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 North) VMI 14-9, 7-3 #231 2
VMI is on a roll, having won 4 straight including a 4 overtime game against Gardner-Webb this week. If you haven’t caught the recap of that wild game in Boiling Springs, you should do so (article provided). The Keydets followed that game up with a 92-84 win over Charleston Southern. Rodney Glasgow and Q.J. Peterson are the top 2 scorers in the conference since conference play began. The dynamic backcourt combo are each averaging just a hair under 23 points per game. Duggar Baucom has his Keydets focused on their first Big South title in their last year in the conference.
2. (1st South) Coastal Carolina 14-10, 7-3 #257 2
The High Point Panthers put a stop to the Chanticleers 4 game win streak, and knocked them off their perch at #1 in our Big South Power Rankings with a 77-74 victory in Conway. Badou Diagne missed a 3-pointer as time expired which would have sent the game into overtime. Coastal rebounded with a 67-58 win over Longwood on Saturday.
3. (2nd S) UNC-Asheville 13-11, 7-3 #234 2
Asheville has rebounded from their back-to-back losses in late January with 3 consecutive victories including wins this week over Campbell and Liberty. Asheville led the entire 2nd half, by as much as 17, over Campbell before winning 86-73. The Bulldogs raced out to another sizable lead over the Flames, before letting Liberty storm all the way back to take the lead in the 2nd half. UNCA was able to outlast the Flames in the final minutes thanks to several Liberty turnovers and technical fouls. Jaron Lane scored a career-high 29 points to pace the Bulldogs over the Flames.
4. (3rd S) Gardner-Webb 13-12, 6-4 #250 2
The Runnin’ Bulldogs are 6-2 in their last 8 games with their losses coming by a combined 6 points including the crazy 4OT loss to VMI. Tyrell Nelson had a jaw-dropping 24 points and 25 rebounds off the bench in the crazy game. GWU was able to bounce back with an 80-76 win over High Point on Saturday behind Jerome Hill’s 24 points and 11 boards.
5. (4th S) Winthrop 13-10, 6-4 #239 2
Winthrop won all 3 of their games this week while allowing 62 points to each of their opponents. The Eagles beat Liberty by 11, Barber Scotia (in a makeup nonconference game) by 30, and Campbell by 26. Winthrop led the entire way and by as many as 31 points in their win over the Camels.
6. (2nd N) Radford 16-9, 6-4 #236 2
The Highlanders picked up 2 big road wins this week to get back on the right track. Radford beat Charleston Southern 82-76 and Presbyterian 83-66. Javonte Green scored a career-high 33 points, including a put-back that gave Radford the lead for good in the final minutes over the Buccaneers in a back-and-forth game.
7. (3rd N) High Point 10-13, 6-4 #269 1
High Point picked up an impressive win on the road over Coastal Carolina. Devante Wallace scored 17 points, including a layup following his steal from Elijah Wilson that gave High Point the lead with 25 seconds to play. The Panthers are 6-2 in their past 8 games with the 2 losses by a combined 6 points including a 4 point setback at the hands of Gardner-Webb Saturday. John Brown’s 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 block shots were not enough for High Point.
8. (4th N) Campbell 11-14, 5-5 #324 4
The Camels have now lost 3 straight and 4 of their past 5 with double digit losses to UNC-Asheville and Winthrop this past week. If Campbell ever had a chance to rebound, it would be this week as they host the 2 worst teams in the league in Presbyterian and Longwood.
9. (5th S) Charleston Southern 10-13, 4-6 #267 no change
Ever since the Buccaneers lost both Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper to injures in a game a few weeks ago, Charleston Southern has looked like anything but the Big South’s South Division favorites having lost 4 of their past 5. Harper has played in each of their last 3 games, and Nimley returned to the game against VMI on Saturday. Coach Radebaugh will try to regroup his team as we head down the home stretch.
10. (5th N) Liberty 9-16, 3-7 #288 no change
Fortunately for Liberty, both Longwood and Presbyterian are in the same conference. The Flames can’t drop much lower in our power rankings with those 2 bringing up the rear, but losing 4 straight conference games for the first time in over 2 years won’t have Coach Layer sleeping peacefully at night. The Flames will try to keep from losing 5 straight conference games in the same season for the first time under Coach Layer on Tuesday night against Gardner-Webb.
11. (6th N) Longwood 7-18, 2-8 #343 no change
The Lancers lost to both Presbyterian and Coastal Carolina this week, but we’ll give them the slight nod over the Blue Hose to keep Longwood out of the basement. Only due to Coach Gee & company having 2 conference wins.
12. (6th S) Presbyterian 5-20, 1-9 #348 no change
Congrats Presby on getting a win! But to get out of the basement you’ll need to beat someone other than Longwood.
