Mid-major Basketball power rankings: Dayton, Gonzaga and ETSU rises up
24. Winthrop Eagles (23-10, 15-3 Big South)
It didn’t look too great for the Eagles to start out the season, going 2-7 against D-I opponents. They did upset Saint Mary’s in Moraga but that was viewed as more of a disaster for the Gaels than a preview of what Winthrop could do.
Yet once conference play started, it was clear that Winthrop was a cut above almost everyone else. With the exception of Radford, the high-scoring offense for the Eagles ran through everyone else to finish tied for first in the league standings. The team may not have an individual that stands out but the depth of Winthrop is unreal. Eight players for the Eagles average between 6.9-13.6 ppg, led by senior guard Hunter Hale at the top.
Related Story. Big South Tournament preview. light
The Big South Conference Tournament has already started, with Winthrop already advancing to the finals. They dropped over 100 points to beat USC Upstate in the quarterfinals, before defeating Gardner-Webb in the semis on Friday. And they’ll be taking on No. 5 seed Hampton, who upset Radford in the semis thanks to 36 points from Jermaine Marrow. These two teams split their regular-season matchups, with the Eagles scoring 116 points in regulation their victory. Just one more win and they’ll be in the NCAA Tournament.