Here’s our updated Big South Basketball Power Rankings with games played through December 22nd.
Note: National rankings are courtesy of KenPom.com. Arrows denote movement in power rankings since last week.
1. High Point 8-3 #152
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The Panthers went 2-0 on the week with wins over Ferrum and an impressive road victory against James Madison. The Dukes fall to 3-1 against Big South opponents this season. John Brown scored 17 points in the 2nd half and finished the game with 24 points and 8 rebounds in the win over JMU. Brown is averaging 18.9 points and 5.2 boards per game this season. High Point’s 3 losses have all come on the road to Richmond, Clemson, and Ohio State.
2. Coastal Carolina 9-3 #124
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Coastal Carolina nearly pulled off their 2nd upset of an SEC team this season before falling to Ole Miss, 71-68. The Chanticleers led 41-28 at halftime and by as many as 17, but the Rebels went on a 15-2 run in the 2nd half to gain the lead they would not relinquish. They would rebound with a win over win less Central Arkansas.
3. Gardner-Webb 8-5 #169
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The Runnin’ Bulldogs had a disappointing loss to Jacksonville, but rebounded with a nice win at Purdue. It’s their 2nd win over a Power 5 conference team this season as they beat Clemson earlier in the year. Jerome Hill continued his stellar play leading Gardner-Webb with 31 points and also added 9 boards in their win over the Boilermakers.
4. Charleston Southern 5-5 #220
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The Buccaneers lost 2 tough games this week to Wofford and unbeaten Colorado State. Wofford is 9-3 on the season and the favorite to win the Southern Conference for the 2nd straight season. CSU has played the 2nd toughest strength of schedule in the conference behind only Gardner-Webb.
5. Radford 8-4 #167
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The Highlanders used a big 2nd half to overcome a halftime deficit to beat Cornell on Sunday. Radford outscored the Big Red 42-23 in the final 20 minutes en route to their 74-61 win. RU has now won 6 of their past 7 including their 3 wins this week over Johnson & Wales, Siena, and Cornell.
6. Campbell 5-6 #268
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After the opening the season 1-5 including 5 straight losses, the Camels have rebounded by winning 4 of their past 5 games. Granted the competition has been weaker with 2 wins over non DI teams and wins over Delaware State and SIU-Edwardsville, but they still have to win the games. Junior forward D.J. Mason leads the Camels with 13.5 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game.
7. Winthrop 5-6 #229
no change
The Eagles lost both of their games against Division I opponents this week falling to Auburn and Southeastern Louisiana. Winthrop is now 1-6 against DI teams since their win over Clemson on November 17th. WU beat Reinhardt, 100-72, on Sunday behind 67% shooting from the field.
8. UNC-Asheville 4-7 #255
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A bad week for the Bulldogs who lost to Jacksonville State and Western Carolina. UNCA has lost 6 straight Division I games and are suddenly just 1-7 against DI competition this season. Asheville led most of the way against Western Carolina, but were unable to overcome a late 13-2 run.
9. Liberty 5-7 #311
no change
The Flames continue to struggle against Division I competition falling to 2-7 this season. Liberty lost to UNC Wilmington in overtime before falling to Princeton by 18 on Monday. According to ESPN, LU’s RPI is 350 and its Strength of Schedule of 349. There are 351 Division I teams. One final tune-up against Cincinnati Christian before conference play begins next week.
10. Longwood 4-8 #339
no change
The Lancers beat someone called Penn State Beaver, 106-74. Longwood committed 21 turnovers in their lone Division I game this week as they fell to Miami (OH), 71-60. Quincy Taylor led the Lancers with 16 points, five rebounds and three steals.
11. Presbyterian 4-8 #349
no change
The Blue Hose are 0-8 against Division I opponents after losing to Samford and UT Martin this week. Samford is #323 according to KenPom, and Presby lost to them, 81-71, at home. PC won’t play many games easier than that the rest of the season as they finish their nonconference schedule against Virginia Tech on Saturday.
