Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 1, 2004 3:07:05 GMT -5
Winthrop aims higher
Simply making NCAAs isn't enough anymore
DENNY SEITZ
Staff Writer
Three years ago, Winthrop volleyball players celebrated when their first-round opponent in the NCAA Tournament was announced during a live broadcast on ESPN.
The all-sports network still announces the pairings live every year.
But simply hearing their name called as a participant in the NCAAs isn't enough for the Eagles anymore.
"The first year, the players were wondering if we'd get to go to Hawaii (a first-round site that year) to play," head coach Joel McCartney said. "The focus was that we made it into the tournament.
"It's different now. Now, our goal is winning."
The Eagles travel to Knoxville, Tenn., Friday to face Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. No Big South team has ever won a game or match in NCAA play.
The Aggies are 18-8 and ranked 18th nationally. Winthrop is 31-3 and ranked 48th.
Match time is 7:30 p.m.
The winner of Friday's match will face the winner of the match between Tennessee (30-2) and Eastern Kentucky (27-4) Saturday at 4 p.m. That winner goes to Minneapolis Dec. 10-11 for regional play.
"It's not a novelty anymore," said McCartney, the Big South Conference coach of the year.
"Now, we're looking to take our program to a higher level."
The Eagles won 20 straight matches before losing last week to Georgia Tech. They faced Georgia Tech in an unusually scheduled contest -- after the regular season and conference tournament ended.
It's the second straight year McCartney has scheduled a game after all but championship teams have ended their campaigns.
The purpose is to keep the team fresh instead of having players get rusty waiting on word about their NCAA tournament foe.
"We needed something," McCartney said.
Last year, the Eagles faced Tennessee in a nonconference game after the Big South Conference Tournament.
It helped them be competitive the following week in the NCAA Tournament against Florida A&M, even though they lost in three straight games.
McCartney hopes for better results this time.
Winthrop's 48th place in the latest RPI ratings is the highest any conference team has been ranked. The RPI ranking is based on a team's record and the strength of its opponents.
"It needs to carry forward now," McCartney said.
*From the Charlotte Observer
Me thinks Winthrop will give the Aggies all they can handle.
Simply making NCAAs isn't enough anymore
DENNY SEITZ
Staff Writer
Three years ago, Winthrop volleyball players celebrated when their first-round opponent in the NCAA Tournament was announced during a live broadcast on ESPN.
The all-sports network still announces the pairings live every year.
But simply hearing their name called as a participant in the NCAAs isn't enough for the Eagles anymore.
"The first year, the players were wondering if we'd get to go to Hawaii (a first-round site that year) to play," head coach Joel McCartney said. "The focus was that we made it into the tournament.
"It's different now. Now, our goal is winning."
The Eagles travel to Knoxville, Tenn., Friday to face Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. No Big South team has ever won a game or match in NCAA play.
The Aggies are 18-8 and ranked 18th nationally. Winthrop is 31-3 and ranked 48th.
Match time is 7:30 p.m.
The winner of Friday's match will face the winner of the match between Tennessee (30-2) and Eastern Kentucky (27-4) Saturday at 4 p.m. That winner goes to Minneapolis Dec. 10-11 for regional play.
"It's not a novelty anymore," said McCartney, the Big South Conference coach of the year.
"Now, we're looking to take our program to a higher level."
The Eagles won 20 straight matches before losing last week to Georgia Tech. They faced Georgia Tech in an unusually scheduled contest -- after the regular season and conference tournament ended.
It's the second straight year McCartney has scheduled a game after all but championship teams have ended their campaigns.
The purpose is to keep the team fresh instead of having players get rusty waiting on word about their NCAA tournament foe.
"We needed something," McCartney said.
Last year, the Eagles faced Tennessee in a nonconference game after the Big South Conference Tournament.
It helped them be competitive the following week in the NCAA Tournament against Florida A&M, even though they lost in three straight games.
McCartney hopes for better results this time.
Winthrop's 48th place in the latest RPI ratings is the highest any conference team has been ranked. The RPI ranking is based on a team's record and the strength of its opponents.
"It needs to carry forward now," McCartney said.
*From the Charlotte Observer
Me thinks Winthrop will give the Aggies all they can handle.
