For all of the posts in this series, visit the 2017-18 Non-Conference Scheduling Hub.

Ranking The Teams

With just two teams in the top 150 of the four-year rankings and three ranking among the bottom 50, the Big South will typically find it difficult to rise above bracket lines 15 or 16. And that’s particularly true if powers UNC Asheville and Winthrop stumble in the conference tournament.

Ranking The Schedules

With just a pair of schedules ranking in the national top 100 across all four categories and anywhere from one to three landing among the bottom 50, it’s not surprising that the Big South consistently ranks among the lower half of D1’s 32 conferences. But after looking at the specific factors that characterize Big South scheduling, it’s honestly surprising that UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb rank so highly.

*Denotes team will participate in a bracketed tournament. Reminder: Known Score = known matchups only; Average Score = known games+average of potential bracketed matchups; Maximum Score = known games+games against best potential bracketed matchups; Minimum Score = known games+games against worst potential bracketed matchups

Who Over- And Under-Scheduled?

Not surprisingly, just one Big South member, Campbell, under-scheduled for 2017-18. However, the other nine overdid things by varying amounts. Winthrop and Liberty stuck quite close to their four-year rankings, while High Point and Presbyterian also did respectable jobs. However, three teams—Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, and Radford—managed triple-digit chasms.

The Big South’s combined schedule reflects all of the issues low-major schools encounter from year to year. While each team will play an average of nearly six home games, half of those will come against non-Division I teams. Sure, those teams might provide wins, but they don’t give fans much of a reason to show up to an arena.

The average of 2.5 power conference road games could be higher, but it takes exceptional circumstances—like the relocation of the Paradise Jam to Liberty’s Vines Center—to bring one of those teams to a Big South gym. And the Flames aren’t even guaranteed to play Colorado, Houston, or Wake Forest at home.

The Big South ranks second among the mid-majors (and all of Division I) in non-D1 home games, though the conference’s total of 27 is far lower than the Southland’s 45. But those matchups are the only thing that allows the conference to tie the America East for 15th in the comparison of home games scheduled by the 25 mid-majors.

Games against non-D1 foes top the standings and it’s not particularly close, and that’s somewhat understandable. Given the need for home games, scheduling these opponents is a necessity for a league that sits close to the bottom of the regional pecking order. Still, it would be helpful if Big South squads could line up more games with teams from other Southern mid-major leagues, particularly the ASUN and MEAC, even though the latter’s financial considerations might prevent a serious increase in games against Big South opposition.

For further context, nearly one-quarter of the Big South’s non-league games come against teams from outside of Division I. And when you combine those with the 38 contests scheduled against teams ranked lower than 200th nationally, you’ll find that over half of this conference’s November and December games feature opposition likely to act as metrics anchors.

Team-By-Team Breakdown

Teams are listed in order of their Average Schedule Strength National Ranking. Numbers in parentheses are opponent’s Team Score Ranking. Logos via SportsLogos.net.

65. UNC Asheville Bulldogs

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 3 wins (@USC Upstate, @Furman, Western Carolina) and 1 losses (UNC Greensboro)

The Bulldogs managed to get four Division I games as part of their NIT Season Tip-Off participation, something that not every team (Monmouth, Rhode Island, Austin Peay) managed. The Big South regular season co-champs claimed eight non-league wins last season, but four difficult road games and the visit from Monmouth might limit them to that total this time around.

74. Gardner-Webb Bulldogs

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 3 wins (Toccoa Falls, Warren Wilson, Hampton) and 0 losses

Last season, the Bulldogs managed seven non-league wins, despite a 1-3 Legends Classic experience. But in 2017 Tim Craft can’t feel hopeful about his team increasing its win total. While Gardner-Webb will visit Wright State for a mid-majors only round-robin, it also faces five potentially ugly road games—against Miami, Florida, UCF, Auburn, and Maryland.

127. Charleston Southern Buccaneers

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 3 wins (Columbia International, Toccoa Falls, Johnson & Wales (N.C.)) and 3 losses (@Florida State, USC Upstate, @VMI)

After racking up 19 victories in 2014-15, the Buccaneers have only managed to win 21 combined in the last two seasons. And only nine of those came outside of Big South play. That fact alone explains why seven of the 11 games on this year’s slate offer Charleston Southern the possibility of remaining competitive until the final buzzer.

139. Winthrop Eagles

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 1 win (Furman) and 0 losses

Last season, the Eagles completed the Big South regular season/tournament double and received a 13 seed for their trouble. While Pat Kelsey’s squad for 2017-18 will be tested by visits to Colorado State, Auburn, Georgia, and VCU, it should also breeze through its five-game home slate. It’s just too bad Winthrop couldn’t join the visitors’ bracket of the Jamaica event in full.

144. Radford Highlanders

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 2 wins (VMI, Elon) and 0 losses

Mike Jones’s Highlanders followed consecutive 22-win seasons (with appearances in minor postseason tournaments) with a pair featuring a grand total of 30 victories. Yet with only three home games to balance out four power conference road trips and a tricky December swing through the Las Vegas Classic, Radford might need to focus on improving its win total once league play starts.

185. High Point Panthers

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 0 wins and 1 loss (@Western Carolina)

Other than a game against local rival Western Carolina (who the Panthers visit for the second straight season), this is a fresh set of opponents for Scott Cherry’s side. That probably isn’t a bad thing considering High Point won just 15 games, including just three against D1 opposition in non-conference play, in the first season of the post-John Brown era.

272. Longwood Lancers

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 0 wins and 2 losses (@Stephen F. Austin, @St. Francis (Pa.))

Longwood has finished above .500 just once since moving up to Division I—in 2008-09. And the struggles continued in 2016-17, as Jayson Gee’s fourth Lancers squad picked up just a single D1 win before Big South play. Similar results might come to pass this season, even with seven home games on the schedule. Stephen F. Austin, Columbia, and St. Francis (Pa.) will all be formidable visitors, and an Arizona State-Grand Canyon road swing is a long day’s trip to a pair of likely losses.

281. Liberty Flames

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 1 win (Clarks Summit) and 2 losses (@UNC Greensboro, @Houston)

Unfortunate circumstances led to the addition of three home games to the Flames’ home slate, as the seven other Paradise Jam participants will head to Lynchburg instead of St. Thomas, due to the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Irma. If circumstances align, Ritchie McKay’s club could play Houston and either Colorado or Wake Forest on its home floor, while the Flames are guaranteed to face the Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem in a game that’s not tied to the tournament. While Liberty, which won 21 last season, should sweep its six previously-set home contests, a trip to a New Orleans Shootout that includes both Summit contender Fort Wayne and C-USA power Louisiana Tech will be a challenging one.

306. Presbyterian Blue Hose

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 1 wins (VMI) and 2 losses (@UNC Wilmington, @Tennessee)

After a five-win campaign, Gregg Nibert resigned after 28-years at the helm in Clinton, S.C. Former Wofford assistant Dustin Kerns’s first season in charge will see the Blue Hose face six other teams that rank outside of the top 300 and a trio of non-D1 squads. Even with a pair of Battle 4 Atlantis road games against Tennessee and N.C. State and a trip to Virginia Tech, it’s very possible that Presbyterian could win more than five in the non-conference alone. And that’s thanks to the presence of so many fellow strugglers on the schedule.

330. Campbell Fighting Camels

Record against returning opponents from 2016-17: 3 wins (Johnson & Wales (N.C.), @The Citadel, Stetson) and 2 losses (USC Upstate (N), UNC Wilmington)

Last season, the Camels cracked the .500 mark for the first time since 2012. And with seven home games, including a round-robin tournament and a trio of non-D1 contests, Kevin McGeehan’s club should be able to enter this season’s Big South campaign with a winning mark for the third consecutive year.

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