Big South Basketball Championship Futures: Predictions & Top Contenders
Updated November 3, 2026
Updated November 3, 2026
The 2027 Big South Basketball Championship features a competitive field looking to secure the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament invitation. High Point enters as the two-time defending tournament champion, but Presbyterian, Winthrop, Longwood, and UNC Asheville present different challenges in the race for the title.
The defending champions return preseason Player of the Year Cam'Ron Fletcher to lead them.
Eleven returning letterwinners provide exceptional continuity and experience for the Blue Hose.
Three consecutive conference championship game make the Eagles among the leading challengers.
Alphonzo Billups III leads a roster reinforced by attacking guards MJ Williams and TJ Robinson.
Head coach Mike Morrell is looking to restore the Bulldogs' competitiveness.
The defending champions return preseason Player of the Year Cam'Ron Fletcher to lead them.
Eleven returning letterwinners provide exceptional continuity and experience for the Blue Hose.
Three consecutive conference championship game make the Eagles among the leading challengers.
Alphonzo Billups III leads a roster reinforced by attacking guards MJ Williams and TJ Robinson.
Head coach Mike Morrell is looking to restore the Bulldogs' competitiveness.
Prediction: High Point Panthers to win the 2027 Big South Championship
High Point is the strongest choice to capture a third consecutive Big South tournament championship. The Panthers enter the season with a substantial analytical advantage over their conference rivals. Preseason projections placed High Point 61st nationally in KenPom, 68th in Bart Torvik, and 63rd in EvanMiya, with no other Big South team ranked inside the top 190 across those three systems. The combination of Cam'Ron Fletcher, CJ Brown, Jason Rivera Torres, and Isaac Garrett gives High Point an unusually talented and versatile roster for the conference.
High Point's efficiency from the 2025–26 season provides further support for the program's championship outlook and our college basketball predictions backing them. The Panthers finished with an adjusted net efficiency rating of +11.9 points per 100 possessions, supported by an adjusted offensive efficiency of 118.5 and defensive efficiency of 106.6. They also committed turnovers on just 12.9% of their possessions while forcing opponents into turnovers on 22.3% of theirs.
Presbyterian represents a legitimate threat because of its roster continuity, while Winthrop's offensive potential and tournament experience make the Eagles dangerous in a single-elimination format. However, High Point's superior preseason efficiency projections, depth, and combination of returning contributors and incoming talent provide the most convincing championship case. The Panthers are our prediction to win the 2027 Big South tournament and secure the conference's NCAA Tournament invitation.
Tournament Format
The bottom two seeds must compete in an additional opening-round game, making regular-season positioning especially important for teams near the bottom of the standings.
High Point's Talent
Four Panthers earned preseason All-Big South recognition, creating significant matchup challenges for conference opponents.
Roster Continuity
With 11 returning letterwinners, the Blue Hose could benefit from established chemistry against opponents incorporating numerous transfers.
Neutral Site Tourney
The tournament takes place in Johnson City, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final scheduled on consecutive days, emphasizing roster depth and recovery.
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