Here’s our updated Big South men’s basketball power rankings based on games played through December 26th with conference play beginning Thursday.
Note: National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote movement in power rankings since last ranking.
1. Winthrop 8-3 #124
no change
After finishing as Big South runner-up each of the past 3 seasons, Pat Kelsey’s squad has firmly laid claim to the #1 spot throughout the non-conference portion of the schedule. They have 2 losses to top 50 teams and their 3rd is against a very solid New Hampshire squad. The Eagles own a win over Illinois and have also taken care of business against solid mid-majors like Manhattan, Furman, and Georgia Southern.
This week: 12/29 @ Charleston Southern, 12/31 vs Radford
2. UNC-Asheville 8-5 #134
no change
Asheville took a slight step back since our previous update, winning just 1 of 3 games. All 3 games were decided by exactly 2 points, with the Bulldogs taking care of Western Carolina before falling to UNC Greensboro and Ohio State. Two big tests to open conference play for UNCA.
This week: 12/29 @ Radford, 12/31 vs Gardner-Webb
3. Gardner-Webb 7-6 #195
3
The Runnin’ Bulldogs picked up a notable non-conference victory at Nebraska on December 18th. Tyrell Nelson led the way with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Gardner-Webb’s 6 losses have all come against top 150 KenPom teams with 4 of them being against top 56 teams. Tim Craft’s squad has certainly challenged itself with a tough slate of non-conference games, we’ll see how that translates to league play.
This week: 12/29 vs High Point, 12/31 @ UNCA
4. Radford 5-7 #271
no change
Radford’s lone win since our previous Power Rankings came against a sub-Division I opponent. They were on the wrong end against two good teams in UNC Wilmington and West Virginia. The Highlanders face the top two teams in our Power Rankings to open Big South play.
This week: 12/29 vs UNCA, 12/31 @ Winthrop
5. High Point 6-6 #291
2
The Panthers had their worst loss of the non-conference portion of their schedule in their final outing, falling to Western Carolina on December 19th. They will look to rebound beginning Thursday night at Gardner-Webb.
This week: 12/29 @ Gardner-Webb, 12/31 vs Longwood
6. Liberty 5-8 #272
1
After opening the season with 2 Division I wins and a solid outing against VCU, things have really turned south for the Flames. Coach McKay’s squad has lost 6 straight against Division I opponents and will be without their top player the rest of the way as Caleb Homesley is out for the season. Liberty has a chance to start things on a positive note with their first two Big South games coming against PC and CSU.
This week: 12/29 @ Presbyterian, 12/31 @ Charleston Southern
7. Campbell 7-5 #311
no change
The Camels have quietly won 3 of thier past 4 against Division I opponents, although those wins have come against teams near the bottom of the KenPom rankings, still a win is a win. Chris Clemons continues to lead the league in scoring, averaging 22.4 points per game. That mark puts him 9th nationally.
This week: 12/29 @ Longwood, 12/31 vs Presbyterian
8. Charleston Southern 4-7 #308
1
The Buccaneers have lost 5 straight against Division I opponents to finish their non-conference schedule. Their last 2 losses came against Georgia and Virginia Tech, and CSU’s only Division I win this season came back on November 22nd by 1 point over Abilene Christian. Charleston Southern opens conference play with back-to-back home contests.
This week: 12/29 vs Winthrop, 12/31 vs Liberty
9. Presbyterian 4-7 #347
1
The Blue Hose have struggled recently, lossing by 40 to Tennessee, 28 to USC Upstate, and 20 to East Carolina. They do own 2 Division I wins so far this year as they defeated Furman and VMI in the first 2 weeks of the season.
This week: 12/29 vs Liberty, 12/31 @ Campbell
10. Longwood 3-8 #345
no change
The Lancers finish non-conference play with a 1-8 mark against Division I opponents including their last 2 losses against Ball State and Texas Tech. Head Coach Jayson Gee has only won more than 1 Division I game against non-conference teams in his 4 seasons in Farmville.
This week: 12/29 vs Campbell, 12/31 @ High Point
