INDIANAPOLIS --- Gardner-Webb is far and away the leader in the Big South Conference in strength of schedule this season, entering this week ranked 23rd in the nation in the NCAA Men's Basketball RPI Rankings and sitting more than 100 spots ahead of the next closest Big South school.

The Runnin' Bulldogs have taken the court against some of the top teams in the nation, with early season opponents LSU (SEC), Seton Hall (Big East), Old Dominion (Conference USA) and No. 3 Arizona (Pac-12) all possessing RPIs ranked among the top 20.

Gardner-Webb has registered a pair of landmark victories this season, posting a road victory over College of Charleston before defeating Clemson in the opening round of the Paradise Jam for the program's first-ever win over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent. Upcoming foe Purdue of the Big Ten is also ranked, currently holding a 7-2 overall record and listed 108th in RPI.

Fellow Big South members Radford and High Point are both ranked in the top 150, listed at 124th and 137th, respectively. Coastal Carolina is close behind at 157th to round out the Big South schools in the top 200.

Gardner-Webb returns to the court on Saturday when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Southern Conference foe Furman at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena.