Big South Unveils 2020-21 Men's Basketball Conference Schedule
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The Big South Conference revealed its 2020-21 men’s basketball composite league schedule Wednesday afternoon. For the first time, each member will play a 20-game double round-robin schedule -- and all games will be back-to-back contests against the same opponent at the same location on consecutive days.
This year’s schedule format has been adjusted to limit travel and help ensure the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff. In lieu of a traditional home-and-home series format, teams will play alternate home and away dates, and have a minimum of three days in-between scheduled contests. The conference season will commence with 10 teams playing from Dec. 9-22 before the schedule resumes Dec. 30 through Feb. 19. The schedule, which is subject to adjustments, includes a bye week for each squad.
Contingencies were built into the schedule to allow flexibility for completing the season in full, as any games impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic could be made up on various alternate dates, including the week of Feb. 20-27. In addition, teams will need just seven players to start a two-game conference series, while the second game of the series can begin with six players. Teams will also have the option to start a conference series with less than the required minimum number of seven players.
Again this season, the Big South will have six national television appearances on ESPNU as part of the league’s annual “Wildcard” series. The six dates will be announced at a later date when finalized.
The NCAA announced that Wednesday, Nov. 25, will be the first date of competition of the 2020-21 college basketball season. Division I men’s basketball teams can schedule 24 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to three games; 25 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to two games; or 25 regular-season games if a team does not participate in a multiple-team event.
The 2021 Hercules Tires Big South Men’s Basketball Championship will be a home-site/earned seed format. The current schedule features first round games at the No. 6, 7 and 8 seeds on Tuesday, March 2. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played at the No. 1 seed on Thursday-Friday, March 4-5, while the highest remaining seed will host the championship game on Sunday, March 7.
The regular-season and conference tournament schedules are subject to change. The 2020-21 Big South Men’s Basketball Conference schedule and team-by-team listings are available here in .pdf format. Confirmed game times, the Big South’s complete TV package and any revised tie-breaking format will be available at a later date.