Previewing Winthrop

2009 Scouting Report / 2009 Game Plan / 2010 Scouting Report / 2010 Game Plan
2010 Stats (pdf)
2010 Roster
2010 Schedule

This is unfortunate.

On paper, the Eagles are as impotent as Elon, but considering how that game didn't go so well for us, I'll try to put things more gently.  Winthrop is a pretty tall team, but they've not been able to translate that into any sort of success offensively, be it in terms of offensive boards, free throw attempts, or point production in the paint.  The situation has no choice but to get better for this team.  Let's hope that doesn't start on Tuesday.

Starters:

Reggie Middleton (6-1, 190) -- Takes more shots than any other starter but is third on the team in scoring thanks to horrible shooting inside and out.  Solid assist rate, outstanding steal rate.

Andre Jones (6-2, 190) -- Can't make twos, can't make threes.  This is a theme.

Mantoris Robinson (6-5, 205) -- By Winthrop standards, he was quite good in 2009, at least from two, where he hit nearly 52% of his attempts.  He turned the ball over a ton and hit just 11-of-45 three-point attempts, though.  Decent rebounder at both ends and a very good defender.  It's a good thing he can play D, because he's been slumping at the offensive end.

Matt Morgan (6-9, 235) -- Easily the most effective scorer amongst the starters, but no where near the most frequent shooter.  Good offensive rebounder and shot blocker.

Andy Buechert (6-10, 235) -- Protects the ball better and gets to the line more often than any other starter.  Also the Eagles' best rebounder.  It'd be really helpful if he could manage to shoot better than 42.6% from the field.

Bench:

Justin Burton (5-10, 165), Robbie Dreher (6-4, 185), Gideon Gamble (6-7, 186), Charles Corbin (6-7, 220).  Burton, Gamble, and Corbin take an above average proportion of shots when they're on the court.  Not one of the three is shooting better than 35%. Dreher and Corbin are well under 30% for the year, microcosms of the team's dreadful start.  Burton and Corbin figure to start improving at some point...if not, continue abandoning ship, Eagles fans.

Gregg Marshall's Winthrop legacy was defense, and it was this side of the ball that was primarily responsible for the school's seven Big South Conference titles this decade.  Their defensive efficiency plummeted in 2009, coach Randy Peele's second season, and the Eagles missed the NCAAs for the first time since 2004.

At this point, Peele seems to have Winthrop back on track.  But if they can't keep turning opponents over on the regular, another fade could be imminent.  Marshall's last few Winthrop teams were good across the board defensively.  Peele's group is considerably more flimsy, to say the least.

The Pomeroy Predictor likes NC State by 15.