From the Anchor Desk Tuesday, December 13, 2011 By Brian Bailey

Pirates groping for points

By Brian Bailey
©2011 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

In this spirit of the Christmas season, I think Scrooge has put a lid on the East Carolina basket. The Pirates are really struggling to put the ball in the hoop.

The slump includes horrendous shooting from the free throw line as well.

I agree with ECU coach Jeff Lebo, who told reporters that free throws are like putting in golf. The more you think about it, the worse it gets.

We may not all be basketball players, but most of us can relate to that line of thinking. Head down, arms straight, putter square…. and then who knows where the ball ends up.

Lebo is also concerned that no one has really come to the forefront offensively. Lebo’s teams are going to play outstanding defense, but scoring has been an issue.

The Pirates will get plenty of time to work on their shooting, both from the field and at the line, with this ten-day break from games for exams.

East Carolina hits the road for a Friday night game at UNC-Greensboro after the tests are complete, and then returns home for a holiday four-pack of games against Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina Central and UVa-Wise.

If you’re looking for an early Christmas present, why not gather up the friends and family and take in some Pirate hoops. Lower level tickets are just five dollars around the holidays.

You never know, but you just might get somebody new hooked on Pirate basketball.

"Virtual Bowl"

Another gift option for the Pirate in your life is a ticket to the “Virtual Bowl” during this Christmas season.

It’s the first time in six years the Pirates haven’t made plans for a real bowl. Thankfully, the Pirate Nation has had a chance to enjoy college football around the holidays for the past five seasons.

With no bowl this year, East Carolina officials are selling “Virtual Bowl” tickets for $50 each.

The challenge is for ECU to sell more tickets than their bowl-bound Conference USA brethren and the bowl-bound teams from the Big East and other BCS leagues.

“We’re going to offer the ‘Virtual Tickets’ until December 23rd,” said ECU Assistant AD for Major Gifts Mark Wharton. “We are hoping the Pirate Nation can make a statement about the support that we have here at ECU.”

"Virtual Bowl" tickets are tax deductible, and those that buy the tickets will receive one priority point for every ticket purchased.

All proceeds will go to the “Step-Up to the Highest Level Campaign.” That campaign is raising money for the new ECU basketball practice facility.

“We plan on housing the East Carolina Hall of Fame as you walk into the new facility,” said Wharton. “We desperately need a place to show off the history of ECU athletics and this new faculty will give us that home.”

I would think that “Virtual Bowl” tickets would make a great stocking stuffer, for sure.

BB

E-mail Brian Bailey.

PAGE UPDATED 01/03/12 02:39 AM.