CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Austin Peay State University Athletic Department hosted the 2023-24 ASUN Tipoff event at F&M Bank Arena on Monday. The Governors hosted teams throughout the ASUN conference as they prepare for the new men’s and women’s college basketball season ahead.
During the event, conference officials announced the players selected for the preseason All-ASUN team, projected conference standings and the home tipoff times for the new season ahead.
ASUN Commissioner Jeff Bacon told Clarksville Now the decision to come to Clarksville was finalized before he was named commissioner, but he gave full credit to Austin Peay for stepping up and wanting to host the event. “Fortunately, they had this beautiful, brand-new building ready to go, and it’s a great way to help them open it. They’ve been great hosts,” Bacon said.
APSU men’s basketball
Kicking things off with the Austin Peay men’s basketball team, DeMarcus Sharp was the lone player selected to the All-ASUN preseason team for the Governors. Sharp is coming off a 2022-23 campaign where he played for Northwestern State and was awarded Southland Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year.
The graduate senior also earned First Team and All-Defensive Team honors last year, according to Austin Peay Athletics. In addition, Sharp was a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, which is given to the best Division I mid-major basketball player.
Sharp enters the 2023 season with high expectations throughout the conference, but the same cannot be said about his overall team. The Austin Peay men’s basketball team was projected to finish second to last in their conference, according to ASUN Men’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll.
However, the Governors received two votes from individuals who believe they will finish first in the conference. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball team is projected to finish in eighth place in the conference, according to the ASUN coach’s poll. One coach voted for them to win the ASUN.
APSU women’s basketball
In Austin Peay women’s basketball, Shamarre Hale was the lone player selected in the All-ASUN preseason team.
Hale is coming off a season where she averaged the most points (12.3) and the most rebounds (6.8) for the Governors throughout the 2022-23 season. Hale also had the most field goals made, free throws made and blocks on the team. In addition, the graduate senior set a program record in field percentage last year, making 69.1 percent of her shots, according to Austin Peay Athletics.
Due to her play on the court last year, Hale was named Second Team All-ASUN, while becoming the first player in program history to earn ASUN Sixth Player of the Year honors.
Austin Peay women’s basketball is projected to tie for third place with Eastern Kentucky in the preseason media poll, according to the ASUN. Meanwhile, they were projected to finish fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll.