Big South Records
10 Big South Championships
9 NCAA Tournament Appearances
2013-14 Yearbook
Scott is a true power forward type at six-foot
eight-inches and shoots the ball very well. Kelsey
likes his combination of skill and size and says
“he has a nose for the ball from a rebounding
perspective.”
Davenport is more of a wing type forward with
very good size, versatility and ball skills. Kelsey
isn’t just excited about what Davenport brings to
the team offensively, but feels he could be “an
elite defender in our system.”
Last season Davenport was named the
Greater Catholic League Player of the Year
after averaging 13.1 points, 3.0 assists and 6.0
rebounds as a senior.
Saicic is another good sized player that will
likely play out on the wing. He’s described by
Kelsey as having a very good basketball feel, skill
level and size. Saicic has shown good vision and
passing ability and very good ball skills.
Okeke is more of a true center and is ex-
pected to be a strong defensive presence. Okeke
suffered a leg injury a few weeks back and isn’t
expected to be back in action until late Novem-
ber, early December. As a senior he averaged 10
points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.3 blocks in 31 games.
“He is a natural shot blocker and explosive fin-
isher around the basket,” said Kelsey.
SCHEDULE
Kelsey has laid out a solid non-conference
slate to get the Eagles prepared for Big South ac-
tion this season.
Fans will have the chance to see the team in
seven home games prior to the start of league
play. It will be the most home games before start-
ing conference play since the 1999-2000 season.
Winthrop’s non-conference home games
against NCAA Division I opponents include USC
Season Preview
Season Preview
Upstate, James Madison, Appalachian State and
Wofford College. James Madison played in the
NCAA Tournament last season and won its open-
ing round game over LIU-Brooklyn.
Winthrop will travel to a couple of hostile en-
vironments when it travels to Virginia Common-
wealth, Virginia Tech and Dayton. The Eagles will
also face Hampton, East Tennessee State, and
North Carolina Central on the road.
Among the Winthrop’s opponents are nine
teams that finished averaging 70 or more points
in 2012-13 and three of which finished among
the Top 40 in the country in scoring; Virginia
Military Institute (78.2, 4th), VCU (76.9, 34th),
and Charleston Southern (73.8, 39th). The Buc-
caneers also finished second in the nation in
three-point field goals made while VMI was 4th
and VCU was 34th.
Winthrop finished 2012-13 ranked 47th
nationally in defensive scoring by holding oppo-
nents to 61.2 points per game. Of its opponents
this year, three others finished among the Top
50 nationally as North Carolina Central was 11th
(56.7ppg), Wofford College was 23rd (59.1) and
Gardner-Webb finished 41st allowing 60.8 ppg
Kelsey expects this year’s squad to vastly
improve on its 6-10 mark from a year ago in the
Big South. “Obviously, High Point and Charles-
ton Southern are the early preseason favorites
because they are the reigning champions in the
respective divisions and the fact that they have
key players returning. The league as a whole I
feel is wide open which will make for some ex-
tremely intense battles come January. The youth
of our team will gain experience as the season
progresses and I am excited about its potential.”
CHRISTIAN FARMER
JAMES BOURNE
