Big South Men’s Basketball Preview

By: Mike Guerriere

With the college basketball season knocking on the door of Big South play, the anticipation only continues to build as we await tip-off come early November. UNC Asheville, High Point, Radford, Longwood, USC Upstate, Gardner-Webb, Winthrop, Campbell, Charleston Southern, and Presbyterian make up the entirety of the Big South men’s basketball conference.

The 2022-2023 season was dominated by the powerful front court of Drew Pember, who was unanimously selected to be Preseason Big South player of the year, and Nick McCullen, the 6 ‘8 forward who is relentless on the boards and has an innate ability to score near the basket. This duo along with some exceptional guard play from Tajion Jones helped this UNC Asheville squad secure a Big South Championship. The Bulldogs begin the 2023-2024 season as the heavy favorites with 16 first place votes to reclaim the number one spot in the conference, but they are not the only team hungry for another shot at a title.

Mike Previews The 2023-2024 Big South Season

High Point (67 Pts), Radford (132 Pts), and Winthrop (130 Pts) are the only other teams to receive a first place vote. Radford and Winthrop earned their votes after a season that saw great success for both teams. Radford comes into this season as the number two ranked team in the Preseason Poll behind the front court of DaQuan Smith (1st Team) and Bryan Antonie (1st Team) with Winthrop following up close behind at number three with Forward Kelton Taldford (1st Team) and Guards Kasen Harrison (2nd Team) and Sin’Cere McMahon (2nd Team), a trio that looks to excel even more as the season progresses. 

With these teams’ respective records, returning players/coaches, and new additions it only makes sense for these teams to get the vote, but for High Point however, their success is based on the hype built around the new look for the Panthers. Coach Allam Huss is now the captain of the sunken ship in the High Point basketball program and he has slowly but surely filled the holes to help ensure the ship is sea ready before the storm comes. Ten new faces made their way onto the roster for HPU this season, but will it be enough to help boost this team into the top 4 of the conference standings.