A TICKET TO THE DANCE TEAM WINS BIG SOUTH, MAKES NCAA TOURNEY APPEARANCE


The 2016-17 men’s basketball team put together a season for the record books when it won the program’s 11th Big South Conference championship by beating Campbell University and earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. This marked the program’s 10th appearance and its first appearance since 2010.


NCAA Tournament


Leading up to the big game, Head Coach Pat Kelsey, who has led the program since 2012, appeared on several media outlets, including ESPN SportsCenter, to assure tournament watchers and teams that Winthrop was not afraid to face a big-name opponent.


Surrounded by hundreds of fans at the Winthrop Coliseum on Selection Sunday, the team found out it earned a 13th seed in the NCAA Tournament, which is tied for the second best tournament seeding in program history, and would face 4th seeded Butler University in the tournament’s first round in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 16.


The men’s basketball team captured the Big South Conference championship on March 5. The win earned the team an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Photo credit: Carlos Morales


The team put up a tough fight against the Bulldogs but ultimately ended up falling 76-64. Junior Xavier Cooks finished with a game-high 23 points and senior phenom Keon Johnson tallied 17 points. The Eagles’ season came to a close with a 26-7 record, recording the third most wins in program history for a single season.


“It’s been a very fun team to coach,” said Kelsey. “I told all those guys in the locker room that they have nothing to be ashamed of. They should keep their heads held high. They had a phenomenal season. In about six, seven months there will be a banner put back up in the Winthrop Coliseum, and this senior class has re- established Winthrop basketball to its rightful place as a force in Mid-Major basketball.”


JOHNSON BREAKS WINTHROP SCORING RECORD


Johnson, a sociology major from Mansfield, Ohio, broke several Winthrop records this season. During a Feb. 9 game against UNC Asheville, Johnson scored a career-high 40 points to become the program’s all-time leading scorer, passing the 1,850 points of Charles Brunson ’82. Johnson finished his career with 2,076 points. He also set the new single-season record with 102 three-pointers. Because of his stellar season, Johnson earned Big South Player of the Year honors and was named, along with Cooks, to the First Team All Big South. He also was named an Associated Press All- American Honorable Mention selection, becoming only the second Eagle to receive AP All-American recognition.


The Eagles compiled an impressive season and by doing so brought much national attention to the university during the team’s tournament run. USA Today called Winthrop a top 10 Cinderella team to watch. Alumni and supporters took to social media to express their pride in the team and in the university. And the basketball world again took notice of Winthrop as its team shined on the national stage.


Upper left: Junior Xavier Cooks scored a game-high 23 points during the Eagles’ loss to Butler in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Photo credit: Steve Gotter


Left: Senior Keon Johnson was presented with a basketball to commemorate his spot as the program’s all-time leading scorer. Head Coach Pat Kelsey, left, and Athletic Director Ken Halpin, right, presented Johnson with the ball. Photo credit: Jack Frost


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