The slipper still fits Winthrop
The Spokane Arena may be hosting some big-name programs, but one of the eight teams is a well-known NCAA Cinderella contender: Winthrop.
Coach Gregg Marshall has been at the school nine seasons and this is his team’s seventh NCAA invitation. The Eagles’ No. 11 seeding is their highest, topping their previous best of No. 14.
Winthrop (28-4) has yet to win an NCAA game, but several times has come close to pulling off an opening-round upset.
Last year, the Eagles lost in the closing seconds to Tennessee. Two years ago, they led Gonzaga in the final minutes before falling.
Like fellow mid-major Gonzaga, Winthrop may no longer be considered a darkhorse in this year’s field.
The Eagles are currently ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press poll. It is the first Top 25 ranking in the history of the school and the Big South Conference.
Winthrop recently won its third straight league championship behind seniors Phillip Williams, Craig Bradshaw, and Torrell Martin. The Eagles have won 18 straight games.
Winthrop’s NCAA resume this season includes wins over Mississippi State, Old Dominion, and Missouri State. The school’s four losses have come against Top 25 teams on the road: Wisconsin (in overtime); Texas A&M; North Carolina; and Maryland.
The Eagles have drawn No. 20 Notre Dame (24-7) in the opening round. The Irish haven’t been to the NCAA tournament since 2003, making Winthrop the tournament-tested team of the two.
It’s clear they aren’t sneaking up on the Irish.
“We do know in Winthrop we play, at least from me listening to TV and watching… the George Mason of this year. That’s what I’ve been hearing,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said in a press conference. “So, it will probably be the only (6 vs. 11 seed) game where we’ll be the underdog.”
Winthrop assistant Paul Molinari was an aide to Rollie Massimino at Villanova, including the school’s 1988 Elite Eight run.
Cardiac kids
Miami of Ohio is also coming to Spokane, thanks to a dramatic – and controversial – buzzer-beating 3-pointer which was featured on Sportscenter on Saturday.
Senior guard Doug Penno banked in the game-winner against Akron to win the Mid-American Conference championship game.
Then Penno and his teammates had to survive an officials’ review of a timekeeping error which resulted in .6 seconds being put back on the clock. Regardless, the RedHawks held on for the win.
The Redhawks (18-14) will be underdogs to Pacific-10 Conference tournament champion Oregon (26-7) in the first round at the Arena.