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Posted by Mark Barnes Mar 18, 2007 |
What is March Madness without Cinderella, dancing her way across the hardwoods of the NCAA Tournament?
In 2006, she was George Mason, who made a Final Four run -- just the second eleven seed ever to make it that far. We wonder if 2007's Cinderella might be the Winthrop Eagles.
Winthrop has all the makings of this year's NCAA Tournament hearthrop.
- Winthrop hails from the Big South Conference, a mid-major conference that few people West of the Carolinas have ever heard of.
- The Eagles have talented stars, Torrell Martin and Michael Jenkins, that America can easily fall in love with.
- Winthrop has a handsome, young head coach, Gregg Marshall, whom many major college basketball programs will no doubt be calling after the NCAA Tournament (Michigan is one likely suitor).
- The Eagles have a remarkable 19-game winning streak.
- And Winthrop plays the kind of game that college basketball and NCAA Tournament fans love. The Eagles run, defend and shoot the three-pointer as well as just about any top seed in the tournament.
After a stunning upset of high-flying Notre Dame in the first round -- a game that saw the Eagles build a double-digit lead, blow it, then hang on with some clutch shooting down the stretch -- fans are noticing and the madness is building.
One more win over another favorite, and Winthrop will be well on its way to dancing with the princes at the 2007 NCAA Tournament ball.