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NCAA Basketball: Ranking state of South Carolina programs for 2019-20

By Donovan Darlington

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 30: Head coach Frank Martin of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks with the media during a press conference for the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 30: Head coach Frank Martin of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks with the media during a press conference for the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 16: Members of the Winthrop Eagles marching band cheer during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Butler Bulldogs at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MARCH 16: Members of the Winthrop Eagles marching band cheer during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Butler Bulldogs at BMO Harris Bradley Center on March 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

6. Winthrop – Big South

Unlike the other three schools from the state of South Carolina that are in the Big South Conference, Winthrop actually has a shot at winning the league. Winthrop last won the conference and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament back in 2017. Ever since, the Winthrop Eagles have remained in the top half of the conference, but were just unable to do what was needed to reclaim it.

From last year’s squad, Winthrop is without their two leading scorers. Forward Josh Ferguson was third on the team in scoring last season, averaging 11.1 ppg. Ferguson is now a senior and he will be one of the main guys that can step up to take the team to greater heights this year.

One thing that Winthrop has to look forward to is having 6’9 center, D.J. Burns, in their rotation. D.J. Burns was at Tennessee a season ago and was ranked by 247 Sports as the 108th best player in the 2018 class. Burns, a native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, decided to head hope to play for the Eagles. He has been granted immediate eligibility and I have no doubt that he will be a huge threat in the Big South Conference immediately.

Things are looking great for Winthrop so far in the preseason. They are definitely going to be a great team and a solid contender for an NCAA Tournament berth from the Big South. I do not feel like they are on the same level as South Carolina, Clemson, or the other strong Mid-Majors of the state, but they are definitely something for college basketball fans within the state to be excited about.

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