The Big South continues to be tough to predict as every team has at least 2 losses and at least 2 wins with the exception of Presbyterian. Will anyone emerge as a favorite as we move towards the home stretch?
Note: Division ranking in parenthesis. National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote movement in overall Power Rankings. since previous power rankings.
1. (1st South) UNC-Asheville 10-10, 4-2 #214 no change
Asheville defeated South Division challenger Winthrop 81-66 before falling to High Point 78-67 on Saturday. The Bulldogs were led in the win over the Eagles by Jaron Lane’s 22 points. Andrew Rowsey added 17. Center D.J. Cunningham missed both games due to having flu-like symptoms. With Cunningham in the lineup, UNCA has been tough to beat.
2. (2nd S) Winthrop 10-8, 4-2 #256 no change
After dropping the game to Asheville, the Eagles rebounded with a 58-57 win over VMI. Keon Johnson scored the game winning basket for the Eagles with just 1.5 seconds to play. Keon Moore led the way for Winthrop with 18 points and 9 assists against the Keydets. The game, featured on ESPN3, had a wild finish with 2 ties and 4 lead changes in the final 6 minutes of play.
3. (3rd S) Coastal Carolina 11-9, 4-2 #229 2
The Chanticleers swept their 2 games this week with a win at home over Presbyterian and a 69-61 road win over Radford. The Blue Hose led at halftime 38-37 and by as many as 9, but CCU controlled most of the 2nd half to pull away. The Chanticleers shot 67.5% from the field against PC. Elijah Wilson scored 22 points for Coastal in the win over Radford as the Chants led most of the way.
4. (4th S) Gardner-Webb 10-11, 3-3 #263 3
The Runnin’ Bulldogs split their 2 home games this week with a 78-76 loss to Charleston Southern followed by a 66-48 win over Campbell. GWU’s Tyler Strange tied the game at 76 with a pair of free throws with just 13 seconds left against CSU, but the Buccaneers’ Arlon Harper hit a 16-foot jumper with 2.7 seconds remaining to give CSU the win. Jerome Hill led the Runnin’ Bulldogs in their win over Campbell with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
5. (1st North) Campbell 10-11, 4-2 #317 3
The Camels had me a believer following their 65-63 win over Radford, but followed that up with an 18 point head-scratching loss to Gardner-Webb. Campbell shot just 26% from the field in the 2nd half including 1-of-19 from 3 against the Runnin’ Bulldogs. You won’t win many games with those numbers.
6. (2nd N) Radford 13-8, 3-3 #271 3
The Highlanders have now lost 2 straight and 3 out of their past 4 including 2 home conference games which could prove costly down the stretch. Radford lost to both Campbell and Coastal Carolina this week. The Highlanders led the Camels by 9 at half, but were outscored by 11 in the 2nd half and R.J. Price missed a 3 pointer at the buzzer which could have won the game for Radford. The Highs shot just 38% from the field against Coastal. The road doesn’t get any easier as RU heads to Winthrop to take on the Eagles Wednesday night.
7. (5th S) Charleston Southern 9-10, 3-3 #237 3
Charleston Southern has been the biggest disappointment of the conference season thus far, as the preseason South Division favorite lost a home game to Longwood on Saturday as they fell to 3-3 in conference play. The Buccaneers beat Gardner-Webb on the road earlier in the week by 2, but were unable to overcome injuries to their star guards Arlon Harper and Saah Nimley against the Lancers. Harper went down late in the first half with a leg injury and did not return. Nimley left the game in the 2nd half, returned briefly, but was unable to continue to play.
8. (3rd N) VMI 10-9, 3-3 #247 1
The Keydets nearly pulled off a big sweep this week. They beat High Point in overtime 82-80 before falling by 1 on the road against Winthrop on Saturday. VMI was unable to overcome poor shooting (34% from the field) against the Eagles. Keon Johnson scored a bucket in the final seconds to give Winthrop the 58-57 victory.
9. (4th N) Liberty 9-12, 3-3 #279 3
Liberty remains winless at Longwood’s Willett Hall after a 69-66 loss last week to the previously Big South-winless Lancers. The Flames led by 5 with less than 4 minutes to play, but 3 Lucas Woodhouse 3-pointers in the final 3 minutes proved to be costly. Dale Layer & company rebounded Saturday night with a 65-53 win over Presbyterian. Liberty outrebounded the Blue Hose 41-18.
10. (5th N) High Point 7-12, 3-3 #282 no change
High Point lost in overtime to VMI before beating UNC-Asheville 78-67 this past week. The Panthers were led in the victory over UNCA by John Brown who had 26 points and this nasty dunk which made SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays over the weekend:
11. (6th N) Longwood 7-14, 2-4 #332 1
Yes, the Lancers won both of their games this week, but they will still likely finish last in the North Division. Their 2 wins came by 3 points each over Liberty and Charleston Southern. The Flames have never won in Willett Hall, and Longwood got lucky with both of CSU’s star guards leaving the game early with injuries. Lucas Woodhouse averaged 20 points and 7 assists in their 2 wins this week while Tristan Carey paced the Lancers with 37 points on 7 3-pointers against the Buccaneers.
12. (6th S) Presbyterian 4-17, 0-6 #347 1
The Blue Hose lost by 12 points each to Coastal Carolina and Liberty as they fall to 0-6 in league play. How long will PC stay winless? They face High Point and VMI this week.
