Get ready for some thrilling basketball action as the Big South Conference releases its preseason rankings! The battle for basketball supremacy is about to begin, and we've got the inside scoop on where Charleston Southern University's men's and women's teams stand.
The Big South Conference held its annual preseason media day, unveiling the much-anticipated basketball rankings for the 2025-26 season. Let's dive right in and see where CSU's teams landed!
CSU's men's team is predicted to finish seventh in the nine-team league, while the women's team is expected to finish fifth. But here's where it gets interesting: the men's team has undergone significant changes since last season. After graduating several players and experiencing transfers, Coach Saah Nimley has rebuilt the roster with a diverse group of players from Division II, NAIA, and junior college ranks. Despite these changes, Nimley remains optimistic, expressing excitement about the team's potential.
Guard A'lahn Sumler, a key player for the men's team, missed last season due to injury but averaged an impressive 14 points per game two seasons ago. With Sumler back in action, the team could be a force to be reckoned with.
On the women's side, Coach Clarisse White has a talented squad, including guard Tyonna Bailey, who was selected for the second team in the preseason all-conference pick. Bailey, a top defender in the Big South, averaged 8.9 points per game last season and will be a key player for the team.
Both teams will kick off their seasons on the road on November 3rd. The men's team will face a tough challenge against Virginia Tech, while the women's team will take on Jacksonville. It's an exciting start to the season, and we can't wait to see how CSU's teams perform!
And this is the part most people miss: High Point University is the preseason favorite to win both the men's and women's championships. High Point's Nevaeh Zavala is the women's preseason player of the year, while Toyaz Solomon of UNC Asheville takes the title for the men's side. But will they live up to the expectations? Only time will tell!
Here's a quick rundown of the preseason rankings for both men's and women's basketball:
Men's Basketball:
1. High Point
2. UNC Asheville
3. Longwood
4. Radford
5. Winthrop
6. Presbyterian
7. Charleston Southern
8. Gardner-Webb
9. USC Upstate
Women's Basketball:
1. High Point
2. Longwood
3. Radford
4. Winthrop
5. Charleston Southern
6. USC Upstate
7. Gardner-Webb
8. Presbyterian
9. UNC Asheville
So, basketball fans, what do you think? Are these rankings spot-on, or do you foresee some upsets? Feel free to share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below! Let's get the discussion going and see if we can predict the season's outcomes together!
