Big South Week 1 Preview

Preview and Predictions for the Big South Games of the Week (Nov 4th-Nov 9th)

The preseason is over, the overreactions can be thrown out the window, or confirmed.

Week 1 STARTS NOW (Actually Nov 4th)

Nov 4th:

Piedmont at Winthrop 6:30 EST (ESPN+)

Winthrop starts year 4 of the Mark Prosser era against Piedmont the former home of one of their transfer adds, Ryan Jolly. Winthrop leads the all time record vs Piedmont with a 1-0 record.

Winthrop has Piedmont beat in almost every aspect, even returning players. Piedmont only has one of their top 5 players returning, that being Fisher Darden. I just don’t see Piedmont really competing in any aspect, Winthrop should handle this game.

The last time these two teams faced off was Nov 9th, 2022. Winthrop won that game by a score of 78-56. The score should be similar.

Give me Winthrop 79 - Piedmont 54.

Gardner Webb at #12 Tennessee 7pm EST (ESPN+/SECN+)

The Jeremy Luther era starts with a road trip to Knoxville, TN to face the #12 team in the country, the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee holds to all time series lead 1-0 vs Gardner Webb.

Gardner Webb will have an uphill battle to climb, but it seems at least easier than it did before the preseason. Tennessee looked sluggish, and misguided vs Indiana, and I am by no means saying Gardner Webb is Indiana, nor am I saying this one preseason exhibition should be taken at the same value as a game on Nov 4th, but it also can’t be ingnored. If Gardner Webb wants to pull off the Night 1 upset, they will need to pressure Tennessee and force them to take shots away from the rim.

The last meeting between Gardner Webb and Tennessee is from 2015, so I’m almost completely throwing out that result, with that being said Tennessee should have a big advantage.

Give me Gardner Webb 62 - Tennessee 81.

USC Upstate at NC State 7pm EST (ACCNX/ESPN+)

The Marty Ricther area officially starts versus a team that made the Final 4 just last year in NC State. NC State holds an all time 2-0 record against USC Upstate.

Upstate looked very impressive in their exhibition vs North Greenville, lead by their Mister Dean and Karmani Gregory both of which will need to show up to complete the shocking upset. NC State lost their secret scrimmage to South Carolina 86-78 so the chances are there, but I wouldn’t believe they are likely.

While I don’t think Upstate will win, I think they keep it closer than many expect.

Give me USC Upstate 67 - NC State 79.

Radford at Pittsburgh 7pm EST (ACCNX/ESPN+)

Radford opened their season unofficially vs Bridgewater beating them by a score of 85-46, their next test, is harder. Making a road trip to face Pittsburgh for the first time in school history.

Pittsburgh has one exhibition and one secret scrimmage under their belt, both being wins beating Point Park 93-62 and beating Cincinnati 71-62. If Radford wants to win, one they’ll need to break 62 points, but they’ll also need to stop the two guards of Leggett and Lowe.

Since these two teams haven’t met, I have no baseline to go off, many are discounting Radford in this game, while I am not discounting them, it’s an uphill battle for them.

Give me Radford 65 - Pittsburgh 82.

Charleston Southern at Clemson 7pm EST (ACCNX/ESPN+)

Saah Nimley starts out year 1 not being the interim coach of Charleston Southern, his official time starts with a road trip up I-26 before making a few turns to end up in Clemson, SC to faced the Clemson Tigers. Clemson holds a perfect 20-0 record against Charleston Southern all time.

For Charleston Southern to break this 20-0 series record, they will need to rely on their 4 returning stars, and need some solid performances from Lamar Oden and Jaylon Gibson. Clemson likely has Charleston Southern beat across the board, but I do like Charleston Southern returning production to keep it close.

The closest this series has ever been is a 10 point game in 2000, while I think it will be a bigger loss, I think Charleston Southern will keep within 10 for most of the game.

Give me Charleston Southern 72 - Clemson 84.

Randolph College at Longwood 7:30 EST (ESPN+)

Griff Aldrich is looking to make back to back tournaments for the first time since Coastal Carolina in 2014 and 2015 (I know Kelsey won the tournament in 2021, but no tournament was held). That run to back to back titles starts on Nov 4th vs Randolph College, a team in which Longwood holds an all time 3-0 record against.

Longwood should have a pretty easy outing vs Randolph, they have the tallest player on the court, I would agrue the most talented players on the court and the best coach maybe in all of east coast Mid Major basketball.

Longwood holds as mentioned a 3-0 all time record against Randolph, that should move to 4-0 pretty easily.

Give me Longwood 82 - Randolph 51.

Presbyterian at Charlotte 8pm EST (ESPN+)

Presbyterian and Coach Ferrell are making to trip to the Queen City of the South to play the Charlotte 49ers lead by Coach Aaron Fearne. Charlotte holds an all time lead in the series of 3-1.

Presbyterian has one of the most interesting rosters in the Big South and maybe in the country, chosing to avoid the transfer portal in lieu of keeping their homegrown talent, which is spearheaded by Kobe Stewart and Johan Pierce. Is facing a team that had it’s best players poached, and even had some bench/homegrown players taken or left. I think Presbyterian has a puncher chance, if not higher in this game.

While Charlotte has a 3-1 record against Presbyterian, most recent one was 2022 which Charlotte won 69-42, Presbyterian got their one win in 1965, and I think they got win #2 in 2024.

Give me Presbyterian 69 - Charlotte 65.

UNC Asheville at #2 Alabama 9pm EST (ESPN U)

Coach Morrell and the UNC Asheville Bulldogs now without Drew Pember, start off their season with a REAL TEST vs preseason Final 4 favorite and the #2 team in the nation, the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is the first time these two schools have faced off.

While I think UNC Asheville has one of the best Big South rosters, with elite guard play and a promising front court, I don’t like how they match up against Alabama. With that being said, Coach Morrell during media day said he was going to press more this season, if he choses to do that against Alabama that could cause issues for the Tide.

While these teams haven’t played, I think the result will be an Alabama win, but I think it will be close than people expect.

Give me UNC Asheville 75 - Alabama 92.

Nov 6th:

Piedmont at USC Upstate 7pm EST (ESPN+)

After making the trip to NC State to start the year, Upstate has to head home for their home opener vs Piedmont. Upstate and Piedmont have only faced off once in their schools histories that game being in 2011 in which Upstate won 91-66.

If Piedmont had Ryan Jolly, I would like Piedmont’s chances to do something, but without Jolly, even with a pretty unimpressive Upstate roster I just don’t think Piedmont has much of a chance, especially coming off Winthrop the night before.

While Upstate did win the previous game in 2011 handedly these are two clearly different team (as 13 years of growth usually causes). I still like Upstate but in a closer game.

Give me USC Upstate 85 - Piedmont 63.

Carolina Chrisitan College vs Presbyterian 7pm EST (ESPN+)

Coach Ferrell was smart for setting up this game, after likely playing tough against Charlotte, you team needs a breather. That is exactly what Carolina Christian will be, this team went 0-8 last year before ending their season.

Presbyterian will have them outclassed in every facet of the game, I think Presbyterian can play their bench all game and probably still win by around 30, I hope it doesn’t play out like last year, but I fear it does.

Presbyterian won the game last year 127-57, I think Presbyterian wins by more.

Give me Presbyterian 135 - CCC 50.

Coppin State at High Point 7pm EST (ESPN+)

The lone D1 vs D1 game in the Big South on Nov 6th, Coach Huss and the Huss Bus get their season rolling vs Coppin State. This is the first time in history these two schools have faced off.

Coppin State and High Point are on two different trajectories, Coppin State is expected to be one of the worst schools in all of D1 while High Point is expected to be one of the best Mid Majors. High Point looked good vs ETSU and I think that should continue into this game.

While these two teams have never faced off, I can make a pretty easy observation that High Point should win.

Give me High Point 87 - Coppin State 61.

Nov 7th:

Charleston Southern at North Florida 7pm EST (ESPN+)

The 2nd (non interim) game of the Saah Nimley tenure at Charleston Southern, takes him to the beautiful city of Jacksonville, Florida to play the North Florida Osprey. Charleston Southern holds a 2-3 record all time against North Florida.

These teams faced off early last year in which North Florida won by a score of 81-70, but a lot of things have changed about these two squads. North Florida lost their star Chaz Lanier to Tennessee via the transfer portal who had 30 points vs Charleston Southern. Also Charleston Southern had a different coach at the time of that game.

I lean Charleston Southern in this game, even though it is at North Florida. Charleston Southern turned their core, North Florida lost it’s best player.

Give me Charleston Southern 77 - North Florida 70.

Nov 8th:

Gardner Webb at NC Central 1pm EST

Jeremy Luther has his first winable test against NC Central (not saying Tennessee isn’t winable but it would be hard). Gardner Webb and NC Central both have two wins against each other all time.

While Fred Cleveland and Ja’Darius Harris are gone, Po’Boigh King is back to lead NC Central into battle vs Gardner Webb. While both teams lost their star players from last year, both got pieces in the portal to recover. NC Central added Isaac Person a D2 star, Floyd Rideau from USC Upstate, Dionte Johnson and Kelechi Okworogwo both from UMES, where as Gardner Webb added Anthony Selden and Jamaine Mann back after stops at other schools.

This game is around 50/50 for me, looking back the home has won every matchup, I don’t think that trend changes.

Give me Gardner Webb 72- NC Central 75.

William and Mary at Radford 7pm EST (ESPN+)

Brian Earl and Darris Nichols are in two different stages of their career, Coach Earl just started his tenure at William and Mary, Coach Nichols is in Year 4 at hometown Radford. Does this mean anything for the stakes of this game, No. Back to the topic, William and Mary holds the all time lead in this matchup 7-4.

One thing Coach Earl did very well was retain talent, keeping Gabe Dorsey and Caleb Dorsey among other projected starters. Radford has a hodge podge of success lower transfers, and guys who had talent out of HS but hadn’t shown it yet at the D1 level, this matchup will come down to who’s roster meshes together the most.

While William and Mary holds the all time lead, I don’t think any of that matters, with Earl now being at the helm. Radford has won two of the last 3, I think they make it 3 of 4.

Give me Radford 67 - William and Mary 66.

Presbyterian at NC State 7pm EST (ACCNX/ESPN+)

Presbyterian one of the Big South teams playing 3 times in Week 1 and headed to NC State to face the Final 4 team (by name only) from last season. NC State holds a 1-0 record vs Presbyterian all time.

Very much like I stated with USC Upstate vs NC State, NC State has not impressed this preseason losing to South Carolina and playing a Non D1 foe very close. I don’t think NC State is a world beater, but Presbyterian will likely be out gunned still.

While I think NC State wins, I don’t think it’ll be my TOO much, maybe 10-15 points

Give me Presbyterian 66 - NC State 79.

USC Upstate at Virginia Tech 7pm EST (ACCNX/ESPN+)

The only other team playing 3 times in week 1 out of the Big South, Marty Richter and his squad heads up to Blacksburg to play Virginia Tech and Coach Mike Young. Virginia Tech holds the all time lead with a record of 1-2 against Upstate.

Upstate has a very solid roster, that I think could potienally cause issues for Virginia Tech, Tech is without Hysier Miller for his involvment in the betting scandal at Temple. Leaving Tech to make a quick change in an already pretty low tier roster for ACC Standards. I think Upstate has a punchers chance headed into this game.

While I do not think Upstate can win, this game should be close, VT has nothing really impressive and seems to have issues not having Miller.

Give me USC Upstate 75 - Virginia Tech 82.

Nov 9th:

Arkansas Little Rock at Winthrop 12pm EST (ESPN+)

The homecoming game for Winthrop, and it’s versus a team that recieved votes in the AP Top 25 in the Preseason, Arkansas Little Rock. Winthrop holds a 2-0 record all time against Arkansas Little Rock.

A return game from last year in Little Rock, Arkansas Little Rock comes in as the OVC favorites and even got some Top 25 recognition in the preseason, but without KK Robinson. Little Rock I think will have a similar result to last seasons contest in Little Rock.

I think Winthrop like last year, will walk through Little Rock with little to no resistance.

Give me Winthrop 82 - Little Rock 71.

Jackson State at High Point 2pm EST (ESPN+)

Mo Williams is headed to North Carolina, not to play for Hornets, but to face High Point University. This is the first time Jackson State and High Point have ever faced off.

Jackson State has a really interesting start to their season, facing one of the best defenses in the country in Houston, then having to face one of the fastest, and strongest Mid Major offenses in High Point. Jackson State looked bad against Southern Miss blowing a 19 point lead, I don’t think they will hold such a lead against High Point.

I think the Huss Bus rolls right through Jackson State defense and wins this on handedly.

Give me High Point 97 - Jackson State 75.

Morgan State at Longwood 3pm EST (ESPN+)

The defending Big South Tournament champs faces the MEAC contender and mainstay Morgan State. Including last years matchup, Longwood holds a 3-2 record against Morgan State.

Longwood hopes to get their first D1 win of the season against Morgan State, and on paper they should do that. Both teams return solid pieces from their rosters from last year, Wynston Tabbs for Morgan State, and Michael Christmas for Longwood. Longwood added the better D1 transfers, where as Morgan State targetted JUCO guys.

I have to lean Longwood in this spot, with Morgan State just being outgunned with not having time for players to mesh.

Give me Longwood 77 - Morgan State 72.

UNC Asheville at Ohio 7pm EST (ESPN+)

Finally the end cap of the week, and it’s a barn burner. UNC Asheville vs Ohio. Ohio holds the lone win over UNC Asheville by a score of 79-70 in 2014.

Ohio is the front runner to win the MAC, but that leauge is always so close that anyone can win it, on paper they have a stellar roster returning many players from last years roster, and adding Jackson Paveletzke. I also think the travel from Alabama to Ohio will be draining for Asheville, making it hard to pick them in this spot.

I have to lean Ohio with the travel concerns, and with just how much they have returning.

Give me UNC Asheville 75 - Ohio 81.