CSNbbs

I'll keep track of media predictions for the Big South in this thread.

Athlon Sports came out with their college basketball preview magazine and picks the conference this way:

1. Gardner-Webb
2. Radford
3. Winthrop
4. Longwood
5. UNC Asheville
6. Charleston Southern
7. Hampton
8. High Point
9. Campbell
10.USC Upstate
11.Presbyterian

The magazine mentioned that Cliff Thomas is expected back from a foot injury and that Curtis Holland is ready to take a step forward. Also mentioned Caden Sanchez, Jamal Wright, Othello Smith, and freshman Eric Coleman as positives.

I think HPU is predicted too low, but I can understand why Athlon put them there. We lost our two top scorers to the transfer portal, with Proctor going to Purdue and Kamga going to Cal State-Fullerton. On the other hand, I expect Holland and Sanchez to show improvement, and I think at least a couple of the freshman are going to contribute early on.

We'll see how the rest of the predictions shake out, but I expect they will be similar to Athlon in terms of expected finish for HPU.

Lindy's College Basketball preview has HPU finishing sixth.

1. Radford
2. Gardner Webb
3. Charleston Southern
4. Longwood
5. UNC Asheville
6. High Point
7. Hampton
8. Winthrop
9. Campbell
10. USC Upstate
11. Presbyterian

Othello Smith is listed as a possible impact player and Curtis Holland is listed as a potential candidate for post season honors.

Street and Smith's basketball preview is out. Their prediction:

1. Radford
2. Winthrop
3. Charleston Southern
4. Gardner Webb
5. Campbell
6. Longwood
7. Hampton
8. High Point
9. UNC Asheville
10. Presbyterian
11. USC Upstate

Like most publications, S and S is giving a lot of weight to the loss of the top two Panther scorers to transfer. On the plus side, the magazine mentions that if anyone can bring a team together, it's Coach Smith.

The Big South Conference's official preseason poll is out and the Panthers are picked to finish 8th.