By
Al Myatt
©2014 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View the Mobile Alpha version of this page.
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.
Audio: Talk of the
Town
The
Brian Bailey Show
airs on Pirate Radio
1250 and 930 on
Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
This week's guest
was college football
recruiting expert
Sammy Batten:
