The Big South enters the 2026–27 season in an interesting
position. High Point has established itself as the
conference’s standard-bearer, winning three consecutive
regular-season championships and following up its first
NCAA Tournament appearance with the program’s first
NCAA Tournament victory. Flynn Clayman’s Panthers are
coming off a school-record 31-win season, and somehow,
the roster might be even more talented this time around.For the rest of the conference, the challenge is obvious.
High Point has separated itself through resources,
recruiting, player development, and a style of basketball
that has proven remarkably difficult to counter. The
Panthers aren’t simply trying to win another Big South
championship. They’re trying to build a program capable
of competing nationally.But while the favorite appears obvious, the rest of
the standings are anything but.Presbyterian returns one of the most experienced rosters
in college basketball. Winthrop is rebuilding around
another collection of talented guards. Longwood has
intriguing individual pieces but plenty of uncertainty.
Radford and UNC Asheville present two very different
approaches to constructing competitive teams, while
Charleston Southern could be considerably more dangerous
than its preseason projections suggest.
To sort through it all, we’ve examined preseason
efficiency projections, roster evaluations, returning
production, coaching philosophies, and individual player
performance. The result is our prediction for how the
Big South will shake out, along with rankings across
six categories that help explain where each team
holds an advantage.
PanthersTooth’s Big South Rankings
2026–27 preseason projections and conference rankings
Rankings are relative to the nine Big South programs.
Offensive and defensive rankings emphasize preseason
efficiency projections. Positional rankings evaluate
personnel, depth, and fit. Coaching/Resources considers
coaching track record, tactical identity, player
development, institutional investment, and the resources
available to compete. On mobile, swipe horizontally
to view the complete table.
National Outlook: Top 70
No. 1 Offense
No. 1 Defense
No. 1 Across All Categories
There isn’t much debate about who belongs at the top.
KenPom, Bart Torvik, EvanMiya, Haslametrics, and
Matthew Winick all place High Point between 59th and
68th nationally. The next-best Big South team doesn’t
crack the top 180 in several of those projections.
That is an enormous gap.
Clayman inherited a successful program and immediately
elevated it, guiding the Panthers to 31 wins and an
NCAA Tournament victory over Wisconsin. Now he welcomes
another impressive collection of talent while retaining
several important contributors from that historic team.
Cam Fletcher returns as a preseason Player of the Year
favorite, while Conrad Martinez and Braden Hausen
provide continuity. CJ Brown arrives after posting an
assist rate near 30% at South Florida, giving High Point
another dynamic lead guard. Curtis Williams Jr. adds
scoring and athleticism, while Liam Campbell brings
versatility and efficiency.
The frontcourt is deeper, too. Isaac Garrett provides
rebounding and physicality, while Filip Brankovic offers
an intriguing offensive dimension with his finishing
ability and perimeter touch.
Offensively, High Point wants to attack before defenses
get organized, create advantageous matchups, and generate
additional possessions without sacrificing ball security.
Defensively, Clayman’s pressure-oriented approach produced
one of the nation’s most disruptive units last season.
Our projections have High Point first in both offensive
and defensive efficiency within the conference. The
Panthers also lead our positional rankings, although
that advantage comes more from their collective depth
and versatility than having the best individual player
at every position.
Jason Rivera-Torres, another important defensive addition,
isn’t expected to be available until December. Even
without him, High Point should have more than enough
talent to navigate the opening portion of its schedule.
The biggest question may be how Clayman manages a roster
with so many legitimate contributors. Keeping everyone
engaged while establishing consistent roles will be
important, particularly when the Panthers enter
conference games as substantial favorites.
The Verdict:
High Point is the overwhelming favorite. An undefeated
conference season isn’t guaranteed, but it’s certainly
within reach.
No. 2 Frontcourt
No. 3 Defense
Strength: Continuity
Presbyterian might not possess the second-highest ceiling
in the conference, but the Blue Hose have the strongest
argument for finishing second.
Quinton Ferrell returns approximately 74% of last season’s
minutes, an extraordinary figure in today’s college
basketball environment. While other programs are
introducing almost entirely new rosters, Presbyterian
has the luxury of building upon established relationships
and an existing identity.
That starts with Jaylen Peterson, the reigning Big South
Defensive Player of the Year, and Carl Parrish, one of
the conference’s most dependable perimeter scorers.
Parrish averaged 14.4 points last season while shooting
better than 40% from three.
Chidi Chiakwelu gives Presbyterian another significant
interior presence, helping explain our second-place
frontcourt ranking. The Blue Hose can protect the basket,
compete physically, and make opponents work for
quality looks.
Offensively, things become more complicated.
Presbyterian projects fourth in offensive efficiency,
with Haslametrics expecting one of the slowest tempos
nationally and very little reliance on three-point
volume. The Blue Hose prefer to establish position,
attack the interior, and control possessions rather
than turn games into track meets.
The return of Erik Taylor and addition of EJ Smith
should provide more stability at point guard, an area
that became problematic following Taylor’s injury
last season.
Presbyterian also gave High Point competitive games a
year ago, demonstrating that its physical approach can
create uncomfortable matchups even against superior talent.
The Verdict:
Experience, continuity, and dependable interior defense
make Presbyterian our pick for second. The offense may
limit its ceiling, but this looks like a team built to
avoid unnecessary losses.
No. 2 Offense
No. 2 Backcourt
No. 2 Coaching/Resources
Winthrop might have the best chance of challenging
High Point offensively.
Mark Prosser’s teams have established a recognizable
identity built around tempo, ball-screen action,
attacking the basket, and generating free throws.
The Eagles aren’t particularly interested in allowing
opponents to dictate how a game is played.
Our offensive projections rank Winthrop second in the
conference, and there’s a compelling collection of
guards tasked with maintaining that production.
Anthony Smith III brings playmaking ability after an
impressive freshman season at North Dakota. Micah Davis
adds experience operating in a high-tempo system, while
Spence Sims returns to the conference after shooting nearly 43% from three.
That group earns Winthrop our second-place backcourt
ranking.
The problem is everything surrounding it.
Winthrop lost more than 90% of last season’s minutes,
including several key contributors from a team that
reached the Big South championship game. Prosser has
assembled another intriguing roster, but chemistry
and defensive consistency won’t develop overnight.
The Eagles project fourth defensively, with questions
about perimeter containment and their ability to
replace last season’s interior production.
Prosser ranks second in our Coaching/Resources evaluation,
and his established system gives Winthrop a meaningful
advantage over other teams undergoing substantial
roster turnover.
The Verdict:
Winthrop has the offensive firepower to finish second
and potentially hand High Point a loss. Whether the
Eagles can defend consistently enough to separate
themselves from Presbyterian and Longwood remains
the question.
No. 2 Defense
No. 2 Wings
Strength: Athleticism
Few Big South teams offer a wider range of possible
outcomes than Longwood.
The Lancers finished 16–16 in Ronnie Thomas’s first
season, and another offseason of significant roster
turnover has produced a team with considerable talent
but limited established chemistry.
MJ Williams and TJ Robinson provide offensive creation,
while Alphonzo Billups gives Longwood one of the
conference’s most intriguing two-way wings.
Billups has the athleticism and versatility to influence
games at both ends, helping Longwood earn our
second-place wing ranking.
Defensively, the Lancers project surprisingly well.
KenPom and Torvik both place them among the conference’s
better defensive teams, and our combined projections
rank Longwood second overall on that end.
Their ability to pressure ballhandlers and create
turnovers should remain central to their identity.
Offensively, expect an emphasis on attacking the basket,
generating second chances, and using athleticism to
create advantages.
The concern is efficiency.
Several important guards have struggled with perimeter
shooting, while the departure of established interior
contributors leaves questions about rebounding and
rim protection. Longwood ranks only sixth in our
frontcourt evaluation.
There’s enough individual talent here to finish second.
There’s also enough uncertainty for the Lancers to
spend much of the season fighting for consistency.
The Verdict:
Longwood’s ceiling is attractive, but Presbyterian’s
experience and Winthrop’s established offensive identity
give those programs a slight edge in our predictions.
No. 3 Wings
Projected Top-25 Tempo
Strength: Versatility
Zach Chu enters his second season with another roster
assembled around athleticism, versatility, and the
potential to uncover undervalued talent.
Radford’s wings are particularly intriguing. Ja’Corey
Robinson, Mathieu Grujicic, and Frederik Erichsen
provide a combination of size, scoring potential,
and defensive flexibility that earns the Highlanders
our third-place wing ranking.
The approach should look familiar. Radford wants to
play quickly, apply pressure, create turnovers, and
use its athleticism to manufacture opportunities.
Haslametrics projects the Highlanders to play at the
21st-fastest pace nationally.
The challenge is turning those opportunities into
efficient offense.
Radford projects fifth offensively and sixth defensively,
with questions about shooting and the consistency of
its guard play. Much of the roster’s upside depends
on players translating production from different
competitive environments into the Big South.
Chu has demonstrated an ability to identify intriguing
personnel, but this group still needs to prove it
can function cohesively.
The Verdict:
Radford has the athleticism to surprise teams above it,
but its offensive uncertainty makes fifth a reasonable
starting point.
No. 4 Coaching/Resources
No. 5 Defense
Strength: Coaching Stability
UNC Asheville might be the most difficult team in the
conference to evaluate.
Mike Morrell has established a successful program,
and we rank Asheville fourth in Coaching/Resources.
His teams generally play with discipline, defend
competitively, and find ways to maximize their
available personnel.
This season presents a different challenge.
Asheville lost much of its established star power,
including Toyaz Solomon, Justin Wright, and Kameron
Taylor. The Bulldogs return several developing
frontcourt contributors, including Myles Mayfield,
Daniel Thomas, and Sage Tolentino, but replacing
that level of production won’t be easy.
The biggest uncertainty surrounds the backcourt.
Jaylon Johnson’s eligibility situation complicates
projections, while several incoming guards bring
considerable potential without extensive recent
Division I production.
If those pieces come together, Asheville could
outperform our sixth-place prediction.
Stylistically, the Bulldogs should remain among the
conference’s more deliberate teams. Haslametrics
projects Asheville’s pace 333rd nationally, a
substantial contrast to Radford, Winthrop, and
Charleston Southern.
Asheville will look to control possessions, work
through half-court actions, and create scoring
opportunities without relying on constant
transition play.
Interestingly, Haslametrics is much more optimistic
about Asheville than KenPom, suggesting there’s
considerable disagreement about the Bulldogs’
overall ceiling.
The Verdict:
Morrell’s coaching and the roster’s potential make
Asheville dangerous. Until the guard situation becomes
clearer, sixth feels appropriate.
No. 3 Frontcourt
No. 5 Coaching/Resources
Projected No. 11 National Tempo
Don’t confuse Charleston Southern’s seventh-place
projection with a lack of intrigue.
Saah Nimley is building a program with a distinct
identity, and the Buccaneers could be one of the
conference’s most entertaining teams.
Haslametrics projects Charleston Southern to play at
the 11th-fastest pace nationally. Nimley wants his
team attacking quickly, putting pressure on defenses,
and creating opportunities before opponents can
establish their preferred matchups.
The Buccaneers also possess unusual size for the
conference, including multiple seven-footers and
returning shot-blocker Lase Olalere.
That collection earns Charleston Southern our
third-place frontcourt ranking, although the
talent remains more promising than proven.
The concern is whether the Buccaneers can turn
those physical advantages into efficient basketball.
Charleston Southern projects seventh on both ends
of the floor. Its offensive efficiency remains
questionable, and aggressive defensive schemes
can create problems when opponents break the initial
pressure or generate second-chance opportunities.
Nimley earns fifth in our Coaching/Resources evaluation,
reflecting the identity and direction he’s establishing
despite the program’s challenges.
The Verdict:
Charleston Southern has the pieces to upset better
teams and could outperform seventh. Consistency
remains the obstacle to a top-half finish.
No. 8 Overall
Strength: Development Opportunity
Marty Richter faces another challenging season
at USC Upstate.
The Spartans have undergone substantial roster turnover,
and the preseason projections offer little encouragement.
Both KenPom and Torvik place Upstate near the bottom
nationally, with offensive efficiency representing
the most immediate concern.
The Spartans want to create opportunities through
transition, ball-screen action, and defensive pressure.
The problem is generating enough consistent scoring
to capitalize on those possessions.
Haslametrics projects significant shooting difficulties,
particularly from beyond the arc, while the defensive
outlook is similarly concerning.
There are individual players with developmental
potential, but Upstate lacks the established production
and depth of the conference’s upper-tier programs.
Limited resources and the challenge of retaining talent
make that task even more difficult.
The Verdict:
Eighth is our projection, although meaningful
improvement from the incoming roster could make
the Spartans more competitive than expected.
No. 9 Overall
Strength: Athletic Development
Gardner-Webb enters the season with plenty to prove.
Jeremy Luther is working to establish a more
competitive identity built around athleticism,
defensive activity, and attacking the basket.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs should look to create transition
opportunities and generate pressure defensively,
but the projected efficiency numbers suggest a
difficult season.
Haslametrics ranks Gardner-Webb near the bottom
nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Shooting, interior finishing, defensive rebounding,
and protecting the paint all present significant
concerns.
There are opportunities for younger players to develop
and establish themselves, but the roster currently
lacks the proven production necessary to project
consistent success.
Like Upstate, Gardner-Webb also faces the realities
of competing with considerably fewer resources than
some of its conference opponents. Building continuity
and developing talent will be essential to narrowing
that gap.
The Verdict:
Gardner-Webb enters as our ninth-place selection.
Finding a reliable offensive identity and improving
defensive fundamentals would represent meaningful
progress.
The Final Word
High Point enters the season as the overwhelming
favorite, and the Panthers have earned that distinction.
Their combination of talent, depth, coaching, and
projected efficiency is simply beyond what the rest
of the conference currently offers.
But the race behind them should be fascinating.
Presbyterian offers experience and defensive reliability.
Winthrop brings offensive firepower and an established
system. Longwood has the athleticism and individual
talent to challenge either, while Radford, Asheville,
and Charleston Southern each possess characteristics
capable of creating difficult matchups.
The biggest question for the Big South isn’t necessarily
who finishes first. It’s whether anyone can develop
into a legitimate challenger by the time March arrives.
And if High Point is as good as the preseason projections
suggest, the Panthers may be playing for something
considerably bigger than another conference championship.
