2013 Big South Conference Tournamant Odds, Free Picks and Predictions – Big South Tournament Schedule and Tournament Bracket: There are many conferences in the country that will be sending just one team to this year’s NCAA Tournament, and the Big South is one of them. As a result, the conference tournament essentially becomes a playoff for all the teams involved. After all, the winning team is awarded an automatic bid into the field of 68 while every other team will have its season come to an end. Essentially, every team in the Big South will playing to extend their season every time it takes the court from here on out. The pressure doesn’t get much higher, and while the conference is made up of 12 teams, here is a closer look at the teams that have a legitimate chance of winning the Big South tournament title and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
2013 Big South Tournament Odds, Free Picks and Predictions
The Contenders
Although they won the North Division, the High Point Panthers (17-12, 12-4 Big South) aren’t at full strength entering the conference tournament. Freshman forward John Brown is out for the rest of the season, leaving the Panthers without their best all-around player and leading scorer. High Point still has a solid scoring option in senior forward Allen Chaney and a solid defense to fall back on, but losing arguably the best big man in the Big South isn’t an ideal situation by any means.
After clinching the South Division, the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (17-11, 12-4 Big South) will try to ride their high-powered offense to a conference tournament title and an NCAA Tournament bid. Four players average in double figures, including the dynamic backcourt of Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper, for an offense scoring almost 75 points per game. Nimley and Harper are also active for a defense that creates a lot of turnovers. The Buccaneers are probably the most balanced team in the conference.
If momentum is the deciding factor, the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (20-11, 11-5 Big South) could be the team to beat. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are riding a seven-game winning streak into the conference tournament and have won 10 of their last 11 overall. Senior guard Tashan Newsome is the leading scorer for a rather unimpressive scoring attack, but Gardner-Webb’s conservative approach on offense feeds the team’s stifling defense. Not only do the Runnin’ Bulldogs average more than eight steals per game, but they are holding opponents to just 60.5 points per game this year.
Bottom Line
High Point and Charleston Southern appeared to be on a collision course for the Big South tournament finale, but Gardner-Webb’s late surge can’t be overlooked. Not only have the Runnin’ Bulldogs won their last seven games, but they took down the Buccaneers in their second to last game. Meanwhile, they lost the Panthers by just six points earlier in the year when High Point still had Brown pouring in points in the paint. The Runnin’ Bulldogs already know they can hold Charleston Southern’s high-powered offense in check, and High Point simply isn’t the same team without Brown in its frontcourt. Armed with plenty of confidence and the conference’s best defense, Gardner-Webb is peaking when it matters most.
Prediction: Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs Win the Big South Conference Tournament
Odds to Win Big South Tournament
Charleston Southern +120
High Point +300
Gardner-Webb +300
Liberty +1000
Winthrop +1800
VMI +2250
Campbell +3000
Longwood +10000
2013 Big South Tournament Bracket and Schedule
First Round – Tuesday (all times ET)
Game 1: Radford Highlanders (No. 4, North) vs. Winthrop Eagles (No. 5, South) – Noon
Game 2: UNC-Asheville Bulldogs (No. 3, South) vs. Longwood Lancers (No. 6, North) – 2 p.m.
Game 3: Campbell Fighting Camels (No. 3, North) vs. Presbyterian Blue Hose (No. 6, South) – 6 p.m.
Game 4: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (No. 4, South) vs. Liberty Flames (No. 5, North) – 8 p.m.
Quarterfinals – Thursday
Game 5: Charleston Southern Bobcats (No. 1, South) vs. Game 1 winner – Noon
Game 6: VMI Keydets (No. 2, North) vs. Game 2 winner – 2 p.m.
Game 7: Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs (No. 2, South) vs. Game 3 winner – 6 p.m.
Game 8: High Point Panthers (No. 1, North) vs. Game 4 winner – 8 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner – Noon
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner – 2 p.m.
Championship – Sunday
Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner – 12 p.m., ESPN2
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