Busting Brackets
Fansided

Big South Hoops: Preview of top contenders for 2018-19

By Jason Burgess

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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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Ed Polite Jr. #24 of the Radford Highlanders and Randy Phillips #32 of the Radford Highlanders attempt to keep the ball away from Raiquan Clark #23 of the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds during the game at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Ed Polite Jr. #24 of the Radford Highlanders and Randy Phillips #32 of the Radford Highlanders attempt to keep the ball away from Raiquan Clark #23 of the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds during the game at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Radford Highlanders

Record: 23-12 (12-6, 2nd in the Big South) Won the Big South tournament. Lost to Villanova in the first round of the NCAA tournament 87-61.

Key Returners: Ed Polite, Jr. 6-5 Sr. forward (13.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.9 spg), Carlik Jones 6-0 Redshirt-So. guard (11.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.1 apg), Donald Hicks 6-3 Jr. guard (8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.3 apg), Devonnte Holland 6-7 center (4.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg)

Newcomers: Cle’von Greene 6-2 guard, Josiah Jeffers 6-2 guard, John Caldwell 6-5 guard Redshirt Junior (Roanoke College), Mawdo Sallah 6-8 forward/center Graduate (Kansas State)

Stats: 20th in scoring defense 64.9ppg, Ed Polite, Jr. 20th in total steals (68)

Key non-conference games: Nov. 14 at Notre Dame, Nov. 20 at William & Mary, Nov. 30 at Texas, Dec. 15 at Clemson, Dec. 18 at UNC-Greensboro, Dec. 21 vs. Georgia Southern, Dec. 29 at Maryland

Outlook: The Highlanders are looking to repeat and do return perhaps their best player in Ed Polite, Jr. The addition of  Mawdo Sallah from Kansas State gives Radford some frontcourt depth to supplement Devonnte Holland. With the conference’s top defense Radford should once again be the team everyone is chasing in the conference.

UNC-Asheville Bulldogs

Record: 21-13 (13-5, 1st in Big South) Lost in the Big South semifinals. Lost to USC in the first round of the NIT 103-98 2OT

Key Returners: Donovan Gilmore 6-7 Sr. forward (3.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Jalen Seegars 6-4 So. guard (2.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg), Grant Townsend 6-7 RS-So. forward (1.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg)

Newcomers: Cress Worthy 6-2 guard, Lavar Batts, Jr. 6-2 guard, LJ Thorpe 6-4 guard, Stephen Edoka 6-5 forward, Tajoin Jones 6-5 guard, Luke Lawson 6-8 forward, Devon Baker 6-2 guard, Coty Jude 6-7 forward, Deacon Heath 6-0 guard, Jeremy Peck 6-8 So. forward (Drexel)

Stats: 39th in field goal percentage (47.5%), 24th in three-point field goal percentage (39.4%)

Key non-conference games: Nov. 13 at N.C. State, Nov. 16 at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 25 vs. Furman, Dec. 4 at Auburn, Dec. 15 at Wofford, Dec. 31 at Vanderbilt

Outlook: The Bulldogs are in a unique position after being the dominant team in the conference over the last five years or so. All five starters are gone and so is their head coach Nick McDevitt who left for Middle Tennessee State. New head coach Mike Morrell has his work cut out for him with nine freshmen on the roster. The Bulldogs are likely to take a step back in 2018, but could still be a top half of the conference.