second best in the league and picked its frontcourt as the third best.
“Liberty is one of the top mid-majors in the country, and Jacksonville State returns a talented squad, but EKU’s roster looks just as balanced and just as good. Winning a conference title and a ticket to the Big Dance is an achievable goal for (A.W.) Hamilton’s fourth team in Richmond,” Blue Ribbon said of the Colonels.
“The fast-paced Colonels, who ranked second nationally in adjusted tempo according to KenPom, are coming off their largest victory total since collecting 24 victories in 2013-14,” Athlon said of EKU.
“The incoming talent is intriguing and gives the Colonels a reasonable shot at their first NCAA bid since 2014,” said Lindy’s.
EKU posted a 22-7 record in 2020-21. Hamilton’s squad was ranked as high as No. 12 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and concluded the season ranked 25th.
The Colonels led the conference and finished eighth in the nation in scoring offense at 82 points per game. Eastern Kentucky also set a new program record for 3-pointers in a game (20) and led the nations in steals (10.3 per game) a year ago. EKU ranked second in the country in turnovers forced per game, second in turnover margin, second in tempo/pace and 10th in 3-pointers made.
