Coastal Carolina claimed top honors in the Big South poll, garnering 11 first-place votes. Radford, last yearÆs Conference Champion, was picked second and Liberty finished in third place. Winthrop was fourth and High Point was fifth in the voting, which is conducted by the League’s head men’s soccer coaches and sports information directors. Elon, last yearÆs runner-up was sixth, and Charleston Southern was chosen to finish seventh. UNC Asheville rounded out the poll, being selected to finish eighth. Birmingham-Southern College, which is making the move from NAIA to NCAA Division I, will play a full league schedule. However, the PanthersÆ games will not count in the regular-season standings until the 2003 season, when they will also become eligible for the menÆs soccer tournament. 2001 Big South Preseason Poll
| School | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Totals |
| Co. Carolina (11) | 88 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 114 |
| Radford (2) | 16 | 42 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 97 |
| Liberty (1) | 8 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| Winthrop (1) | 8 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 76 |
| High Point (1) | 8 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 71 |
| Elon | 0 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 63 |
| Ch. Southern | 0 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 43 |
| UNC Asheville | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 32 |