Some news & notes on the Men’s Big South Conference Tournament as it heads to the Semifinals on Saturday afternoon.

General

  • The field has been cut from 12 teams to just 4.
  • The 4 Big South Tournament Semifinalists have a combined total of 3 tournament championships and 6 NCAA tournament appearances.
  • Of those 6 NCAA tournament appearances, 3 came from VMI prior to their time as a member of the Big South Conference.
  • Home court advantage was not kind as host Coastal Carolina lost in their first game.
  • 2 time defending champ UNC Asheville was knocked off in their first game against Longwood.
  • Longwood’s Michael Kessens scored a Big South Conference Tournament record 36 points against VMI.
  • The worse seeded team has won 4 of the 8 games thus far.
  • 3 of the 8 games have been decided by 4 points or less.
  • 2 of the 8 games have gone to Overtime.

Charleston Southern

  • CSU won the Big South regular season title meaning if they do not win the tournament they will receive an automatic bid to the NIT.
  • The Buccaneers are 2-2 against the other 3 Semifinalists.
  • CSU’s  star back court duo of Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper shot a dismal 3/21 from the field and 1/10 from 3 in their quarterfinal victory over Winthrop.

VMI

  • In their quarterfinal win over Longwood, VMI had 3 players score 20+ points.
  • The Keydets are 2-2 against the 3 other Semifinalists.
  • VMI has been a team of streaks this season with a winning streak of 5 and a losing streak of 6 previously. The Keydets are currently on a 3 game win streak.

Gardner-Webb

  • Gardner-Webb is the hottest team in the league as the Runnin’ Bulldogs have won 8 consecutive games and 11 of their last 12.
  •  Gardner-Webb is 4-0 this season against the 3 other Semifinalists.
  •  All 5 of Gardner-Webb’s starters reached double figures in their win over Campbell.

Liberty

  • The Flames are the only team to advance to the Semifinals after having to play in the 1st round on Tuesday.
  • Liberty is 0-4 this season against the 3 other Semifinalists.
  • The Flames have 2 “upsets” according to seeding so far. In order to win the tournament, they will need 2 more.

Photos Courtesy Big South Sports