Jacksonville, Florida Gulf Coast Tie in ASUN Poll

Coaches select both schools for the top spot in the league's preseason women's basketball rankings.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball

Jacksonville, Florida Gulf Coast Tie in ASUN Poll

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Jacksonville University and Florida Gulf Coast University share the top spot in the ASUN preseason women's basketball coaches poll. Each program earned 58 points in the league-wide vote ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Why it matters

The shared ranking underscores the high expectations for both programs as they prepare to compete for the conference championship. Coaches rely on these preseason evaluations to establish initial benchmarks for the year ahead.

Jacksonville University secured four first-place votes in the poll, while Florida Gulf Coast followed with three. The rankings reflect the team's strong performance, including Jacksonville's 24-9 record from last season.

The players

Tatum Brown

She was named both the preseason Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year in the ASUN.

Jacksonville University

This Florida-based institution finished with a 24-9 record during the previous basketball season.

Florida Gulf Coast University

This university is a prominent basketball program based in Fort Myers that tied for the conference lead.

The details

Jacksonville University and Florida Gulf Coast finished in a deadlock for first place, followed by Lipscomb in third, Stetson in fourth, and North Florida in fifth. Queens also received one first-place vote from the coaching staff.

November 2, 2026: North Florida begins its season against Florida Tech.
November 3, 2026: Jacksonville University faces Florida International.

Season Trajectory

This preseason poll sets the competitive hierarchy for the ASUN, dictating the narrative for the upcoming conference race. It establishes a high bar for top-ranked teams and influences the pressure placed on these programs throughout their league schedule.

The poll results confirm the top-tier status of both programs, with Tatum Brown expected to anchor her team's defensive and offensive production. Fans tracking league standings should monitor the early-season head-to-head performance of these two programs.

The takeaway

The preseason results indicate a highly competitive path to the conference title for both Jacksonville and Florida Gulf Coast. Staying updated on early non-conference performance will provide the best indicator of which team holds the momentum.