The Winthrop men’s basketball team secured two double-digit wins against Presbyterian on Jan. 19 and 20, giving the team 15 wins and zero losses on the season. Over the weekend, the women’s team split a pair of games against Hampton, improving its record to 3-10.
While the men’s victories were a shock to no one, the women winning the second game of a double-header was a pleasant surprise; it’s something they hadn’t done against any of their first four conference opponents this season.
On the other hand, the men’s team has now won six times on day two of a double-header this season. In fact, Head Men’s Basketball Coach Pat Kelsey said his team has strived since the start of the season to have the same energy and hunger to win on day two of each series as they do on day one.
“We just said we’re going to try to be the number one day-two program in our conference,” he said Friday on 730 The Game, ESPN’s Charlotte radio station.
“It’s a heck of a challenge and it’s kind of a chess match a little bit where their coaching staff and our coaching staff are both pouring over the tape and looking at what things hurt them, what things they did well, [and] what adjustments they could make for the next day.”
Making adjustments is key to winning on day two. It’s also important to maintain a high level of energy, though that’s not as easy as it may seem.
“You don’t sleep for two days,” Kelsey said. “You just run on adrenaline – almost like you do in the conference tournament. Then usually you have that day off – or the players have that day off – the next day and that’s when you realize you’ve got to catch up on a couple hours of sleep.”
Though the teams have experienced significantly different seasons thus far, both want to finish strong. While the men are looking to make an NCAA Tournament run, the women still have a lot to prove. A day two victory was a good place for them to start.
“Great team effort by everyone. Feels good to get a win,” Head Women’s Basketball Coach Semeka Randall-Lay posted on Twitter.
Hosting Charleston Southern this Friday and Saturday, Randall-Lay’s team will have a great opportunity to boost their win total. The Buccaneers are 4-6 in conference play and are currently on a three-game losing streak.
If Winthrop’s women could sweep – or at least win one game against Charleston Southern – they would surpass the team’s win total from 2017-2018 (the last time the team was under the direction of a new coach) and potentially move up in the conference standings.
Also playing in Rock Hill this week, the men’s team hosts UNC Asheville on Thursday and Friday. The first game of the double-header will be broadcast on ESPNU, marking the third nationally televised Big South matchup that Pat Kelsey’s squad has appeared in this season.
Two wins would give the undefeated Eagles a 17-0 record, but no matter the outcome of the first game, you can bet Kelsey’s men will give it their all in game two.
