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Lebo emerges from briar patch

By Al Myatt
©2014 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

The way Uncle Remus told the story, Br'er Rabbit begged Br'er Fox not to throw him in the briar patch.

If your grandmother never read you that tale, I apologize.

It was a mind game, of course, some reverse psychology. The rabbit made his escape because of his familiarity with the setting when he landed in said briar patch.

Jeff Lebo must still have some cache' in Alabama. The fourth-year East Carolina coach directed the basketball program at Auburn for six years before joining the Pirates.

Even though ECU lost decisively, 84-67, at Middle Tennessee on Thursday night and had only one day to travel and prepare to face Alabama-Birmingham less than 48 hours later, the Pirates had some of Lebo's familiarity with the area working for them as they sought an end to a six-game losing streak.

Br'er Lebo emerged from the briar patch at UAB like the winner he keeps proving himself to be.

The odds seemed stacked against such a fairy tale ending for the Pirates on Saturday.

There were a lot of factors working against ECU. The personnel losses from last year's 23-12 team that won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament have been severe. Some of those departures were anticipated, such as those involving seniors Maurice Kemp and Miguel Paul.

Some were not, such as those involving the transfer of Robert Sampson, the exit of Ty Armstrong, a knee injury to Marshall Guilmette and a lingering stress fracture for Erin Straughn.

Teams that are mired in a six-game losing streak have a tougher time breaking their unsuccessful momentum on the road, especially against a team that had proven itself at home against the likes of Rutgers, North Carolina and Old Dominion as UAB had done.

The Blazers had seen what other teams had done in beating ECU — keep Akeem Richmond from taking over the game from long range, work on the smaller and less experienced Pirates in the paint and use up tempo as much as possible to wear down ECU with its lack of depth.

All of those factors helped make UAB a nine-point favorite at the Bartow Center on Saturday afternoon.

One thing Lebo has shown in three previous seasons of unparalleled success at ECU is the ability to snap his teams out of mid- to late-season funks.

The ECU coach had been trying all season to get Paris Roberts-Campbell going offensively. That was easier said than done. For one thing, the junior guard has to play both ends of the floor. He often gets a tough defensive assignment. But the theory is if Roberts-Campbell can give opponents another perimeter threat to defend, the burden on Richmond and the foes' focus on him will diminish.

Roberts-Campbell can also go to the hoop on the dribble, which creates the possibility of finishing drives, pull-up jumpers, dishes to an improving Michael Zangari or kickouts to the other long-range weapons such as freshman Caleb White and Richmond.

"We went to our spread motion offense," Lebo said. "We tried to be a little more patient. The way they were defending Akeem, he kind of realized there were opportunities for other guys."

Roberts-Campbell answered the call on Saturday and instead of fading once again in the late stages, the Pirates were able to hold on for their first league win. ECU has led at halftime in four of its six C-USA losses and was tied at intermission in the setback to ODU.

Roberts-Campbell played all 40 minutes Saturday in a 74-67 ECU win that was both unanticipated and greatly needed. His line included 21 points, a team high eight rebounds and five assists.

"Paris played like his old self," Lebo said.

White continued to validate the recruiting judgment of Lebo and staff with 17 points. Richmond added 13 points, a far cry for the 37 he poured in during ECU's last win at Campbell on Jan. 2. Then again, the Pirates changed the combination on the lock Saturday just enough to give future opponents a different package for which to prepare.

Given several days to get ready for the next tests, who knows what new innovations ECU might come up with?

The outcome at UAB creates some optimism for two home games this week as the Pirates host Texas-El Paso at 9 p.m. on Thursday night and Texas-San Antonio at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The Miners will have a size advantage as will just about everyone else ECU has faced or is yet to play.

But a little taste of success can go a long way. Practice will have a different and better feel this week. Players will be a little more confident and assured. The coaches will feel a little less pressure. Fans will be encouraged that this year's team doesn't intend to go away quietly.

A win over a quality opponent on the road under the conditions the Pirates faced is really pretty remarkable.

Maybe Lebo squeezed out a little more magic from his days at Auburn. The Tigers simply feel like they're better than the Blazers. Lebo has won five of his last six against UAB.

Maybe Lebo has some more magic in store this week. ECU fans certainly have seen what his teams can do with their support in Greenville.

Did the streak end?

Former ECU football players have been on Super Bowl teams the last three years — C.J. Wilson and Jay Ross with the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, Linval Joseph with the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI and Vonta Leach with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII.

The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII by a 43-8 count over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

Michael Brooks, a former defensive tackle for the Pirates, was on the Seahawks' practice squad for most of the season.

He was on the active roster against Atlanta in a 33-10 Seattle win on Nov. 10, making a first quarter tackle.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll liked what he saw in terms of effort and execution from the former Pirate. Brooks as well as his parents, David and Vicentia, were scheduled to be at the Super Bowl in New Jersey. Brooks majored in criminal justice.

Baseball team gets creative

Conditions weren't suited for ECU's baseball team to practice at Clark-LeClair Stadium this past week.

The Pirates went to Next Level, an indoor facility in Greenville with room to throw, on Tuesday.

There were no workouts on Wednesday, after the combination of sleet and snow had descended.

On Thursday, the Pirates hit in the batting cages beneath the stands at Clark-LeClair.

On Friday, the synthetic turf on the football practice field was utilized. The Pirates got some work on the artificial surface again on Saturday as well as some swings in the cages at the campus stadium.

The season opener is at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, at home against James Madison, weather permitting. ECU is obviously doing everything it can to be ready.

E-mail Al Myatt

PAGE UPDATED 02/03/14 02:59 AM.

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