CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 17. Up next: The Big South Tournament.
The Big South Tournament should be filled with excitement, with the 5th seed and the 10th seed separated by 1 game, showing the parity of the bottom of the conference. The main storyline will be the top three: High Point, UNC Asheville, and Gardner Webb.
High Point were the regular season champions, going an impressive 13-3. Meanwhile, UNC Asheville looks to defend their title as Big South Tournament champions with the best player in the conference. Finally, you have Gardner-Webb, who came into the tournament on a three-game win streak, including a road win against UNC Asheville. Buckle up, and don’t be surprised if there’s chaos all week.
2024 Big South Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Drew Pember, UNC Asheville
Freshman of the Year: Juslin Bodo Bodo, High Point
Transfer of the Year: Duke Miles, High Point
Coach of the Year: Alan Huss, High Point
First Team:
- G: Duke Miles, High Point (17.8 PPG, 3.6 APG, 2.4 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 53.9 FG%)
- G: Marquis Barnett, Presbyterian (15.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 50.5 FG%)
- F: Kelton Talford, Winthrop (14.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.6 BPG, 62.3 FG%)
- F: Kimani Hamilton, High Point (15.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 47.3 FG%)
- F: Drew Pember, UNC Asheville (20.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.9 BPG, 46.8 FG%)
Second Team:
- G: Kezza Giffa, High Point (15.6 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.7 RPG, 0.6 SPG, 40.1 FG%)
- G: DaQuan Smith, Radford (15.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 41.9 FG%)
- G: Trae Broadnax, USC Upstate (14.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 46.7 FG%)
- F: Taje’ Kelly, Charleston Southern (14.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.5 BPG, 47.3 FG%)
- F: Juslin Bodo Bodo, High Point (6.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 0.2 APG, 1.9 BPG, 63.7 FG%)
Big South Tournament Simulation
First Round – Wed., Mar. 6
8. USC Upstate (10-19, 5-11) vs. 9. Radford (15-16, 5-11) – 8 p.m on ESPN+
The two teams went 1-1 when facing each other, with the home team winning each time. The first game ended on a buzzer-beater three by Bryan Antoine, and hopefully, the game will be just as exciting this time around. After starting 1-7 in conference play, USC Upstate finished 4-4, including that win against Radford, and that momentum will put them past a Radford team that has been nothing but a disappointment this season.
Ariel’s pick: USC Upstate
Quarterfinals – Fri., Mar. 8
1. High Point (24-7, 13-3) vs. 8. USC Upstate – Noon on ESPN+
USC Upstate was actually one of the three teams to beat High Point this season, stunning them on Valentine’s Day with an overtime road win. This time around, don’t expect the same result, as the balance of scoring from this High Point team will be too much for USC Upstate to contain.
Ariel’s Pick: 1. High Point
4. Winthrop (17-14, 8-8) vs. 5. Longwood (18-13, 6-10) – 2 p.m on ESPN+
The two teams split their season series, and in the second game, Johnathan Massie scored 31 points on 8/9 shooting. Winthrop limped to the finish line losing three of their last four, including a 23 point home loss to Presbyterian. Meanwhile, Longwood knocked off the top two teams in the conference in the final four games. Gotta ride the hot hand here.
Ariel’s pick: 5. Longwood
2. UNC Asheville (20-11, 12-4) vs. 7. Charleston Southern (10-19, 6-10) – 6 p.m on ESPN+
UNCA swept the season series and beat them by 29 in February. UNC Asheville wins comfortably.
Ariel’s pick: 2. UNC Asheville
3. Gardner-Webb (16-15, 11-5) vs. 6. Presbyterian (14-17, 6-10) – 8 p.m on ESPN+
As crazy as this sounds, Gardner-Webb is the only team in the conference currently on a win streak. Gardner-Webb have won five of their last six, while Presbyterian has been extremely inconsistent. There is a five game difference between the two teams, and for a reason. Gardner-Webb stays hot.
Pick: 3. Gardner-Webb
Semifinals – Sat., Mar. 9
1. High Point vs. 5. Longwood – Noon on ESPN+
Yes, this tournament has been extremely chalky so far, but the gap between the top three seeds and everyone else is massive. Also, besides Campbell’s shocking run to the finals last year as a seven seed, the bracket was very chalky.
Anyway, these teams actually played on the last day of the regular season, and it was Longwood coming out on top with a game-winner. However, you can’t ignore the 17 point beatdown High Point laid on Longwood in February. Big players step up in big moments, and expect Duke Miles to hit a couple big shots down the stretch to put High Point in position for their first Big South conference championship ever.
Ariel’s pick: 1. High Point
2. UNC Asheville vs. 3. Gardner-Webb – 2 p.m on ESPN+
When these two teams played in late February, UNC Asheville held a 12 point lead with 9:48 to go. Gardner-Webb stormed all the way back and shocked UNC Asheville at home to sweep the season series. The key for Gardner-Webb, shut down Drew Pember again. They held him under 15 points in both games, and Pember wasn’t aggressive. The biggest concern is who Gardner-Webb will turn to with the game on the line. Quest Aldridge was the guy against Asheville, but that is typically not his role. Drew Pember has been here before, and his experience and overall skillset will push Asheville past Gardner Webb and into the final.
Ariel’s pick: 2. UNC Asheville
Championship – Sun., Mar. 10
1. High Point vs. 2. UNC Asheville – Noon on ESPN2
This is the game everyone wants. The two best teams, and the two best players in the conference in Drew Pember and Duke Miles. Both their matchups this season were thrillers, with the game being within one score in the final minute of both games. The key for High Point will be free throw shooting. In the win against Asheville, they shot 34-39 (87.2%), while they shot 14-22 (63.6%) in the loss.
The key for UNC Asheville will be the supporting cast. In their loss, Pember scored 36 points, but Josh Banks and Fletcher Abee, the teams second and third leading scorers shot just 4-18 (22%) combined. In the win, Pember scored just 13, but those two shot 7-16 (44%) and all five starters scored in double figures. This should be a great final, and the winner of this game can make the team they play in the NCAA Tournament very uncomfortable with their talent.
Ariel’s pick: UNC Asheville