Busting Brackets
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Big South basketball: 2018 Conference Tournament preview

By Brad Cavallaro

BUIES CREEK, NC - MARCH 06: Players, coaches and staff of the North Carolina-Asheville Bulldogs pose for photos with their trophy following their 77-68 victory against the Winthrop Eagles during the championship game of the 2016 Big South Basketball Tournament at Pope Convocation Center on March 6, 2016 in Buies Creek, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
BUIES CREEK, NC - MARCH 06: Players, coaches and staff of the North Carolina-Asheville Bulldogs pose for photos with their trophy following their 77-68 victory against the Winthrop Eagles during the championship game of the 2016 Big South Basketball Tournament at Pope Convocation Center on March 6, 2016 in Buies Creek, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 16: Xavier Cooks
MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 16: Xavier Cooks /

Players to Watch

Xavier Cooks, F SR Winthrop

Cooks is the best player in the conference. This long athletic combo forward has a diverse offensive game and has the versatility and quickness to guard multiple positions. Cooks stuffs the stat sheet with 17.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.1 bpg and ranks in the top three in the Big South in each of these categories. His ability to create for others from the PF position makes him extremely valuable and a difficult matchup for opposing defenses.

Although Cooks’ three point shooting percentages have decreased since his sophomore campaign, he is still a very capable long-range threat. It would not be a surprise to see Cooks in the NBA Summer League due to his immense talent.

Chris Clemons, PG JR Campbell

Clemons is probably the most well-known player on this list due to his scoring outburst in the 2017 Big South Tournament. Clemons willed Campbell to the Championship game by averaging 35 ppg in the conference tournament, including a 51 point effort against UNC Asheville. He leads the Big South in scoring at 24.7 ppg and can score at all three levels. Clemons has hit 78 threes and an insane 179 free throws this season. If anyone can single-handedly lead their team to an automatic bid, its Chris Clemons.

Macio Teague, G SO UNC-Asheville

This talented sophomore combo guard is one of the main reasons that UNC Asheville finds itself at the top of the Big South. Teague can handle the ball and create offense, but can also spot up and hit long-range shots. He is averaging 16.5 ppg and has hit 82 three pointers on the season.

UNC Asheville has been quite unlucky in the transfer market, losing guys like Andrew Rowsey, Dwayne Sutton, and Dylan Smith to high majors. Could Teague be the next Bulldog to make the jump? Hopefully he leads UNC Asheville to the Big Dance before we have to find out.

Ahmad Thomas, F SR UNC-Asheville

Thomas is the second part of UNC Asheville’s star duo. The rugged forward stands at just 6’3”, but plays much bigger than his size would indicate. He reminds me of a poor man’s DeSean Murray, the former Presbyterian star who is now a starter at Auburn.

Thomas is super versatile and is ability to rebound and compete against bigger players allows Coach McDevitt to play a small lineup. He is averaging 16.8 ppg and 5.9 rpg, but he can also create for others (2.9 apg). The Bulldogs are in good hands with their two star players.