Bonesville: The Authoritative Independent Voice of East Carolina

News & Features from ECU, the AAC and Beyond

  • Home
  • News & Features
  • Recruiting
  • Photos
  • Audio
  • Roundup
  • Comments
  • Legacy Archives

ECU Postseason Scoreboard

• ECU 2023 Football Schedule
• ECU 2022-23 Hoops Schedule
• ECU 2023 Baseball Schedule

— Recruiting Thumbnails —
Football: 2023 • Hoops: 2023-24

View from the East
Pirates heated up at end at UCF

January 6, 2017 By Al Myatt Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Jeff Lebo (Bonesville file photo by Bonesville Staff)

East Carolina trailed host Central Florida 39-25 with four minutes left in an American Athletic Conference matchup on  Tuesday night.

Kentrell Barkley and B.J. Tyson sparked a late run that got the Pirates within 48-45 before a 3-pointer by Tyson rimmed out at the buzzer.

“We just made some shots,” said ECU coach Jeff Lebo. “There’s no secret to anything. We got great looks in the first half and missed them. Missed foul shots, missed everything. We got good shots, had good rhythm shots. Just couldn’t make it. We couldn’t make it in the second half either. . . . Then obviously we started to make them and it got contagious. We scored the ball there.”

A strong effort defensively went unrewarded as the Pirates slipped to 9-7 overall and 1-2 in the league going into a noon game Saturday at Temple (9-7, 0-3).

“Defensively, we were good all night,” Lebo said. “That was not a problem. We did a great job on [Tacko] Fall (UCF’s 7-foot-6 center). We did a great job on [A.J.] Davis. We did a good job on [Matt] Williams (3-for-10 field goal shooting). You hold somebody to 12 baskets, you think you’re going to win the game but they got to the foul line a little bit.”

ECU went six of 16 on foul shots at UCF while the Knights were 21 of 28.

“That’s what was really the difference in the game was foul shooting,” Lebo said. “They got there more and made them. We left a lot of points. We’re not a great scoring team. When you get a chance to get to the foul line, you can’t leave points just laying there. You’ve got to be able to make those.”

Stay in Orlando

ECU remained in Orlando and was scheduled to fly to Philadelphia today.

“We had gone 10 straight days so we were off [Wednesday],” Lebo said. “We took them over to Universal. We got out of the hotel. It’s beautiful down here. Let them hang out, do different stuff and see something different. So we had a good time.”

The Pirates coach enjoyed the Disney theme park — for a while.

“I enjoyed it until my hip starting hurting me,” Lebo said. “I’ve got to get a hip replacement. I didn’t last as long as I thought I was going to last. My favorite one was the Rocket. I got on the Rocket roller coaster. That made me woozy for about an hour afterwards but I made it through.”

Lebo may have surgery after the season.

“Probably,” he said. “I needed to have it last year and I got a shot. The shot didn’t really work.”

Winter weather in forecast

Philly and Greenville are expected to get snow before the Pirates are scheduled to fly home Saturday.

“Yeah, we’re kind of monitoring that situation from down here,” Lebo said after practice Thursday afternoon at UCF. “Nothing has really changed for us yet. We’ll be on alert here. We’ll have a plan B and a plan C prepared and see what happens.”

Temple deceptive

Temple has lost its last three but Lebo said that is deceptive.

“They’re good,” Lebo said. “Now they haven’t won lately but they’re the only team in the country to beat Florida State and they beat West Virginia (12-2). . . . They’re a different team than they were last year. They’re really dependent on the 3-point shot and when they make them, they can beat West Virginia and beat Florida State. When they miss them, they have a hard time.

“They can shoot it from all five spots on the floor. They shoot a ton of threes. They’re always pretty solid defensively. [Temple coach] Fran [Dunphy] has always had a pretty solid defensive team. That’s been the thing. When they’re playing great, they’re shooting the ball at a high percentage, utilizing the 3-point line.

“When they’ve struggled, down here at Central Florida, they were down (38-11) in the first half. They couldn’t buy a basket.”

Last year, ECU topped Temple, 64-61, in Greenville on Jan. 27.

“We played pretty good that night,” Lebo said. “We got out in transition and got some easy baskets. We defended and rebounded pretty well. They won the league (regular season) last year so they were a pretty good team. We made a great play at the end to win the game. KB (Kentrell Barkley) got an offensive rebound and finished, a special play. We battled hard.”

Consistency needed

Tyson is averaging 12.3 points, Barkley is scoring at an 11.8 rate and Caleb White is hitting 10.9 per game.

Barkley scored 16 at UCF and Tyson added 13 but White managed just five points on 1-for-7 field goal shooting.

All three need to be scoring for the Pirates to be at their best. Barkley is hitting 40.3 percent of his shots from the floor. Tyson is at 39.3 percent and White is connecting at a 39.7 rate.

“They’ve got to be good every night,” Lebo said. “They’ve got to be solid. They’re all not shooting the ball very well. . . . You look at the upper echelon of the league. You look at SMU. You look at Cincinnati. You look at their backcourt shooting numbers. You’re going to see guys in the upper 40s, 50 percent. That’s where they kind of need to be.

“They’re making the right plays. We’re getting good shots. You’re not going to be like wide open at this level. The other team is going to contest. You’re going to have to make some semi-contested shots.

“Watching our team against Central Florida, the first half we got great looks. We made the right plays, got the right looks at the basket. We could not put the ball in the bucket. That’s a frustrating thing when you make all the right plays and can’t finish off a possession.”

Young guys

The Pirates have a promising group of freshmen.

Elijah Hughes is averaging 7.9 points. Jeremy Sheppard is hitting 7.7 per game but just 3.3 in the three league games. Raquan Wilkins had a steal and a basket in the final minute at UCF. Lengthy Deng Riak is contributing, too, especially on the defensive end.

“Elijah Hughes got in foul trouble the last game,” Lebo said. “That hurt us a little bit. . . . Jeremy Sheppard hasn’t played well in conference play at all. He hasn’t been a factor for us and that’s hurt us a little bit.

“Raquan Wilkins has continued to get better. He’s really helped us on the defensive end of the floor and so has Deng Riak. . . . I don’t think he gets enough praise for his job defensively. He’s as good a position defensive guy that I’ve had in 27 years of coaching in knowing how to guard action, how to guard the ball and knowing what to do defensively. He’s really, really good. They really don’t have statistics for those kinds of things he does that help you win.

“He did the job on A.J. Davis (4 points on 1-for-6 shooting), a guy who’s really hurt us in the past against Central Florida. A.J. Davis did not score on him. He had one basket. It was on KB. DR did a great job on him. Those guys are all freshmen. They’re learning what it’s like to play at this level on the road and how good you have to be.”

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News & Features

BASEBALL NEWS
Familiar nemesis helps Cavaliers edge ECU, 2-1

BASEBALL NEWS
ECU tells Sooners, ‘later’

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates prep for regional

Baseball News
Pirates headed to UVa

Baseball News
Tulane tops Pirates in American final

Baseball News
Saturday sweep puts ECU in Sunday AAC final

Baseball News
13 proves lucky for ECU

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Schwartz scores in transition

Baseball News
Pirates oust Cincinnati

Baseball News
Bulls upset ECU in AAC Tournament

More News & Features

ECU Schedules

  • ECU 2021 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2020-21 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2021 Baseball Schedule

ECU Recruiting

  • Football Recruiting Class of 2021
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2020
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2019
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2018
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2017
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2021-22
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2020-21
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2019-20
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2018-19
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2017-18
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2016-17

Past Football Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2014 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2013 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2012 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2011 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2010 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2009 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2008 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2007 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2006 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2005 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2004 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2003 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2002 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2001 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2000 Football Schedule
  • Historical Schedules

Past Basketball Schedules

  • ECU 2019-20 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2018-19 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2017-18 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2016-17 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2000-2015 Basketball Archives

Past Baseball Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2001-2014 Baseball Archives

Recruiting Class Profiles

ECU Recruiting News
ECU snatches late addition from Hoosiers

ECU Recruiting News
Class of 2024 starts with prized receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Late pitch lures lineman with pedigree

Recruiting Evaluation Part 2: Defense
Report card: Quality talent fills big holes

Recruiting Evaluation Part 1: Offense
Report card: Pirates reload at skill spots

ECU Recruiting News
Towering lineman Neolian still honing skills (updated)

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review (UPDATED)
Pirates tap transfer portal for more talent

AAC Early Signing Review
New members dive into AAC recruiting wars

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review
First wave of recruits just the beginning

ECU Recruiting News
Brown finds way to ECU through portal

ECU Recruiting News
Transfer safety McDaniel destined for ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates land coveted Spartanburg quarterback

ECU Recruiting News
Swift ECU recruit ‘in a class of his own’

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates win out for Georgia prep linebacker

ECU Recruiting News
Linebacker with pedigree charts path to ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates find a gem in Palmetto State receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Official visit swayed North Mecklenburg star

ECU Recruiting News
Physical Georgia receiver poses tough matchup

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates project lineman Durant as center

ECU Recruiting News
ECU spotted potential in Conley lineman

ECU Recruiting News
ECU lands fleet-footed Georgia defensive back

ECU Recruiting News
‘Football town’ helps draw Short to Pirates

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets edge rushers

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, June 3, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, June 2, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, June 1, 2023

Writer Archives

  • Bonesville Staff
  • Brian Bailey
  • Sammy Batten
  • Bethany Bradsher
  • Brett Friedlander
  • Al Myatt
  • NFF
  • Greg Vacek
  • Danny Whitford

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, June 3, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, June 2, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, June 1, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, May 31, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, May 29, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, May 28, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, May 27, 2023

More Web Roundups

Copyright © 2023 Bonesville.net · Website by Seaport Webworks. · Log in · Privacy Policy