The 2023 Big South tournament has the potential to be an interesting mid-major tournament. There is no clear cut favorite to win this conference tournament title and it might be one of the more intriguing conference tournaments we see out of the mid-majors. This tournament takes place at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte North Carolina. That’ll be where we will see every single one of these Big South conference tournament games taking place. Here is how I see the Big South Conference tournament finishing on Sunday March 5th.
The Bracket
Betting Odds
Longwood +240
UNC Asheville +260
Radford +400
Gardner-Webb +500
Winthrop +1300
USC Upstate +1600
Campbell +1700
Charleston Southern +6000
High Point +7000
Presbyterian +25000
Non-Contenders
Presbyterian
The Blue Hose are in the 400’s in the nation when it comes to scoring the basketball. Presbyterian only averages 63.2 points per game and is horrible on the glass only averaging 32.8 rebounds per game as a team. They also haven’t won a game in 2023. The Blue Hose’s last win was on December 29th. That is 17 straight losses. This team will not make it past the first round and then they have to go back to the drawing board for the 2023/2024 season.
Charleston Southern
The best thing Charleston Southern has done all season long was beat the odds-on favorite to win this tournament Longwood at home. They are led by sophomore guard Claudell Harris Jr who averages 17.5 points per game on a 47/34/80 shooting split. The Buccaneers also have three other guys averaging double figures. Their defense struggles as they rank 359th in the country in defensive rating. They give up 74.5 points per game and have not had much luck against other Big South teams. Charleston Southern won’t get past the first round.
They Can Win One Game
High Point
The High Point Panthers struggled away from home this season posting a 2-11 record. High Point is led by the trio of Jaden House, Zack Austin and Abodulaye Thiam. Junior guard Jaden House averages 17 points per game, freshman forward Zack Austin averages 14.1 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds per game. Sopohomore guard Abodulaye Thiam averages 13.7 points per game on the season. The Panthers are a young team that aren’t ready to take that next step. They can win their first round matchup, but that is as far as they go.
Campbell
The Fighting Camels have two seniors and a freshman leading the way. Senior guard Ricky Clemons (14 ppg 4.1 rpg 3.5 apg) and freshman guard Anthony Dell’Orso (11.8 ppg 5.6 rpg) are the two big names for Campbell. Senior forward Jay Pal is averaging 11.3 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game as well. One thing that is bad for Campbell is that they stink on the glass. They rank 402nd in the country in rebounds per game. Campbell wins their first round matchup, but the luck runs out after that.
The Potential Cinderella Run
Winthrop
The Eagles have a solid small rotation. Winthrop has five guys averaging double figures in points per game. Their leading scorer is junior forward Kelton Talford who averages 16.1 points per game to go along with 8 rebounds per game. Senior forward Cory Hightower and junior guard Sin’Cere McMahon are two other names to watch out for. Winthrop isn’t a contender because they also are not good on the glass. They rank 436th in the country in rebounds per game as well. Winthrop is going to have some trouble in their quarterfinal matchup. If they win that matchup, I doubt they will go further than that.
USC Upstate
The Spartans need a lot of luck, but they have what it takes to make a run here. USC Upstate is led by sophomore guard Jordan Gainey. Gainey averages 15.1 points per game, which leads the way for the Spartans. Their defense gives up under 70 points per game but they only average just about 69 points per game. The route for the title for the Spartans is as follows.
-Gardner Webb (split the season series)
-UNC Asheville (split the season series)
-Longwood (split the season series)/Radford (split the season series)
That is a route that they can potentially win. Look out for the Spartans.
Fringe Contender
Gardner Webb
The Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs are right on the cusp. Gardner-Webb needs junior guard DQ Nicholas to play the tournament of his life. They come into this tournament losing four straight games, so they are going to need a win to get the momentum going. Gardner-Webb is a good defensive team as they only allow 65.2 points per game on the season. If the Runnin’ Bulldogs are going to make a run in this tournament, they need their defense to keep up to form.
Contenders
Radford
The Radford Highlanders are led by juniors DaQuan Smith and former Villanova Wildcat Bryan Antoine. Smith averages 13.5 points per game on a 42/39/82 shooting split while Antoine averages 11.2 points per game to go along with a 47/41/94 shooting split. With the Highlanders getting the big game experience from a guy like Bryan Antoine, it’s easy to like Radford in this one. Defensively, they only allow 64.5 points per game which is the best in the conference. Look for the Highlanders to make some noise in this tournament.
Longwood
The Longwood Lancers are the odds on favorite to win this tournament. However, I see them as my contender and not my winner. Longwood is led by senior guard Isaiah Wilkins who leads the team in points per game (13) and rebounds per game (5.7). The Lancers need someone else besides Wilkins to play well in order to get to the NCAA tournament for the first time ever. Longwood averages 73.3 points per game and allows 65.7 points per game. If the Lancers want to win they are going to need their defense to be at tip-top shape.
The Don’s Winner
UNC Asheville +260
The UNC Asheville Bulldogs are the number one seed and they have what it takes to run the table here. The Bulldogs leading scorer and rebounder is senior forward Drew Pember. Pember averages 20.4 points per game to go along with 9.2 rebounds per game on a 47/39/83 shooting split. Another key factor in this team is senior guard Taijon Jones, who averages 14.7 points per game and 5 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs average 75.3 points per game on the season while allowing 68.7 points per game. They are the best team in the conference and there is no denying it. Look for UNC Asheville to represent the Big South in the NCAA tournament this year.
The Don’s Game By Game Predictions
First Round
8 High Point over 9 Charleston Southern
7 Campbell over 10 Presbysterian
Quarterfinals
1 UNC Asheville over 8 High Point
5 Gardner-Webb over 4 USC Upstate
2 Longwood over 7 Campbell
3 Radford over 6 Winthrop
Semifinals
1 UNC Asheville over 5 Gardner-Webb
3 Radford over 2 Longwood
Finals
1 UNC Asheville over 3 Radford