Big South Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview, predictions

Big South Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

BUIES CREEK, NC - MARCH 06: Players of the North Carolina-Asheville Bulldogs celebrate 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: Members of the Winthrop Eagles marching band cheer (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Semifinals

1) Radford vs. 5) Hampton

This is going to be a very intriguing matchup in the semifinals of the Big South Basketball Tournament. A Jermaine Marrow vs. Carlik Jones backcourt showdown to decide who advances to the conference championship would truly be exciting. In the first two meetings between the Highlanders and the Pirates, Radford won by four and by three. Both games were very entertaining and relatively high scoring. In this third meeting, Marrow will steal the show as the best individual player on the court, but Radford’s depth will allow them to be victorious in what will be another close game.

Prediction: Radford 83 – Hampton 81

2) Winthrop vs. 3) Gardner Webb

Winthrop last won the Big South Basketball Tournament and competed in the NCAA Tournament back in 2017. Now, since they are in 2nd place in the league and coming off of a rough stretch, they have a great opportunity to pull everything together and show that they are the best team in the league. Gardner Webb is out to make back to back trips to the NCAA Tournament, and they will give Winthrop a good game.

In the most recent meeting between the two, Gardner Webb proved just how tough they can still be in the Big South when they pulled off the victory over the Eagles. In this game, however, Winthrop, behind strong performances from Hunter Hale and DJ Burns, will pick up the victory and advance to the Big South Championship.

Prediction: Winthrop 78 – Gardner Webb 75

Finals

1) Radford vs. 2) Winthrop

Conference title games for a trip to the NCAA Tournament are always fun when they are played between two teams that each picked up a win in the first two meetings. Early on in conference play, Winthrop went into Radford and won 61-56. In the second meeting, Radford returned the favor, knocking off the Eagles 81-77 on their home floor. With Radford having the home-court advantage, and with the road team winning in both of those first two meetings, it will be interesting to see how Winthrop handles a conference championship game on the road.

Next. Predicting 2019-20 conference tournament winners. dark

I think they will be just fine. Winthrop’s defense will do just enough to contain Carlik Jones, and the Eagles will win the Big South Championship and earn the bid to the NCAA Tournament.