There are several conclusions can be taken away from East Carolina’s 76-65 loss at American Athletic Conference favorite Central Florida on Sunday. First and foremost is the fact that the Pirates’ young star Jayden Gardner is an elite talent and as new coach Joe Dooley observed after last week’s home upset of Cincinnati, “a guy to build around.” The stocky 6-foot-6 … [Read more...]

ORLANDO — Freshman Jayden Gardner had 35 points and 20 rebounds for East Carolina in a 76-65 American Athletic Conference loss at Central Florida on Sunday. "Great effort," said Pirates coach Joe Dooley after Gardner's seventh collegiate double-double. ECU (8-8, 1-3 AAC) trailed 50-29 with 16;29 to go after a 3-pointer by Aubrey Dawkins, who led UCF (13-2, 3-0) with 18 … [Read more...]

By the time he was 21, Seth LeDay was in his fourth state on a basketball odyssey that included a stellar high school career in Dallas, two junior college stops and a redshirt year at Virginia Tech. He opted to leave Blacksburg for East Carolina, only to learn that the NCAA was making him sit out another year. Last year at this time LeDay was frustrated, forced to resign … [Read more...]

MEMPHIS — Despite leading 40-26 with three minutes left in the first half, East Carolina took a 78-72 American Athletic Conference loss at Memphis on Thursday night. The Tigers closed the first half with a 10-0 run. The Pirates regrouped to go up 49-39 with 17:36 remaining as Seth LeDay had a dunk and hit a free throw. ECU was on top, 65-61, after a layup by freshman … [Read more...]

While much of the country was tuned into Clemson's 44-16 win over Alabama on Monday night for the College Football Playoff championship, East Carolina basketball coach Joe Dooley was otherwise occupied. "I watched Memphis-Houston tape," Dooley said. "I listened a little bit. I heard the score. That was about it." The Pirates (8-6, 1-1 AAC) are looking to follow up on a … [Read more...]