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How can a team look so good in beating a quality opponent at
home, and then look so bad in getting pummeled by that same team on the
road?
I got that question time after time after East Carolina’s
80-48 loss to Marquette on Wednesday night.
I just shook my head.
That inspiring upset win over the Golden Eagles in a wild
and crazy Williams Arena only a month ago seemed light years away.
As for Bill Herrion, I think he is ready to pull his hair
out!
"We beat them in Greenville right after Christmas, and I'm
sure there was payback on their mind, no doubt about it,'' said the East
Carolina coach. "We got thoroughly outplayed... . in every aspect of the
game.''
Herrion’s success is based on defense. That “D” was
practically non-existent against the Golden Eagles in this return game in
Milwaukee.
Dwayne Wade scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half.
In the second half, Marquette made nine of their first eleven shots. Those
nine baskets included a trio of dunks. Those dunks are high percentage
shots. The Pirates never recovered.
I talked with Coach Herrion for several minutes before the
Pirates left for Marquette. It’s obvious that the most frustrating part
about building this program in Conference USA is his team’s inability to win
on the road.
“This is a great league with outstanding teams,” said
Herrion. “It is very difficult to win any game, but especially on the road.”
As I’ve said on a couple of occasions, the key to the
postseason is somehow stealing a couple of wins on the road.
But unfortunately, this team appears to be losing confidence
away from Williams Arena, rather then gaining it.
Still, nobody works harder at anything then Bill Herrion.
I’m convinced that if anyone can turn these road woes around, it’s Herrion.
Kinston tragedy puts sports
in perspective
Sometimes we get lost in this world of wins and losses, of
momentum and scoring droughts, of miracle plays and magical finishes.
Our entire nation had its eyes on Kinston, North Carolina,
with the tragedy at the West Pharmaceutical Plant.
Three people were killed and dozens of others were injured
in the explosion.
As bad as it was, it could have been much worse.
Parrott Academy was holding classes just down the street.
The videotape of the children leaving school with the huge cloud of black
smoke over their heads was riveting.
Several local radio stations started raising money for the
victims shortly after the tragedy. It reminded me of the flood of 1999, and
the way so many gave so much to those victims.
The outpouring of help makes me proud to call Eastern
Carolina home.
At ECU, it’s all about Pirates supporting Pirates. This time
it was Eastern Carolinians supporting Eastern Carolinians.
In a way I guess it also reminds us of what is really
important — that life is so precious. It can literally be taken away in the
blink of any eye.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those suffering from the
West Pharmaceutical tragedy.
