NCAA Tournament Play-In Game: Winthrop vs. A-PB To See Who Duke Blasts

The play-in game is no championship caliber match-up.

It is where no-name schools are pitted against one another and enthusiastically participate in a game aired on national television knowing that if they advance they will face certain elimination.

You will see this nowhere but in sports; two enemies facing off against one another, the winner of which is willing and eager to face certain annihilation against the next opponent. This game is a battle of beauty; it is the embodiment of the American dream.

To be given a chance to succeed is what many of us can ever hope for.

To date, no Play-In game winner has ever defeated a No. 1 seed in the opening round. As an interesting side-note, only two No. 1 seeds have ever gone on to win the National Championship (2002 Maryland, 2005 North Carolina). The victor’s opponent will be the South Region’s Duke Blue Devils, Friday in Jacksonville, Florida.

This year’s Play-In matchup involves the Winthrop Eagles (19-13) against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (17-15) which will be held tonight (March 16th) at 7:30 in Dayton, Ohio

The Schools: Winthrop Eagles

Where they are From:
Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Student Body:
6292 Under-Post Graduates.

Known For:
Is the top rated school in South Carolina and in 2006, it was ranked the 8th best Public University in the Southeast by US News and World Report. The main campus has served as the location for numerous movies and television shows.

The Schools: Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions

Where they are From:
Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Student Body:
3332 Under-Post Graduates.

Known For:
Rapper Big Tuck. The school is also recognized as a leading research institution in aquaculture. It offers Arkansas's only complete program the said field.

Winthrop’s Previous Tournament Appearances

The Winthrop Eagles will be the first team to compete in the Play-In game twice. Winthrop has appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments (including 2010) and has a combined record of 1-8. Its sole victory came over Notre Dame in 2007.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Previous Tournament Appearances

After an 0-11 start to their season where they toured 10 states in two months, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions finished with a 17-15 record and were granted their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Style of Play

There are similarities to the teams' styles of play. Both are defensive-minded and neither are good at shooting the ball.

On the defensive side Winthrop holds opponents to 61.4 points per game and a .397 shooting percentage. Arkansas-Pine Bluff limits foes to 64.7 points and .407 shooting.

The Eagles will try to dictate the pace of the game with their good half-court defense. While Winthrop has athletes they don't play well in up-tempo games against skilled offensive opponents. It would be hard to label Arkansas-Pine Bluff as such. In a battle against a weak offensive team Winthrop could be dangerous.

One advantage Arkansas-Pine Bluff should try to utilize is their excellent rebounding game, particularly on the offensive glass. That might be the difference in a game where the winning team might not need more than 50 points.

Winthrop Key Players

Reggie Middleton is the Eagles' only double-figure scorer. He averaged 10.3 points per game during the season. He's been hot of late and averaged 16.3 points per game during the Eagles' Big South tournament run, including a career-high 26 points in the quarterfinal win over Liberty.

Matt Morgan (9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds per game) has become an impressive inside-outside threat at center, one capable of scoring on the block or hitting a 17-foot jumper.

Mantoris Robinson is the two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Year, and his length and defensive discipline allow him to take an opponent's best player out of rhythm.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff Key Players

Terrance Calvin, who led the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game and drilled a game-winner in the SWAC semifinals, is the only player who qualifies for the go-to guy on the Golden Lions.

Savalance Thompson is second on the squad at 10.4 points per game also hits 37 percent of his 3-pointers.

Lebaron Weathers averages 10.1 points per game while Tavaris Washington contributes 9.4, a number which went up to 11.2 in conference games.

Winthrop’s Head Coach

Since 2008 Randy Peele has a 52-44 overall record (31-19 Big South) since taking over as head coach. He has led the Eagles to one Big South season title and two Big South tournament titles.

Winthrop has appeared in two NCAA Tournaments and has one 20-win season under Peele's leadership.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Head Coach

In 2008, George Ivory was named the Head Coach of the Golden Lions. Prior to the start of his first season the Golden Lions were picked 9th in the SWAC’s preseason poll, but UAPB went on to finish in 4th place in the SWAC during their 2008-09 campaign. It was its first winning season.

In 2010, they won their Conference Tournament after Ivory led the team to a 17-15 finish and their first NCAA Bid.

Big Bold Prediction

There are 85.5% odds on Winthrop winning, but I like Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

From what I’ve read and seen they want to win more. They’ve gone on such a good run it would be unlikely to see it go to waste, and I don’t think it will.

61-54 A-PB Victory. Let the Blue Devils Quake in Fear!