Big South Saturday Slate (1/31/15)
Let’s be honest, mid-major basketball around this time of year is a big, beautiful mess that will end up becoming must-see television as March approaches.
The Big South Conference is no exception, with a five-way tie for second heading into the final day of January
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Now with the road to Myrtle Beach (or Conway, to be more specific) picking up, every team is battling for positioning as the regular season nears its endgame.
Winthrop at Radford
Time: 4 p.m.
By far one of the more marquee matchups of the day will be when two of the conference’s hottest teams square off.
Winthrop comes in having won three straight and three of their last four on the road, including an impressive win at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday night. The Eagles have a three-headed scoring monster led by senior Keon Moore and a young frountcourt that seems to be meshing together at the right time.
Radford, meanwhile, has won six straight since starting the conference season 0-3. Having the scoring ability of Javonte Green and R.J. Price certainly doesn’t hurt, and the Highlanders took care of the Eagles the last time they faced each other in Rock Hill.
Coastal Carolina at Gardner-Webb
Time: 4 p.m.
The Chanticleers have been another one of the major stories in the conference this year, but not for the reasons Cliff Ellis would like. The defending tournament champs have dropped three of their last five, but are still incredibly talented with a Player of the Year candidates like Warren Gillis and Josh Cameron on the floor.
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The Runnin’ Bulldogs still find themselves on the outside looking in of the long tie for second. They did defeat the Chants the in their last meeting in Conway, and Jerome Hill has come on strong in the second half of the season has a big-time playmaker for G-W, totaling up 10 double-doubles so far this season.
Campbell at UNC Asheville
Time: 4:30 p.m.
The Fighting Camels of Campbell also find themselves on the outside looking in, but inched closer with a win over Gardner-Webb on Monday night. Led primarily by Andrew Ryan and D.J. Mason and a modified Princeton offense, they’ll look for payback as Asheville defeated them in their last meeting.
The Bulldogs have had an up-and-down year to say the very least. Andrew Rowsey has followed up his impressive freshman campaign by being one of the only players in the conference to have 10 games of 20 or more points this season. They also have another impressive first-year player in Kevin Vannatta who is just as efficient as Rowsey. Asheville also leads the conference in blocked shots per game, making it difficult for opponents to score easy buckets inside.
Longwood at Presbyterian
Time: 7 p.m.
Right behind Campbell on the Big South totem pole lie the Lancers. Longwood has just had a struggling year, falling in competitive games early in conference play before greater margins doomed them in more recent games. Center Lotanna Nwogbo will be out 4-6 weeks, so the Lancers will look to their long-range duo of Quincy Taylor and Ryan Badowski will be the key to scoring.
Presbyterian has been feeding off the bottom half of the standings in more recent contest. While having wins over Campbell, Liberty and Longwood in their last meeting, the Blue Hose lost to a top team in the conference like High Point by double-digits. Now the Blue Hose have a bigger opportunity with a homestand that starts on Saturday, and senior guard Jordan Downing and impressive freshman DeSean Murray could see to it that PC moves up in the standings.
Charleston Southern at Liberty
Time: 7 p.m.
The Bucs in recent seasons have been that team that looks on the cusp of breaking through, but never get there. This year might be their best chance, with Sahh Nimley playing like a true Player of the Year Candidate. They did recently have a five-game win streak snapped by Radford at the Buc Dome, but are still one of the better teams in the conference up to this point.
Dec 30, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Charleston Southern Buccaneers guard Saah Nimley (5) dribbles the ball in the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at the Donald L. Tucker Center. The Florida State Seminoles defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers 67-59. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Saying that Liberty’s men’s basketball team is a train wreck would be a great understatement. The Flames have been unable to put up a conference win, but have looked competitive at times. Having key injuries has really plagued the team this year, and a coaching change seems to be all but inevitable when the season ends.