Monday, March 11

ROCK HILL, SC–For the Winthrop fans who held those "We Want Duke" signs during the Eagles' first conference championship celebration four years ago, they are finally getting their wish as head coach Gregg Marshall and his 2002 Big South champions learned Sunday night they would be facing the Blue Devils in the first round of the South Region in Greenville, SC.

All of Winthrop's allotment of 350 tickets were sold in less than 24 hours as Eagle fever hit the Rock Hill campus.

Winthrop (19-11) will be a No. 16 seed for the second time in their four-year run of NCAA appearances.  The announcement during the CBS Sunday Selection Show was somewhat of a surprise as many basketball experts had predicted Winthrop would be placed in the opening round game in Dayton, Ohio, for the second straight year.  However, when the first pairings went up on the television screen pitting Maryland against the winner of the Siena/Alcorn State game, the players and fans attending Winthrop's Selection Sunday party let out with an immediate roar.

The Eagles have now earned a spot in the Big Dance all four years of Gregg Marshall's tenure after never having gone to the tournament in the previous 11 years as a NCAA Div. I member.  Winthrop also became the first school in NCAA history to capture a conference tournament championship four years in a row.  This past week they were joined in that accomplishment by Gonzaga, Arizona and Duke.

Winthrop and Duke will be meeting for the first time.  The Eagles got their first-ever win this season over an Atlantic Coast Conference school when they defeated Clemson 66-61 on Dec. 18 in Littlejohn Coliseum. 

Winthrop has been led this year by 6-6 senior forward Greg Lewis who averages 15.4 points and 10.2 rebounds.  The 2002 Big South Conference Player of the Year and Big South Championship Tournament MVP also ranks fourth in the nation with 18 double-doubles.  He is supported by 6-6 sophomore forward Tyrone Walker who averages 11.3 points and six rebounds while point guard Pierre Wooten is third in scoring at 9.3 points and leads the team in assists with 3.7 per game.  Senior center Marcus Stewart is averaging 8.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.