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News Nuggets, 10.12.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Herrion anoints Badiane, Cook as team's leaders

East Carolina basketball coach Bill Herrion has turned to a seasoned veteran and a business-like up-and-comer to serve as co-captains of the 2004-05 Pirates.

Senior center Moussa Badiane and sophomore guard Mike Cook were named to the leadership roles Monday in an announcement from Herrion.

Badiane, from Les Ulis, France, has established himself as perhaps Conference USA's most intimidating inside defensive presence since ECU joined the league his freshman campaign. He ranks third on C-USA's career blocked shots list after only three seasons with 239, only 53 shy of the all-time mark.

In 2003-04, Badiane also became a formidable offensive force, leading C-USA in field goal percentage in league games.

Cook, who landed a spot on the All-Conference USA Freshman Team last season, is ECU’s leading returning scorer (10.4 ppg). A Philadelphia, PA, product, he moved into the Pirates' starting lineup at midseason, provided much-needed floor leadership and averaged 13.7 points during the final 12 games of season.

“Both guys lead in a different way,” Herrion noted in the announcement.

“Moussa leads by example," he stated. "His work ethic and approach to the game is as good as any player I’ve coached. Our players respect because of the way he comes ready for practice everyday.

“Mike Cook became a leader during the second half of the season and when he was inserted into the starting lineup, that turned our season around. He’s not afraid to get on his teammates verbally and they really respect his game.”

Compiled from an ECU athletics report.

No. 1 Southern Miss QB to miss 'Bama game

HATTIESBURG — Southern Mississippi starting quarterback Dustin Almond, who was injured scoring a dramatic touchdown last week, will miss the 24th-ranked Golden Eagles' game against Alabama on Saturday.

The junior pulled a hamstring in his left leg on his 18-yard touchdown run with less than 2 minutes remaining in the win over Houston.

``Dustin will be out for a while,'' coach Jeff Bower said Monday. ``We don't know how long.''

Damion Carter, a sophomore who replaced Almond and threw the winning touchdown pass in overtime against the Cougars, will start against the Crimson Tide for the second straight year.

``He'll be fine and will rise to the challenge,'' Bower said of Carter.

Carter was ineffective in last year's meeting. He was 5-of-8 for 29 yards, and was benched for Almond midway through the second quarter of Alabama's 17-3 victory.

This season, Almond is 57-of-105 for 663 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions for Southern Miss (4-0), which is ranked for the first time in nearly four years.

Carter, the more mobile of the two, has thrown just three passes this season, completing two, for 8 yards.

``We have to play to Damion's strengths,'' Bower said.

He entered the game after Almond's touchdown run against Houston pulled the Golden Eagles to 29-27, and handed off to Anthony Harris for the game-tying 2-point conversion.

Carter's 4-yard touchdown pass to Otho Graves in overtime lifted Southern Miss to the 35-29 win, and made believers out of his teammates, Bower said.

``It's a confidence booster to them the way he played at the end of the Houston game,'' Bower said. ``I think that will be a big help for him.''

Southern Miss hasn't been ranked since Nov. 12, 2000, when the Golden Eagles were 24th before a 14-9 home loss to East Carolina knocked them out of the AP poll.

Tar Heel trio sacked by pot charges

CHAPEL HILL — Suspended wide North Carolina wide receiver Adarius Bowman, linebacker Fred Sparkman and defensive tackle Isaiah Thomas indefinitely after they were cited for possession of marijuana by campus police, the school said Monday.

The three sophomores were cited late Sunday. Coach John Bunting said they won't play until he and athletics director Dick Baddour determine otherwise.

Their loss is a big blow for the Tar Heels (3-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference), who travel to No. 11 Utah this weekend and are coming off a 30-24 victory over North Carolina State.

Sparkman has started every game for the Tar Heels and has a team-high 61 tackles. Bowman is second on the team with 18 catches, and has a team-best 329 yards and three scores.

Thomas has played in every game and has nine tackles.

``I can't remember a time when I was more disappointed,'' Bunting said. ``The last thing we need after an exciting win like we had Saturday evening was an off-the-field situation that would embarrass the university and this football program.''

Sparkman led the Tar Heels with 10 tackles against N.C. State. Bowman had a 46-yard touchdown catch that gave North Carolina a 20-16 lead in the fourth quarter.

Bunting said the three players denied ``their involvement with these charges and we are looking into that at this time.''

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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