How will the Eagles separate itself from this league of newbies all trying to put themselves on the basketball map?  Two words!  Gregg Marshall!   

The Eagles took a chance on this confident young coach who was born just down the road in Greenville South Carolina and are hoping it will pay off.  He has been the top assistant at College of Charleston just up the road and helped put that program on the D-1 map.  The previous coach, Neild Gordon, had given the Eagles validity with a terrific NAIA season two years ago but the administration decided to go with a fresh start as they were jumping into the deep end of the pool.  He has the pedigree getting his ears wet as assistant to legendary John Kresse just down the road in Charleston. Marshall has a philosophy that includes defense, rebounding and great point guard play.  Now he just has to find HIS players to play his system and that will be no easy task. Marshall will beat the bushes of the entire State of South Carolina (and surrounding areas) to find his type of players whch basically means kids ‘that will come at you like a Junkyard Dog!’

Expectations are contained for the Eagles but they do have a solid out of conference schedule.  Games with the likes of the aforementioned College of Charleston and many other lower level regional teams should help the win total if this team is halfway good.  But the big moves are games against in state powerhouse South Carolina (from the SEC) and the ACC’s Wake Forest should not only help fill Winthrop Coliseum (yes, both are at home) but obviously help in recruiting as they will at least be televised regionally.  Television is not something this league gets too much time on and jumping into this brave new world any recognition will help build this program for the future.  Of course, you must be competitive or that publicity will have the opposite effect so Marshall’s biggest job this year is putting out a good product which hopefully can compete for this league’s berth in the national tournament.  Marshall has a huge amount of recruits but also understands he has a solid nucleus of players coming back who were extremely competitive the last two years albeit at the NAIA level.  Who are these guys that Marshall will rely on to get the job done in Rock Hill? 

Leading the way will be a solid group of forwards who will be as talented as any in the Big South.  This group dominated the NAIA ranks last year rotating in four guys who can all score.  Foremost of these is sophomore Charlie Brunson. Brunson is a big guy (6’8 220) who can score and rebound.  He can play.  This Great Falls South Carolina product is terrific down on the blocks as he anticipates scoring as well as you are going to see.  He does not take bad shots and makes most of the ones he takes.  He did miss a few games due to some issues transferring in the new portal but when he became eligible he was the best post player on the team. He is the guy you send it in to down low that you rotate your offense around.  In the old days you had to have one of these guys.  It won’t be the case so much this year especially with Marshall’s motion offense but it doesn’t hurt!  He will start but there is much competition at these spots for the Eagles. 

Arguably the most talented forward, at least on the offensive end, is Sophomore Fred McKinnon.  This wing (6’6 185) started most of the season at small forward (after he set out a few games after transferring from a Florida JC) and can really score.  This Floridian is a slasher who loves getting to the hoop and has a nice mid-range game.  He does not board that great and his defense is suspect at times so he sometimes gets in the doghouse but his offense is too good to keep on the pine.  Even new coach Marshall understands that talent supersedes everything else in basketball.  Fellow Sophomore Greg Washington played in almost every game as is a terrific role player off the bench.  He is a true three who loves to run the court and finish and at 6’5 180 is a true wing.  His offense is inconsistent but dynamic but he fits the team’s need (or any team for that matter) for instant offense off the bench.  Yet another sophomore, Tim Raxter, is also in the mix but is stuck behind Brunson at the four.  Raxter is a 6’7 210 pound home town kid who is extremely popular around these parts for obvious reasons.  He is nowhere near as talented as Brunson but when he comes in he brings a blue collar attitude any home crowd would love but especially one where he grew up in.  He might not get many minutes but he brings it.  Dan McQueen, Rocky Morris, Kenny Smith (no not that one) and Andy McKoy are battling for the scraps after all of these guys were on the JV last year.  McKoy has the best shot as he led that squad in scoring and boards and has some size at 6’7.  Still, with Marshall bringing in his own recruits all of these guys are in jeopardy of losing minutes as the new coach builds his own program.   

The battle for the center spot is similar to the forward though perhaps not as deep.  Sophomore Allen Washington is the incumbent but is undersized at 6’5.  Washington was recruited to play for the Gamecocks of South Carolina but soon realized he was way too small for the SEC and transferred here.  He was superb last year, a demon on the boards and on both ends of the court, but that size thing might hurt in D-1.  He is by far the best big man on the roster though there are a pair of 6’11 kids who will push him.  Fraternal twins Ronnie and Donnie Creamer give Marshall some options down low though both are projects for now.  Still, you can’t teach 6’11!  Marshall does have a couple of true big men coming to Rock Hill so there will be more competition for time here as well!  

The front court might not be Clemson but it is solid but the back court has much room for improvement especially jumping up to D-1.  A couple of Sophomores come into the year as the starting backcourt.  Rick Riese and Bennie Bennett are a solid combo who look to lead the team into the Big South after good first years in the NAIA.  The duo are good leaders and huge crowd favorites but are a little lacking in the skills that Marshall wants.  Not that they are not good defenders they are (Riese is a world class pickpocket) but Marshall wanted more quickness especially at the point and more size on the wings plus guards that have the ability to score from behind the arc which is not this duo’s strength.  Riese barely scores and though he is a terrific passer will be hard-pressed to keep his job.  Bennett has a better chance coming off a terrific where he was second on the team in scoring and assists.  This 6’1 165 pounder from down the road in Clover (Huey anyone) is undersized as a two but has the skills for the point.  Would not be surprised to see Marshall move him to the one but his defense must get better for that.  Mike Gaither and Shaun Wise will challenge for minutes after having solid years on the JV.  Gaither is another undersized (6’1) hometown two guard who gave the varsity a lift after a late season callup.  Wise is a 5’11 true point who led the JV in several categories and could start at some point.  Sean Smith and Ted Houbt are also in the mix.  Smith is more of a defensive player who Marshall should like but Houbt is a 6’3 combo guard who can light it up.  He only played in 10 game last year but he showed he can play and will challenge for time unless his defense has not improved from last year.  Offense is not an issue. 

The Winthrop Eagles are doing things the hard way down in Rock Hill.  They are starting fresh with young players under new Coach Marshall.   He is trying to develop a team first attitude.  In any other league his plan for success might have been a three or four year plan but in this new league things will be expedited.  The Eagles have as good of a chance as any Big South team to win the conference tourney and get that dance ticket.  Yes, even this new league will get to go dancing this year as an almost for sure playin 16 seed but they will be there.  The fans of basketball crazy Rock Hill in the hills of South Carolina near the border of North Carolina are in full support of this team and they are building for more than just a one year run.  Marshall has barely any Juco guys on his roster and is bringing in some real D-1 talent.  There is plenty of that around these parts even if it has to trickle down through the ACC and Colonial to get to the Big South.  No matter.  All that matters is being competitive in whatever league you are and these Eagles from Winthrop will no doubt be that in the Big South!