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Pirate Notebook No. 164
Tuesday, December 23, 2003

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

Perimeter play key to reaching postseason

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Go ahead and circle your calendar for January 10, the day East Carolina travels to Charlotte. By then we should have a better gauge on Bill Herrion's fifth club.

The general consensus so far is the Pirates are more athletic and deeper than last year, but still have not beaten a team with rival talent. ECU suffered a late-game meltdown in its only legitimate test, a loss to former CAA rival George Mason.

Given the fact that the Colonial's top offering almost always is a Cinderella threat in the postseason, losing an early contest on the Patriots' home floor shouldn't spark panic.

Gloom — or unbridled enthusiasm — should be reserved until after the Pirates face the 49ers, who by far will be the stiffest challenge to date. Combine that with a stretch of games that includes Virginia Tech on a neutral floor, Ole Miss in Oxford, and UAB at home, and we likely will have enough data for an accurate forecast.

My prediction? Anything less than a .500 split could be the anchor that sinks the Pirates' postseason dreams.

That said, East Carolina already has shown it is a strong force along its frontline, which should more than hold its own in the physical Conference USA. In terms of experience and versatility, the Pirates will have the advantage in the low post over almost every opponent they face.

Center Moussa Badiane not only gives ECU an intimidating defensive presence, but also an improving offensive force who can run the floor and finish on the break. Seniors Gabriel Mikulas and Erroyl Bing provide the Pirates with a pair of relentless rebounders who also possess serviceable jump shots. Derrick Wiley is a wing capable of scoring from anywhere on the floor, and Corey Rouse is instant energy off the bench.

Much of their success, however, is contingent on the improvement of a talented, but relatively unproven backcourt.

Unlike most sports, college basketball is a game dictated by its smaller players. As the game has evolved, coaches have discovered that steady ball-handlers and long-range marksmen are more valuable than muscle in the middle.

The ascension of Pittsburgh, St. Joseph's, and Gonzaga, for example, is proof that success generally is wrapped in smaller packages. Even among the nation's more high-profile programs — Duke, Kentucky, and Arizona — it is backcourt play that essentially determines their postseason fate.

East Carolina is no exception.

While the Pirates lost only four-year starting point guard Travis Holcomb-Faye from last year's team, his loss can't be overlooked. For the most part, he was ECU's most valuable player last season, and his brief suspension at the halfway point was the momentum killer from which the Pirates never recovered.

How well freshmen Japhet McNeil and Mike Cook run the team will play a huge role in determining where ECU fits in the postseason picture. So far, the results have been mixed against a schedule ranked the nation's worst.

Between the two, McNeil is the pure point and plays more within the flow of the offense. However, until he is ready to handle 90 percent of the load, Cook must provide valuable minutes and play with more control.

Even more important will be the Pirates' accuracy from behind the arc. When the season is complete, it's a good bet that the won-loss record will mirror ECU's success rate from long range.

At best, the Pirates have been erratic in that department, which won't cut it in league play. Extended droughts from three-point land likely will produce more zone packages, giving ECU's big men less room to work.

If the Pirates can knock down enough outside jumpers to keep opposing defenses honest, they have a chance to reach the postseason. Otherwise, East Carolina could spend another year in basketball purgatory.

Marketing in full swing

Noticed a difference in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum this season?

Despite a home schedule that so far has featured an assortment of cupcakes, the Pirates have been a respectable draw, averaging almost 5,300 per game. Three years ago, East Carolina would have been lucky to average 3,500 against an opening slate that included Campbell, Pembroke, and Gardner-Webb.

The reason for the upward turn? Creative marketing.

East Carolina Assistant AD for Marketing Craig Curtis has been given the green light this year to piece together some attractive marketing packages and the results have shown.

"Our marketing department really deserves an awful lot of credit for putting together this marketing thing today with the football, women's basketball, and this game," Herrion said following the Coastal Carolina game. "It put a lot of people in the seats tonight, especially for a Thanksgiving weekend."

Interim athletics director Nick Floyd said fans can expect more of the same, and there currently are two marketing campaigns running for men's basketball.

For $30, fans will receive four tickets, four hot dogs, and four drinks for any of the Pirates' home games over the holiday break. ECU also is offering significant savings for C-USA games in its "Super Saturday Package."

"It's something that we work on constantly," Floyd said. "Our marketing staff, as well as our entire administrative staff, work on these marketing initiatives and they've just done a great job.

"It's something that we pay a great deal of attention to, and are going to continue to do moving forward. The Houston (football) game, for example. We used that game as an opportunity to expose our program to a lot of individuals who don't normally have an opportunity to attend an East Carolina University football game."

Traditionally, this type of approach has been frowned upon by some who feel dramatic markdowns devalue the product. Floyd sees it as a taste test for consumers who might return for extra helpings.

"Our hope is that by exposing your product in that manner, they'll come back and be part of the ticket buying public in the future," Floyd added. "We are going to continue with great emphasis on all of these marketing initiatives."

Good call.

Bing accepting role

Two seasons ago, Bing carried the load while Badiane and Mikulas served NCAA suspensions.

Now the senior bruiser is being asked to adjust to a different role — coming off the bench. Turns out, the sixth man role fits him like a glove.

"I'm not so sure he's real happy about not starting," Herrion said. "He's a senior... he's been a cornerstone here... he's been starting for the last three years.

"But right now it looks like he's got a little bit of fire in his eyes. I really like the way he's playing right now, so hopefully he'll keep that up."

Heading into tonight's bout with Hampton, Bing is contributing ten points and eight points boards per game, despite averaging only 22 minutes. By using a three-man rotation in the post with Mikulas and Badiane, Herrion has been able to keep his big men fresh and out of foul trouble.

That's taking one for the team.

Send an e-mail message to Denny O'Brien.

Click here to dig into Denny O'Brien's Bonesville archives.

02/23/2007 01:51:48 AM

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