March in the Big South moves fast.
There is no week-long buildup, no extended rest between rounds. The 2026 Big South Basketball Tournament runs from Wednesday, March 5 through Sunday, March 9, and by the end of that stretch one team will own the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The first three rounds stream on ESPN+. The championship game tips at noon on Sunday, March 9 on ESPN2.
High Point enters as the clear favorite. But March has a way of tightening everything.
Final Regular Season Standings
Conference record first, overall record second:
- High Point Panthers: 15-1 27-4
- Winthrop Eagles: 13-3 21-10
- Radford Highlanders: 9-7 16-15
- UNC Asheville Bulldogs: 8-8 14-16
- Longwood Lancers: 8-8 16-15
- Presbyterian Blue Hose: 7-9 14-17
- Charleston Southern Buccaneers: 6-10 15-16
- South Carolina Upstate Spartans: 5-11 13-18
- Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs: 1-15 3-28
High Point separated itself from the league with a 15-1 mark in conference play and 27 wins overall. That kind of season creates expectations. It also creates pressure.
Winthrop was steady at 13-3 and feels like the most complete challenger. After that, the league bunches up quickly. The difference between the three seed and the seven seed was only a couple of games.
Men's Bracket is OFFICIAL 🏀🏆
— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) March 1, 2026
Seedings and pairings are locked in for the Air Force Reserve #BigSouthMBB Championship at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City. pic.twitter.com/tqFF52y6OA
First Round Wednesday, March 5
Gardner-Webb vs. South Carolina Upstate
It is simple. Survive and move on. Lose and the season ends before the weekend.
Quarterfinals Friday, March 7
High Point vs. 8/9 winner
Radford vs. Presbyterian
UNC Asheville vs. Charleston Southern
Winthrop vs. Longwood
This is where the tournament truly begins.
High Point and Winthrop enter rested. Everyone else must grind just to earn the right to see them.
Radford and Presbyterian split their regular season meetings. UNC Asheville and Longwood both finished 8-8 in league play and have shown flashes. Charleston Southern has enough scoring to make things uncomfortable.
There is separation at the top of the standings, but the middle of this bracket is tighter than it looks.
Semifinals Saturday, March 8
High Point side winner vs. Radford or Presbyterian
UNC Asheville or Charleston Southern vs. Winthrop or Longwood
Saturday decides everything.
If High Point handles business cleanly in the quarterfinals, the Panthers will walk into the semifinal with confidence and control. If they get pushed, the energy shifts.
Winthrop’s path could set up for a Sunday showdown. The Eagles have been consistent all season and have the experience to manage a tight game late.
Championship Sunday, March 9
Semifinal winners at noon on ESPN2
High Point has been the best team in the Big South from start to finish. A 15-1 conference record and 27-4 overall mark speak for themselves.
But this league has a history of chaos in March. Teams that hovered around .500 in conference play suddenly find rhythm. One hot shooting night can flip the bracket. One cold stretch can end a season.
The Big South tournament is compact, intense and unforgiving.
Five days. Three rounds that matter. One NCAA tournament bid.
By Sunday afternoon, the regular season will not matter anymore.