Big South Power Rankings: Radford Soaring, Coastal Plummets

We're more than halfway through the Big South slate at this point and the only thing that is clear is that this conference is going to be a dogfight down the stretch.

1. Radford Highlanders (16-7, 7-3, LW 4): Make it seven straight for Mike Jones' Highlanders after taking down Charleston Southern and Winthrop this past week. Javonte Green is becoming a serious threat for Player of the Year after posting 43 points and 17 rebounds last week. A huge match up lingers on Tuesday when Radford will head to High Point for a first place showdown. The Highlanders will then take on Charleston Southern for the second time in just nine days.

2. High Point Panthers (17-5, 8-2, LW 3): The Panthers are on top of the Big South standings after taking care of business on a easy road swing through Presbyterian and Liberty. The competition heats up this week though with the big Radford tilt ahead of them, as well as a trip to Coastal Carolina on Friday. The Panthers only two conference losses thus far came against Radford and Coastal.

3. UNC Asheville Bulldogs (11-10, 7-3, LW 7): Andrew Rowsey posted 43 points on the week to propel Asheville to wins against Longwood and Campbell. The Bulldogs will get a heat check game early this week at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday, a team they lost to by 10 at home last month.

4. Charleston Southern Buccaneers (13-8, 7-3, LW 1): After splitting last week with a win at Liberty and a loss against Radford Barclay Radebaugh's Bucs are now have to sink or swim. The Bucs will play five of their last eight regular season games away from the Buc Dome starting this week with trips to Radford and Winthrop. We'll find out quickly just how good Saah Nimley's squad is.

5. Winthrop Eagles (11-10, 6-4, LW 5): Pat Kelsey has to be happy with a split last week with a road win, over Coastal, and a road loss, at Radford. Keon Moore is a dark horse in a crowded Player of the Year race as he's now averaging over 18 points and 5 rebounds per contest. The Eagles will strive for consistency this week with home games against Charleston Southern and Liberty.

6. Gardner-Webb Bulldogs (14-9, 6-4, LW 6): Gardner-Webb laid a dud in the Creek last week losing to Campbell but then rebounded nicely with their second win of the year over Coastal Carolina 66-64. Jerome Hill, yet another Player of the Year candidate, continued to be a beast with 36 points and 25 rebounds last week. The Bulldogs will head to Longwood Tuesday for what is sure to be a chippy match up with the Lancers before looking for revenge against Campbell on Friday night.

7. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (15-7, 6-4, LW 2): O how the mighty have fallen... My hypothesis early this year is that Coastal would struggle with solid frontcourts and that continued to ring true against Winthrop and Gardner-Webb last week. The Chants have lost four out of their last five and are looking to rebound with two home match ups against Asheville and High Point this week.

8. Longwood Lancers (7-16, 3-7, LW 9): The Lancers got a gritty road win at Presbyterian as they continue to play without big man Lotanna Nwogbo. Leron Fisher's offensive game has really blossomed for Jayson Gee and the junior is now averaging 15 points per game in conference play, while leading the Big South in steals. Right now the team needs to remain competitive in a hold pattern until they get their big man back, could they sneak out a win against Gardner-Webb or Asheville this week?

9. Presbyterian Blue Hose (7-16, 3-7, LW 8): The big story for the Blue Hose in their two losses was an injury to William Truss that kept him out of the Longwood game. Truss might be out for a few more but there is nothing but opportunity in front of PC this week with a trip to Campbell and a home match up against Liberty. The Hose has already defeated both teams this year.

10. Campbell Fighting Camels (8-15, 2-8, LW 10): The Camels snapped a 7 game skid with a win over Gardner-Webb but fell UNC Asheville to close the week. Other players are starting to step up besides Reco McCarter and D.J. Mason which is making the Camels a scrappy out. Presbyterian will visit the Creek before Campbell heads to take on a sure to be hungry Gardner-Webb squad.

11. Liberty Flames (6-17, 0-10, LW 11): The Flames played one of the better games of the year against Charleston Southern but still lost their thirteenth straight Division I game. It's not going to get any easier for Dale Layer's squad as they play three of the next four on the road including match ups with Winthrop and Presbyterian this week.