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

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: Bjorn Broman /

Winthrop Eagles

Record: 19-13 (12-6, 3rd in Big South) Lost in the Big South semifinals.

Key Returners: Bjorn Broman 6-0 Sr. guard (10.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.2 spg), Josh Ferguson 6-8 Jr. forward (10.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.1 bpg), Adam Pickett 6-1 Sr. guard (9.3 ppg., 3.0 rpg, 1.8 apg), Nych Smith 6-0 Sr. guard (7.1 ppg, 2.1 apg)

Newcomers: Keondre Schumacher 6-0 guard

Stats: 32nd in three-point field goals per game (9.5), 34th in field goal percentage (47.6%)

Key non-conference games: Nov. 6 at Vanderbilt, Nov. 17 vs. East Tennessee State, Nov. 21 at Kentucky, Dec. 4 at Davidson, Dec. 22 at Southern Illinois, Jan. 1 at Florida State

Outlook: The Eagles have been the Big South’s best team since the turn of the century with nine NCAA Tournament appearances. Winthrop must replace one of its all-time greats in Xavier Cooks, but the pair of Bjorn Broman and junior Josh Ferguson give them a pair of guys ready to step into those shoes.

Campbell Fighting Camels

Record: 18-16 (10-8, 4th in Big South) Lost in the Big South quarterfinals. Lost in the CBI semifinals to San Francisco 65-63.

Key Returners: Chris Clemons 5-9 Sr. guard (24.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1apg, 1.6spg), Andrew Eudy 6-7 Sr. forward (9.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.9 bpg), Cory Gensler 6-4 Jr. guard (7.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)

Newcomers: Isaac Chatman 6-6 guard/forward, Dan Gross 6-2 guard, Ladarius Knight 6-5 guard/forward, Milos Stajcic 6-10 forward, Noah Saunders 6-6 Jr. guard/forward (Cuesta College), Ricky Clemons 6-2 guard, Trey Spencer 6-4 Jr. guard (Holmes Community College)

Stats: 33rd in field goal percentage (47.7%), Chris Clemons 4th in scoring (24.9)

Key non-conference games: Nov. 6 vs. UNC-Wilmington, Nov. 24 at Georgetown, Dec. 29 at Miami

Outlook: The Camels have the conference’s best player, Chris Clemons who is one of the nation’s top scorers. Clemons has reached double figures in scoring in 82 straight games, a streak that is unmatched in all of college basketball. Fellow senior Andrew Eudy is the team’s top rebounder and is the perfect compliment to Clemons for a Campbell team with a lot of confidence, coming off its best season in six years.