Here is our very first Big South Basketball power rankings for the 2013-14 season. Based on games played as of November 24.
Note: Division ranking in parenthesis. Rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com
1. (1North) VMI 4-2 #270
Interesting that VMI’s KenPom rating is so low. Granted the Keydets best win has come against #258 rated Air Force, but VMI has not had any slip ups. Their only losses have been close, respectable games on the road against ACC opponents Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. VMI is being led in scoring by freshman guard QJ Peterson who is averaging 24.2 points per game.
2. (1South) Charleston Southern 2-3 #152
Preseason Big South favorite Charleston Southern got off to a hot start with a 79 point victory and then a road win over top 100 Delaware. The Buccaneers did have a slip up at home against UNC-Wilmington where they lost 80-78, or they would be ranked 1st in our power rankings. Their other losses have come on the road to New Mexico and Baylor. Saah Nimley leads CSU with 17.3 points and 7 assists per game.
3. (2S) Winthrop 4-1 #178
Head coach Pat Kelsey has led Winthrop to an impressive start. The Eagles have nice wins over USC Upstate (#101) and East Tennessee State (#234), and just one loss to VCU by 10. Winthrop is being led in scoring by junior guard Andre Smith at 14.4 points per game.
4. (3S) Coastal Carolina 2-4 #208
The Chanticleers have faced a tough early season schedule with losses to Ole Miss, Minnesota, Akron, and LA Lafayette. Coastal has beaten St Francis NY and Guilford.
5. (2N) High Point 3-2 #176
Preseason North Division favorite High Point got off to a slow start with losses to UNC Greensboro and Eastern Kentucky. John Brown and Allan Chaney have led the Panthers to rebound with a nice road win over William & Mary. The powerful inside duo of Brown and Chaney lead High Point with a combined 36 points and 17.8 rebounds per game.
6. (4S) UNC-Asheville 1-4 #229
UNCA is off to a 1-4 start under 1st year head coach Nick McDevitt. The Bulldogs’ lone win came against the College of Charleston. Freshman guard Andrew Rowsey leads UNCA with 14.6 points per game.
7. (3N) Radford 3-1 #241
Radford’s 3 wins have come at the hands of Brevard, Binghamton, and Chattanooga, not the biggest names. Javonte Green leads the Highlanders in scoring and rebounding with 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
8. (4N) Longwood 2-3 #321
The Lancers got a big win in their 2nd game of the season against Big 12 member TCU, but since then have dropped games against Brown and Penn State. Under 1st year head coach Jayson Gee, Longwood is being led in scoring by Tristan Carey who is averaging 18.8 points per game.
9. (5N) Campbell 2-3 #299
The Camels are 2-3 with wins over Shenandoah and Appalachian State and have losses to NC State, NC Central, and Cincinnati. Against NC Central, Campbell scored just 9 points in the 2nd half en route to a 62-43 loss.
10. (5S) Gardner-Webb 2-3 #264
The Runnin’ Bulldogs face a bit of a rebuild under 1st year head coach Tim Craft. Gardner-Webb is off to a 2-3 start to the season with a win over Furman. Donta Harper leads GWU in scoring at 15.5 points, and Texas A&M transfer Naji Hibbert is 2nd on the team in scoring at 14 points per game.
11. (6N) Liberty 1-4 #300
The Flames are off to another slow start this season as they have yet to get a Division I win. Their first Division I win last season came on December 31st. Davon Marshall leads the Flames in scoring at 14.4 points per game. Senior guard JC Sanders is off to a bit of a slow start as he is averaging 9.8 points per game while shooting only 37% from the field.
12. (6S) Presbyterian 1-5 #347
Bringing up the rear are the Blue Hose. Presby has lost their 5 Division I games by an average of 23 points per game. Their lone win has come against Toccoa Falls in a game they were trailing at halftime. Junior guard Jordan Downing is leading Presbyterian in scoring at 18.8 points per game.
