The Jacksonville Dolphins are set to face the Bellarmine Knights in the opening round of the ASUN Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. ET in Jacksonville, Florida. As the game approaches, the Knights are favored by 1.5 points according to DraftKings Sportsbook, with an over/under line set at 145.5 points.
This matchup features the No. 8 seed Bellarmine taking on No. 9 seed Jacksonville. The stakes are high; the winner will advance to face the top-seeded Central Arkansas in the following round. For the Dolphins, playing at their home city adds a silver lining to their season, where they have recorded a respectable 8-4 at home, despite struggling with a 3-14 record on the road. Although the game will take place in a larger arena than their usual home court, the familiarity of the location could give them an edge, especially since they won’t have to travel.
Key player to watch for Jacksonville is freshman guard Hayden Wood, who is averaging 11.5 points per game this season. Wood ended the regular season on a high note, scoring at least 22 points in three of the team’s last four games. Conversely, Bellarmine also faced challenges away from home, carrying a dismal 2-13 record in road games this year. An early afternoon matchup likely won’t draw a large crowd, but those in attendance will probably be rooting for the Dolphins, making it feel like a road game for Bellarmine.
The Knights will look to bounce back from a disappointing finish to their season, having lost five of their last six games. Star senior forward Jack Karasinski will be crucial for Bellarmine, as he leads the conference in scoring with an impressive average of 21.3 points per game. The Knights will need to capitalize on his scoring ability to find success in this tournament.
In terms of predictions, Bellarmine is viewed as the team with the upper hand. Despite their recent struggles, they had a strong finish to the regular season, notably defeating a competent Austin Peay team in their final game, where Karasinski scored an incredible 38 points. Jacksonville ranks 275th in the nation for defensive rating, while Bellarmine stands much stronger at 75th for offensive rating. Given Karasinski’s knack for scoring and the overall efficiency of Bellarmine’s offense, they may have the advantage they need to advance in the tournament.
As the ASUN Tournament unfolds, this matchup could set the tone for a thrilling postseason, with both teams eager to make their mark.