ESPN Men's Basketball

It's college basketball preview season, and you know what that means: tons of preseason info to get you primed for 2013-14. But what do you really need to know? Each day for the next month, we'll highlight the most important, interesting or just plain amusing thing each conference has to offer this season -- from great teams to thrilling players to wild fans and anything in between. Up next: the noble speed freaks of Virginia Military Institute.

Let's be clear from the start: Stylistically speaking, there is no right or wrong way to play the game of basketball. There are only wins and losses. Everything else -- from a coach's philosophy to aesthetic preference to good old-fashioned matchup strategy -- is only so much interior detail.

In other words, up-tempo basketball does not equal winning basketball. Or vice versa. There are strategic advantages and disadvantages, and personnel is the key, but no system is so good it can succeed of its own merits alone. For fans, everything is subjective. Some people really love slow, deliberate, physical basketball. Others saw their hoops holy grail in Phoenix in 2005 and walk the Earth like Jules from "Pulp Fiction," casting about desperately for anything that might vaguely approximate it.

I'll admit it: I am in the latter camp. For every magnificent fiber of this sport, college basketball in 2013 can be too slow, too plodding, too careful -- smothered by helicopter coaches deathly afraid of leaving their livelihoods to chance. When a coach openly defies this trend, it's worth taking notice. When a coach does so, and then doesn't win all that much, and then keeps on doing it anyway -- well, that's when you've really got my attention.

That coach exists. His name is Duggar Baucom. He coaches the Virginia Military Institute Keydets. And his teams play fast. Always. Win or lose. That's all you really need to know.

Just in case, let's demonstrate: Since 2005-06, when Baucom came from Division II Tusculum College, VMI has finished outside the top 10 nationally in adjusted tempo only once, in his first season. To the right is a list of VMI's adjusted tempo figures -- and their won-lost records -- since.

In the past seven seasons, as part of Baucom's strategy, VMI has focused its efforts on turning opponents over and attempting to win the game on offense. This always leads to two things. The first is awful defense; the Keydets have finished a season ranked higher than 300th defensively only twice in the past eight years. The second? Thoroughly entertaining basketball!

In fact, that's the real marvel here. VMI has a system. That system is a joy to watch, but it does not yield consistent victories. VMI's coach has stuck with that immensely enjoyable system even as it has failed to bear consistent fruit -- and risked becoming a sideshow -- because he thinks it’s the best way his team can play basketball.

Which is exactly why you've got to, got to, got to see VMI. The Keydets may not always be successful, even in the forgiving context of the Big South. But they are guaranteed to thrill -- for better and for worse.

Jeremy Atkinson scored 18 points to lead UNC Asheville to an 80-64 victory over VMI, and the Bulldogs capture the Big South Championship.

Before we get to the Blue Ribbon team-by-team previews for the Big South, here is Eamonn Brennan's quick wind sprint through the league:


Blue Ribbon team breakdowns:

Campbell
Charleston Southern
Coastal Carolina
Gardner-Webb
High Point
Liberty
Radford
UNC Asheville
VMI
Winthrop

Editor's Note: Presbyterian is not yet eligible for the postseason and therefore did not get previewed by the Blue Ribbon Yearbook.

More Big South content:

• Video: Paul Biancardi interviews new Radford coach Mike Jones.
• Video: Biancardi interviews veteran Coastal Carolina coach Cliff Ellis.
• Biancardi gives the lowdown on the top incoming freshmen in the Big South.

An inside look at the numbers behind Tuesday's top performances:

1. St. John’s just keeps getting it done. On Tuesday, it was an 80-68 road win against Marquette. The Red Storm has now won five of its last six, including wins over Duke and Connecticut and road wins over Marquette and Cincinnati. No one has played a bigger role than Dwight Hardy. After 28 points last night, the senior is averaging 25.3 over his last six games. Having played the second-toughest schedule in the nation, St. John’s is now 15th in the InsideRPI. With DePaul, Seton Hall and South Florida still to come, 11 wins in the Big East is well within reach.

2. Villanova’s James Bell almost doubled his season scoring total in Tuesday’s 60-57 win at Seton Hall. The freshman scored 21 points after entering the game with just 31 on the season. Connecting on 4-of-6 from 3-point range, he more than doubled his previous career-high of 10. Prior to this, he’d only appeared in nine Big East games thus far, totaling 12 points. With Corey Stokes injured, Bell was a surprise candidate to pick up the scoring load. However, the Wildcats received a sloppy game from guards Corey Fisher and Maalik Wayns, who combined for 12 of their season-high 22 turnovers.

3. With 12-3 VCU hosting 13-2 George Mason, Tuesday’s CAA matchup was one of the most highly anticipated games of the night. That is, until VCU forgot to show up at home. The Rams shot just 29.6 percent in the first half, ultimately losing 71-51. VCU’s starters combined to score only 22 points on 22.6 percent from the field. Meanwhile, George Mason set a school record with its 12th straight win, the longest active streak in the nation. For a player who didn’t hit a field goal, Luke Hancock had a great all-around game. Though 0-for-5 from the field, he went 10-for-10 from the line. He finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

4. Michigan State came up short against Ohio State despite a great shooting night. The Spartans shot a season-best 57.4 percent from the field, but still lost. In fact, it’s their highest shooting percentage in a loss in the past 15 seasons. They are now 69-3 when shooting over 55 percent in those years. It’s the second time this season that Ohio State has withstood a great shooting night for a win. Back in November, Florida shot 61.2 percent but still lost by 18 points.

5. Several players put up career-best scoring games to carry their teams on Tuesday. Denzel Bowles scored 40 points as James Madison handed Towson its 15th straight loss. He’s just the seventh player in school history to reach that total. VMI came up with a big conference win over Liberty thanks to 39 from Austin Kenon, who was 8-for-16 from 3-point range. Adrian Oliver’s 35 against Montana State wasn’t a career-high, but it did lead San Jose State to a 77-73 win. Oliver is averaging 28.3 ppg in four games this month.