Winthop Preview

Do not allow Winthrop's 6-5 record to fool you. This is probably the best team Miami has faced since beating two very good teams (Providence and VCU) in Puerto Rico last month. The Eagles made the NCAAs last season and beat Notre Dame in the first round. The previous season they had taken Tennessee to the brink in a dramatic game. This team has more experience and seasoned players than Miami, and even this season despite the five losses they have played some superb teams like Ole Miss close on the road.

Winthrop has an excellent guard oriented offensive game but is weak inside as Taj McCullough who has been a big star the last few years is more perimeter oriented than your average big man. McCullough is very good from the wing, and of course Winthrop still has Chris Gaynor and Michael Jenkins as big scoring guards. All three stars for the Eagles are Seniors and all three have never ended a season outside the NCAA Tournament.

Miami on the other hand is just learning to win. This game will be a perfect test: NCAA Tournament type atmosphere: a 1/3 full arena with most fans rooting for the underdog (Winthrop) and more interested in the 2nd game. How the Hurricanes handle the adversity and Winthrop will tell is a lot about the rest of the season.

Personally I think Winthrop needs this game and will get it. They've been in these situations before and thrived whereas the current group of Miami players have almost always flopped as neutral site favorite in a must win game. (they however have not flopped as an underdog as we've seen in the last two ACC Tournaments) We will learn a lot about Miami tomorrow.