Coach Gregg Marshall (CHOAD-Charleston Had Only A Day) rattled Roy Williams and the Tarheels tonight losing only by 7 in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Charlotte, N.C. Winthrop has knocked off a few big names in recent basketball memory: Clemson, Marquette, Georgia, Missouri and Providence to name a few, and with 4 returning starters for the Eagles, it wasn't that big of a surprise they led by 8 at the half. Then again, any team (Coached by Roy Williams or not) that turns over the ball 14 times in the first half is going to be trailing when they head into the locker room.
The Heels turned things around in the second half:
Baby Heel Marcus Ginyard finally learned to play some 'D' and shut down Torrell Martin who'd shot 6 of 8 from behind the arc in the first half, but was limited to only 1 for 7 in the second half. All of the Heels stepped up their 'D' in the second half causing 14 turnovers for the Eagles. Sophomore, Tyler Hansbrough kept Roy from losing his cool on the side-lines ending with 20-points and 10-boards. Wayne Ellington put 13 on the board and Brandon Wright electrified the floor with his 12-points.
The Eagles put up good numbers against the Heels and I am sure that other teams are taking note. Martin finished with 25-points, Michael Jenkins knocked back 15-points despite needing medical attention at the half and Craig Bradshaw finished with 14-points. After watching Winthrop play it is easy to see why the College wanted him so bad, but with 4-returning starters, a convincing wife and Winthrop Coliseum having a capacity of 6,100 for a school that only has an enrollment of 6,500, I guess it is also easy to see why Coach (CHOAD) Gregg changed his mind.
(Photo compliments of Winthrop Eagles web-site)
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