Fab Five: The Big South Weekly Recap

5 Talking Points, 5 Best Games for Last Week, and the 5 Best Games for the Next Week

With conference play starting, it will be easier to recap with Big South only playing on two days and not every day like they did in the non conference part of the season. So in comes the Fab Five: The Big South Weekly Recap.

Talking Points after Week 1:

1. Home Teams start out 8-0

An interesting thing of note, Big South teams started the season 8-0 including 6-2 against the spread for the sports better out there. Of these 8 wins, 4 were underdogs mostly being 1-3 point underdogs.

Do I see this trend continuing, yes and no. Do I think the Big South will be undefeated at home in conference?: No.

Do I think we see crazy home splits around 65-70% home team wins?: Yes.

2. Holy Parity

Much like the 8-0 stat, we have another intersting stat showing how good the conference truly is. EVERY team except the two teams who had bye games (UNC Asheville and USC Upstate) every team is 1-1, including Vegas favorite to win the conference High Point.

3. Guard Play Galore

Something I didn’t expect to talk about what the Big South guard play but man here we are.

From the likes of the speedy Jordan Marsh to the hot shotting Chase Johnston to the high flying Mister Dean (I know he’s a forward). The guard play in this conference has taken the spotlight away from the great bigs of Talford, Solomon, Harris, Bodo Bodo, among others.

According to BartTorvik’s PRPG! Formula:
11 of the Top 15 Big South players are guards/smaller forwards.

4. ESPN Wild Card Game #2 High Point at Longwood

Earlier this week, the Big South conference picked their 2nd wildcard game of the year. That being a psuedo rematch of last year’s conference semifinal between High Point at Longwood. Really good choice considering the other games on the slate for that week (even though I wouldn’t have hated seeing USC Upstate at UNC Asheville).

5. NCAA Exploring Rule Changes

Not exclusively a Big South rule but worth talking about nonetheless, from famed College Basketball insider Jon Rothstein:

“The NCAA is considering allowing five years of eligibility for players in all sports moving forward, per an NCAA official.”

My personal thoughts: If they eliminate the redshirt, and it’s simply 5 years to play 5 seasons. I like the rule.

If we add the redshirts and JUCO/NAIA/USports doesn’t count. I hate the rule, we don’t need 30 year old seniors in college basketball to be a normal occurrence.

5 Best Games from the past week:

5. Gardner Webb at Charleston Southern

The first game of the Big South conference slate was one that didn’t disappoint. The stars came out for this game, TV Teddy Valentine as a ref and infamous CBB reporter Jeff Goodman came out to watch DJ Patrick’s season debut.

DJ Patrick showed out in his 1st game of the season, having 19 points and 7 rebounds in 33 minutes, that coupled with Taje’ Kelly’s 14 points and 16 rebounds and RJ Johnson’s 18 points helped Charleston Southern get their 1st conference win of the year by a score of 72-63.

4. Radford at High Point

The first ESPN U “Wild Card” game of the year, and while it wasn’t amazing, it was still one of the better games of week in my opinion.

This game was one of High Point’s best games, not just from one single player but just all around, the shooting was hot all night including 13-31 from behind the arc, while limiting Radford’s star Jarvis Moss to 7 points and 2-8 shooting and holding Radford to 58 points total.

3. Charleston Southern at Longwood

The final game of Week 1 of Big South games, and it was a very good night cap that no one really expect to be too close.

A what has been typical Longwood slow first half start led to Charleston Southern leading 35-31 at halftime, but in typical Longwood fashion they have a 52 point second half to win the game 83-78 led by Kyrell Luc and Colby Garland’s 19 and 17 points.

2. Presbyterian at Gardner Webb

One of the more exciting games from Week 1, Gardner Webb got their first conference win but it didn’t come without stress.

The game was knotted up at 35 at halftime, early in the 2nd half Gardner Webb had an 8 point lead but due to a 12-4 Presbyterian run with around 6 minutes left, Presbyterian held onto a small 2 point lead, at which the lead was swapped back and forth until at the buzzer, Kobe Stewart’s 3 hit the front rim and Gardner Webb held onto a 63-61 win.

1. High Point at UNC Asheville

Clearly the most exciting game of the week and maybe so far this for the Big South. High Point coming off 40 hours notice, facing an UNC Asheville team who had a bye game before HPU.

It was the Jordan Marsh show with his 29 points and 8 assists, but High Point didn’t just give up. Bobby Pettiford had 24 and Kimani Hamilton, despite fouling out early had 21 points. Despite being down 13 about midway through the 2nd half, High Point clawed back to tie the game with 2 mins left, but UNC Asheville would pull back ahead winning 103-99.

Top 5 Games for the Jan 8th and Jan 11th

5. High Point at Charleston Southern

High Point visits Charleston Southern, High Point, now led by senior guard D'Maurian Williams and supported by Kimani Hamilton's scoring and Juslin Bodo Bodo’s rebounding presence. Charleston Southern counters with their own star, Taje' Kelly, who anchors the Buccaneers' offense with his strong post play. Charleston Southern’s ability to exploit mismatches in the paint could make this a tight contest.

However, High Point's depth should give Charleston Southern issues along with Charleston Southern's lack of consistent shooting.

Prediction: High Point 68 - Charleston Southern 63.

4. Presbyterian at USC Upstate

Presbyterian heads to Spartansburg to face USC Upstate, the Blue Hose haven’t really excelled offensively this season but lean heavily on guards Kobe Stewart and Kory Mincy, along with Kaleb Scott. USC Upstate, under head coach Marty Richter, feature a fast paced attack led by the high flying forward Mister Dean and offensive wizard Brit Harris.

Upstate’s ability to push the pace and capitalize on turnovers may test Presbyterian’s slower, defensive first team.

Prediction: USC Upstate 72 - Presbyterian 65.

3. Winthrop at Gardner Webb

Winthrop travels to Paul Porter Arena to face off against the Running Bulldogs of Gardner Webb. Winthrop led by returning forwards Kelton Talford and KJ Doucet have been great on the boards and getting to the free throw line. Gardner Webb also led by returners, Anthony Selden and Jamaine Mann via the portal. (MARFO’s as the internet calls them.)

I think Winthrop’s strength and ability to get the free throw line will give Gardner Webb troubles.

Prediction: Winthrop 75 - Gardner Webb 69.

2. Longwood at Winthrop

Griff Aldrich and Longwood are making an end of week trip to Rock Hill to face Mark Prosser and his Winthrop Eagles. Longwood brings a well-rounded attack led by guard Colby Garland, whose scoring and playmaking are complemented by forwards Elijah Tucker and Michael Christmas. Winthrop, known for its high paced scoring and one of the the strongest home courts in MM basketball, relies heavily on the production of forwards Kelton Talford and KJ Doucet, whom have been forces in the paint.

Prediction: Winthrop 72 - Longwood 65

1. UNC Asheville at Longwood

Coming off their win vs High Point, Mike Morrell and UNC Asheville make the trip to Farmville to play vs Longwood. This game is one of the most elite guard matchups in mid major college basketball, Jordan Marsh vs Colby Garland with an underrated matchup down low with Toyaz Solomon vs Elijah Tucker. Probably the most balance matchups of the week, in ALL of College Basketball.

Prediction: Longwood 75 - UNC Asheville 74.