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We reached out our colleagues and friends in the Big South last week to get an early look at the conference and how everyone thinks the 2015-16 season will shake out. Last year was one of the craziest on record with a logjam of teams in the conference tournament seeding process. The challenging season resulted in Coastal Carolina winning back-to-back titles and Winthrop, Longwood, and Gardner-Webb left standing in the conference semifinals.
2015-16 Standings Predictions
Rank | School | Voting Points |
1. | Winthrop Eagles | 81 (6) |
2. | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 77 (3) |
3. | High Point Panthers | 72 |
4. | Longwood Lancers | 62 |
5. | UNC Asheville Bulldogs | 55 (1) |
6. | Gardner-Webb Bulldogs | 52 |
7. | Charleston Southern Buccaneers | 45 |
8. | Presbyterian Blue Hose | 41 |
9. | Radford Highlanders | 35 |
10. | Campbell Fighting Camels | 18 |
11. | Liberty Flames | 12 |
Preseason Player of the Year
John Brown, High Point
John Brown is back for his senior season after saying last year would be his last for the Panthers and a lack of serious NBA consideration. Brown will certainly put up the numbers again in the 2015-16 but Scott Cherry has done little to provide the players around him in the frontcourt to showcase his game. The Panthers lost a big time commit late in the period and it's yet to be seen if Miles Bowman can turn into a valuable post presence to help Brown carry the load down low or if freshman Ricky Madison might help.
Brown was almost a unanimous decision but Longwood's Shaquille Johnson garnered a vote, as well as Winthrop newcomer Zac Price.
Preseason First Team
G- Keon Johnson, Winthrop
G- Elijah Wilson, Coastal Carolina
F- Shaq Johnson, Longwood
F- John Brown, High Point
F- Tyrell Nelson, Gardner-Webb
Others Receiving Votes: DeSean Murray (Presbyterian), Zac Price (Winthrop), Lotanna Nwogbo (Longwood), Badou Diagne (Coastal Carolina), Shivaughn Wiggins (Coastal Carolina), Ya Ya Anderson (Radford), Xavier Cooks (Winthrop)
A big thanks to all of our voters including those at Winthrop Fans, HPU Panthers Message Board, College Hoops Digest, LancersBlog, Camel Fans, and Liberty Flames Nation.