Interview w/ Gregg Marshall
I interviewed Winthrop men’s basketball coach Gregg Marshall for The Johnsonian.
It was a “will he-won’t he” summer for Winthrop basketball fans. Coach Gregg Marshall gave the Winthrop community a heart attack after announcing he was leaving for College of Charleston for a $500,000 yearly salary in June. Shortly thereafter, much to Eagles’ fans relief, he turned about-face and shocked the world again. He decided to stay with the team he’s been with for eight seasons, the Eagles.
Snipes were made across the state with one Charleston Post and Courier columnist deeming Marshall “a wack job” and the Herald responding with their own editorials. Now Marshall is ready to move.
The 2006-2007 season stands as the toughest yet, with slots against Maryland, Wisconsin, Old Dominion, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. The schedule also includes Winthrop’s first appearance in the preseason National Invitational Tournament, to be played in the Charlotte Bobcats arena.
Coach Marshall took the time to answer some questions for The Johnsonian about the Eagle’s upcoming season.
Johnsonian: Can you describe this year’s schedule?
Marshall: This year’s schedule is the most difficult schedule in my tenure, inarguably. Three of the teams we could face, including North Carolina in the NIT, are in the preseason top-10 in the ESPN.com’s poll.
Johnsonian: What can students expect from this year’s team?
Marshall: This squad is very experienced, very talented, committed and should be able to handle a schedule like this. This is the same group, basically, that as sophomores and freshman, gave Gonzaga such a great game.
Johnsonian: Who are the new players this year?
We’ve got four new scholarship players and a walk-on. We’ve got Rainer Blickle from Mauldin, S.C. He’s a 6-foot-8-inch forward who shoots it well. We’ve got Anthony Williams, a 6-foot-7-inch post player from Florida. We’ve got Byron Faison, a 6-foot guard. We’ve got Antwon Harris, a 6-foot-3-inch forward and Kyle Moore, a 6-foot-3-inch guard from Florida.
Johnsonian: What other teams will you be watching in the Big South?
Marshall: I don’t know how it could get much more competitive. Our championship went down to the last possession. [Big South] is the 19th rated league in the nation. We lost to Liberty, which finished in 8th place. The league is much better than it’s ever been from top to bottom.
Johnsonian: What made you decide to stick with Winthrop?
Marshall: There was a lot of money thrown my way [by College of Charleston]. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to leave here. [My family] is comfortable here and that wasn’t the time nor the place to make me want to leave here at this particular stage.
Johnsonian: Will Winthrop students see you coaching for a while longer?
Marshall: Well I certainly hope so. I hope they’ll come out and support us.
Johnsonian: Why should students come to the games?
Marshall: It’s kind of become the place to be. Crowds are growing. They’ll be the biggest they’ve ever been this year. [The games] are a very entertaining brand of basketball, very aggressive and athletic. This program is probably appreciated more nationally than we are in our own backyard. I don’t think people realize what they’ve got. I hope the students come out and see we’re all committed to doing special things here. We’re going to be on the road so much so that when we do come back home, we’ll need your moral support for sure.
