NEWSLETTER
Technically known as the “2023 Hercules Tires Big South Basketball Championships”, the Big South Tournament is another one that knocks it out quickly, finishing up Sunday afternoon to give us one of the four auto-bids we’ll be getting this weekend.
When is the Big South Tournament?
Wednesday March 1st through Sunday, March 5th
Where is the Tournament played?
All games are played at Bojangles Colliseum, in Charlotte. According to the internet, when it was completed in 1955 it was the largest unsupported dome in the world and notably was the first free-spanning dome in the United States. So, there’s that.
How to watch
ESPN+ until the finals. The Championship game will be on ESPN2 Sunday afternoon.
Who won the regular season title?
UNC Asheville finished four games better than the pack with a 16-2 record in league play.
Defending Champ
In a tournament that only saw two upsets (by seed at least) out of eleven games, the top-seeded Longwood Lancers took the title.
Who will participate
All ten member teams are seeded into the tourney bracket, even if they went 1-17 in conference play and have a mascot known as the “Blue Hose”
How Many teams will the Big South send to the Big Dance?
Just Sunday’s winner.
Big South Tournament Bracket
Worst four teams play today, with the top six getting a bye til Friday. No reseeding.
Big South Tournament Odds
Decent parity here with no big favorites and some nice prices on a couple of teams with byes if you’re into that.
Big South Tournament Preview
Cases can be made for most of the top six teams in the conference. UNC Asheville and Longwood seem to be in a class of their own but certainly can be beat.
The main positive for “everyone else” is that it’s a neutral court tourney with none of the “give the top seed three byes” nonsense. There are plenty of opportunities for upsets, including the top seeds right off the bat. In January, High Point gave UNCA a close game, and Asheville had to play overtime against Presbyterian. The distance from top to bottom here isn’t as great as in some conferences and the “Bojangles Factor” as I’m calling it, only exacerbates that.
Finally, Radford’s efficiency numbers are not very far off from the the top two teams in the league. Losses to both teams within the past couple of weeks are probably reason enough to put them in the 2nd tier, but on a neutral court I kind of like their make up. A slower paced team that plays defense and makes their threes and free throws. They also grade out well in offensive rebounding and and have a high steal percentage.
Big South Tournament Prediction
Without the added advantage of extra byes or home court for the top seeds, I’m looking a little further down the board. Give me the Highlanders.
My Bet: Radford +500
