In terms of competitive balance, the Big South, at least on paper, could be one of the most exciting conferences to watch this season. With VMI (who made a run all the way to the CIT semifinals last year) off to join the Southern Conference this season, the Big South will drop its divisional format as it now has 11 members. Returning this season, and among the league favorites, are defending regular season champion High Point (NIT last season) and defending conference tournament champion Coastal Carolina (Round of 64 loss to Virginia last season). The preseason pick to win the league, however, is the lone additional returning postseason participant, Radford. The Highlanders played in the CBI last year, and even picked up a road win there over Oregon State.
Radford returns virtually everyone off of a team that won 22 games last season. They are led by Javonte Green who figures to again be among the leading scorers in the Big South. Coastal Carolina also brings most of its NCAA tournament team back, and again gets the added benefit of being the predetermined host of the conference tournament. High Point is led by John Brown, a player capable of starring at almost any program in the country. Every other significant contributor is back as well this season for the Panthers. UNC-Asheville, Winthrop and Gardner-Webb also return deep teams with proven leaders. While an at-large bid would be a complete shock in this conference, these teams could be very dangerous both in the non-conference part of the season as well as in postseason play this year.
Predicted Order of Finish:
1. Radford: With everyone returning, and pieces such as R.J. Price and Ya Ya Anderson to complement Green, this could be a very strong season for the Highlanders
2. Coastal Carolina: Elijah Wilson, Warren Gillis and Josh Cameron are all returning double digit scorers. Badou Diagne could step up and become a big time contributor as well
3. High Point: Five returning starters, including Devante Wallace and Adam Weary in addition to Brown, should have the Panthers right in contention for another league title
4. UNC-Asheville: Andrew Rooney averaged over 20 points per game, and Will Weeks returns from a knee injury down low. The combination of these two alone could make this a surprise team
5. Winthrop: The Eagles will be fun to watch with four returning starters on a team that loves to play a fast tempo, high scoring style
6. Gardner-Webb: Jerome Hill and Tyler Strange should both post good numbers, but the Runnin’ Bulldogs will need to find other players to help them
7. Presbyterian: Another team with all five starters back including Jordan Downing who averaged over 20 points per game, but the Blue Hose need to play much better defense to improve after a 26 loss season
8. Campbell: A few good pieces with the likes of Reco McCarter and D.J. Mason, but does not appear strong enough to contend with the top teams
9. Charleston Southern: A solid backcourt with Arlon Harper and Saah Nimley, but team does not appear to have much up front at all
10. Liberty: Three best players are gone from a 21 loss team, could be another long season
11. Longwood: A mass exodus by way of transfer crushed the Lancers in the offseason, and they will now be lucky to avoid the conference basement