The two Division I newbies in the Atlantic Sun have taken drastically different paths. North Florida has performed exactly how a team new to this level should. They're second-to-dead-last in the RPI (No. 333), due primarily to their ugly 2-11 conference record, 5-15 overall. That's not to say there haven't been bright spots: they have a nice player in the form of
Alain LaRoche, and they aren't league-worst in any significant statistical category. They just lose a lot.The Owls, on the other hand, have won quite a bit -- 11 times so far, including a streak of seven. They've fallen back to earth lately with a three-game skid to sink back to .500, but this team will serve as a shining example to future D1 transitionals that it's okay not to suck. Side note: these are old Peach Belt rivals from their D2 days; KSU leads the all-time series 11-6.