On March 5, the dark side of March Madness reared its ugly head at Lipscomb University during the ASUN Tournament quarterfinal. Former Bisons and then-current North Alabama Lions player KJ Johnson hit a half-court heave, ending Lipscomb’s season and creating one of the more elite homecoming moments.
Flash forward to less than three weeks before the tipoff of the 2024-25 season, and Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff reflects on the abrupt end to a season featuring so many what-ifs and adversity.
“I think last year, I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud of a team for all the things they’ve overcome,” Acuff said. “But the reality is that the conference tournament is everything.”
Although the team didn’t advance further, they still bounced back time and time again from the loss of star player Jacob Ognacevic before the season began, compounded with the devastating ACL injury to All-ASUN-caliber guard Derrin Boyd.
Even with the losses of such vital personnel, the team finished the regular season on a four-game win streak, including a victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, the top team in the conference.
“I believe they (last year’s team) created a platform for this year’s team to springboard,” Acuff said.
With the ever-changing landscape of college basketball, this Lipscomb team looks a little different.
The team lost a trio of high-quality guards who all stepped up at different junctures of the season, with A.J. McGinnis (Wichita State), Derrin Boyd (College of Charleston) and Cody Head (Arkansas State) all leaving Nashville.
On the flip side, the team retained crucial contributors such as Will Pruitt, Jacob Ognacevic, Joe Anderson and Dylan Faulkner.
They have also brought in new talent, including Gyasi Powell (Jacksonville), Kellan Boylan (Air Force) and Charlie Williams (William & Mary).
“The portal giveth, and the portal taketh,” Acuff said with a grin.
As secret scrimmages begin across the country, it’s a reminder that the new season is quickly approaching. And with that comes the beginning of non-conference play.
Lipscomb, as has been a tradition during the Acuff tenure, will play some tough teams to open the year.
They begin the season by facing a Duquesne team that played in the NCAA Tournament last year before taking on Arkansas, Western Kentucky and Kentucky, all in the same month.
“Don’t judge us by our record by Christmas because it’s gonna be very, very hard,” Acuff said. “But I like our team, and I like where we can end up.”
The Bisons will begin their quest for back-to-back 20-win seasons when they face the Duquesne Dukes on Nov. 4.
