|
ECU starts hoops season
Friday night
 |
|
Jeff Lebo |
|
(File photo by Al Myatt) |
|
|
By
Al Myatt
©2011 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
When East Carolina
basketball coach Jeff Lebo looks out on the court of Williams Arena at
Minges Coliseum on Friday night in the season opener against Milligan,
he won't see Jontae Sherrod, Brock Young, Jamar Abrams or Chad Wynn.
Last year's four seniors
were instrumental in helping the Pirates to their first winning season
since 1996-97.
ECU has scrimmaged N.C.
State and High Point in matchups where no score was kept.
"Ready or not, we're going
to do it," Lebo said. "We haven't had any exhibitions. You're always a
little unnerved to see how your team will respond when the lights go on
and there are people in the stands.
"We're ready, everybody's
healthy and we're ready to go."
Milligan is from Tennessee
and Lebo doesn't know a lot about them.
"They have a small guard who
is pretty quick," said the ECU coach. "Typically, they may be quicker at
some of the big spots although we should have a size advantage. Our
transition defense will have to be good. We won't have a feel for their
personnel like in a lot of games. We'll try to get it inside because of
that size advantage."
Lebo notes that several of
the players ECU will be counting on have spent some time away from
competition. Among those is point guard Miguel Paul, who sat out last
season after he transferred from Missouri.
"At times, he's looked
good," Lebo said. "At times, he's looked like a work in progress. Some
things he has to learn. I worry about him trying to do too much."
That's a general theme with
many of the newcomers.
"We've talked with them
about playing like they practice," Lebo said. "It's not about how many
points they score. It's about how they execute on offense and defense."
Practice generally has gone
well.
"The guys have competed
hard," Lebo said. "They've had good energy. I've really been pleased
with practice. We'll be better as the season goes on and people
understand their roles."
What will Lebo look for on
Friday night?
"We'll be looking for those
who can go out and do what we ask them to do," he said. "We need them to
be where they're supposed to be on defense and understand what they're
supposed to do. We need them to understand their time without the ball
is just as important as their time with the ball."
Forward Darius Morrow leads
the returning players, compiling a 13.0 scoring average and a 6.3
rebounding rate as a junior. He'll be counted on for his leadership on
and off the court.
"We're going to be missing
some experienced guys out there scoring the ball," Lebo said. "I've been
a little concerned about perimeter shooting in the preseason."
PAGE UPDATED
11/14/11 12:58 AM.
©2011 Bonesville.net. All rights rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bonesville.net staff
reports and a press release from East Carolina University Athletic Media
Relations contributed to this article.
|
