Big South Power Rankings: Coastal Carolina, Longwood Sweep the Week

1. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (11-9,4-2)
Last Week: 6

The Chanticleers were not only one of two teams to sweep the week in the Big South but Cliff Ellis' team did it with two wins on the road. The Chants took down in-state rival Presbyterian on Wednesday and then took down Radford, who was ranked number one in our power rankings coming into the week. Junior Josh Cameron has stolen the starting point guard roll for the Chants and is now averaging 14.6 points and 3 assists per contest.  Coastal should have a chance to build towards a solid tournament seed in their home building with three of their next four games at home.

Last Week: W 84-72 at Presbyterian, W 69-61 at Radford
This Week: 1/29 vs Liberty (9-12,3-3), 2/1 at Campbell (10-11,4-2)

2. UNC Asheville Bulldogs (10-10,4-2)
LW: 3

The Bulldogs get a slight boost this week after taking down Winthrop in a battle for first place, but then the Bulldogs laid an egg at High Point. Jaron Lane combined for 42 points and 12 rebounds in the Bulldogs' two games this week and continues to be a force in Big South play. Asheville will be looking for revenge this week as they head to play at Longwood, a team that bounced them from the Big South Tournament a year ago.

Last Week: W 81-66 vs Winthrop, L 78-67 at High Point
This Week: 1/28 vs VMI (10-9,3-3), 2/1 at Longwood (7-14,2-4)

3. Winthrop Eagles (10-8,4-2)
LW: 2

It looked like Pat Kelsey's Eagles were going to go 0-2 on the week but Kion Moore's 18 points fueled a big comeback win over VMI. O, did I mention the Eagles held the high octane Keydets to just 57 points and a mere 20 points in the second half? The Eagles now need a little bit of momentum with a tough slate this week.

Last Week: L 81-66 at UNCA, W 58-57 vs VMI
This Week: 1/29 vs Radford (13-8,3-3), 2/1 at High Point (7-12,3-3)

4. Campbell Fighting Camels (10-11,4-2)
LW: 4

The Camels got a big divisional win versus Radford to start off the week but then struggled offensively at Gardner-Webb. Campbell came into the week averaging over 78 points per game in Big South play, this week the Camels averaged just 56.5 points per game. Reco McCarter and his running-mates will look to reignite their offense with a pair of home games this week.

Last Week: W 65-63 vs Radford, L 66-48 at Gardner-Webb
This Week: 1/29 vs Charleston Southern (9-10,3-3), 2/1 vs Coastal Carolina (11-9,4-2)

5. VMI Keydets (10-9,3-3)
LW: 7

Duggar Baucom's Keydets had a chance to shoot up our power rankings this week but they squandered a lead at Winthrop Saturday for a heartbreaking loss. D.J. Covington did have a double-double against the Eagles and posted 29 points, 18 rebounds, 8 blocks, and 5 steals on the week. I think he might have this Defensive Player of the Year thing wrapped up again.

Last Week: W 82-80 vs High Point, L 58-57 at Winthrop
This Week: 1/28 at UNCA (10-10,4-2), 1/31 vs Presbyterian (4-17,0-6)

6. High Point Panthers (7-12,3-3)
LW: 9

It seemed like a win is all the Panthers needed to start a run a couple of weeks ago. High Point did lose to VMI this week but it was by two points in Lexington. The Panthers then downed a solid Asheville team in the Millis Center on NASCAR Night. This means NASCAR Night = Win for the Panthers. I don't know if John Brown likes NASCAR but he did post 54 points and 14 rebounds this week. No word yet if Scott Cherry is campaigning to keep NASCAR Night going the rest of the season.

Last Week: L 82-80 at VMI, W 78-67 vs UNCA
This Week: 1/28 at Presbyterian, 2/1 vs Winthrop

7. Gardner-Webb Bulldogs (10-11,3-3)
LW: 8

Tim Craft lost a heartbreaker at home to Charleston Southern thanks to an Arlon Harper jumper at the last second. The Bulldogs responded nicely though by blowing out former Atlantic Sun rival Campbell 66-48 in Boiling Springs. Gardner-Webb will have a two game road trip to Virginia on tap this week.

Last Week: L 78-76 vs Charleston Southern, W 66-48 vs Campbell
This Week: 1/29 at Longwood (7-14,2-4), 2/1 at Radford (13-8,3-3)

8. Radford Highlanders (13-8,3-3)
LW: 1

It was not a good week to be a Highlanders fan. Radford dropped two games this week and have now lost three out of their last four games. It seems as if opponents have figured out the Highlanders offense as they came into this week averaging nearly 84 points per contest, but just posted 62 points per game this week. It won't be easy for Mike Jones' "Movement" to rebound this week with a trip to Rock Hill on tap.

Last Week: L 65-63 at Campbell, L 69-61 vs Coastal Carolina
This Week: 1/29 at Winthrop (10-8,4-2), 2/1 vs Gardner-Webb (10-11,3-3)

9. Longwood Lancers (7-14,2-2)
LW: 11

Lucas Woodhouse hit a game-winning three against Liberty to break the ice in Big South play and then kept it going with a win at Charleston Southern. Longwood and Coastal were the only two squads to sweep the week in the Big South. Woodhouse had 27 points against Liberty and then followed that up with a double-double courtesy of 13 points and 10 assists. Tristan Carey also posted 37 points against the Bucs on Saturday. Longwood now has a chance to build some momentum with two home games. Four of Longwood's six Big South games have come away from Willett Hall thus far.

Last Week: W 69-66 vs Liberty, W 88-85 at Charleston Southern
This Week: 1/29 vs Gardner-Webb (10-11,3-3), 2/1 vs UNCA (10-10,4-2)

10. Charleston Southern (9-10,3-3)
LW: 5

Charleston Southern drops this based more on the indefinite length of injuries to Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper more than their play on the court. The Bucs simply can't compete at a high level without the two preseason Big South First Teamers. Barclay Radebaugh will go into the week looking for a way to spark his team possibly without his star guards.

Last Week: W 78-76 at Gardner-Webb, L 88-85 vs Longwood
This Week: 1/29 at Campbell (10-11,4-2), 2/1 vs Liberty (9-12,3-3)

11. Liberty Flames (9-12,3-3)
LW: 10

Liberty fans had to be salivating a week and a half ago when three games against teams who combined for a 1-8 Big South mark in front of them. The Flames finished that stretch with just one win to show for themselves and also struggled a bit against Presbyterian. Now comes the hard part for Dale Layer with three of his next four games away from the Vines Center.

Last Week: L 69-66 at Longwood, W 65-53 vs Presbyterian
This Week: 1/29 at Coastal Carolina (11-9,4-2), 2/1 at Charleston Southern (9-10,3-3)

12. Presbyterian Blue Hose (4-17,0-6)
LW: 12

Gregg Nibbert's Blue Hose are now 0-12 in their last twelve Big South contest. PC is looking for some sort of spark, but can't find it as they've lost by an average margin of nearly 15 points in conference play. I guess the good news is that three of the Hose's next four games will be in Clinton. The lone bright spot is Jordan Downing, who is now averaging 17.7 points in conference play.

Last Week: L 84-72 vs Coastal Carolina, L 65-53 at Liberty
This Week: 1/28 vs High Point (7-12,3-3), 1/31 at VMI (10-9,3-3)