Oct. 18, 2005

Before we can look toward the 2005-06 basketball season, we must reflect upon what has brought us to this point.

In 2001-02, East Carolina joined Conference USA, one of the nation's premier basketball conferences, under the direction of former head coach Bill Herrion and orchestrated by former Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick. The Pirates enjoyed a few shining moments during their first four years in the league, but never experienced any amount of sustained success.

Fast forward to the 2004-05 season. Former University of Virginia athletics director and head basketball coach Terry Holland was named Director of Athletics at ECU, Conference USA announced that six new teams will join the league in 2005-06 and eight will exit, and Herrion was dismissed as head coach. Former Virginia Tech head coach Ricky Stokes. a guard on Holland's two Final Four teams at Virginia, was given command of the Pirate ship and a new era in ECU basketball was set to begin.

Which brings us to this point, the highly anticipated start of the 2005-06 basketball season. Coming off a 9-19 season, one wouldn't expect there to be much excitement to surround the program, but don't tell that to people on the inside. An aura of confidence breathes within.

Holland had enough confidence in his former pupil to give him a second chance as a head coach and Stokes has enough confidence and faith in his assistant coaches and players to believe that having a winning basketball program is not only possible, but is possible now.

"Having a winning season is first and foremost for this team," stated Stokes. "That would be a great step to take for this program, which hasn't had a winning season in nine years. If we are disciplined, work hard and play with a high level of energy each time we step on the floor, during games and practice, then we'll be successful."

Stokes and his staff, consisting of Associate Head Coach Mack McCarthy, and assistant coaches Chris Ferguson and Larry Dixon, spent the spring working on the fundamentals of the game, particularly shooting the basketball, but haven't committed to playing one style opposed to another. Time and talent will dictate whether the Pirates try to play at a fast tempo or commit to a half-court game.

"We're going to reserve how we're going to play until we've had an opportunity to practice as a team," said Stokes. "We'd like to play an exciting brand of basketball, but I'm not sure if we have enough depth to be able to do what we'd like to do."

What they have learned so far is that the players are buying into their philosophy: working hard in weight room, classroom and on the court. Seven of the Pirates' eight returning lettermen attended both summer school sessions and three of the newcomers enrolled for the second session to get ahead academically as well as improve as basketball players.

It is that type of dedication and commitment that will lead East Carolina into a new era as the 2005-06 season commences.

THE FRONTCOURT
East Carolina lost three lettermen from last year's squad, the noticeable of which was 6-10 center Moussa Badiane, Conference USA's all-time leader in blocked shots. While no one player will be able to duplicate his feats, the Pirates will rely on a variety of players to make up for his loss as there are a total of nine forwards and centers listed on the roster. However, among those nine only senior Corey Rouse has earned more than one varsity letter at ECU.

Rouse, one of three seniors on the team along with Mike Castro and Will O'Neil, is the team's top returning scorer and one of the nation's top returning rebounders. As a junior, he averaged 10.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game to lead Conference USA in boards per game. A native of eastern North Carolina, Rouse's game reached new heights last season as he averaged more than seven points and seven rebounds per game as opposed to his career averages entering the season. A long and lanky player, Rouse will be counted upon to display his senior leadership and become a greater factor on the scoreboard, while continuing to exhibit his rebounding abilities.

Castro, the only other returning frontcourt player that saw significant playing time last season, must also elevate his game in 2005-06. A superior rebounder in junior college, Castro often found himself overmatched against the more physical and stronger Division I players last season. During the off-season, Castro has dedicated himself to getting stronger. He averaged 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 points in 15.7 minutes of action last season. He scored double figures just once and grabbed double figure rebounds only once. The Pirates will need a more aggressive and tougher Castro to emerge if they are to maintain an advantage on the boards over their opponents.

He may find the situation more comfortable this season as his former Allegany College of Maryland teammate Tyronne Beale has joined the team. An all-conference performer, Beale averaged a double-double last year with 22.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. At 6-8, 210 pounds Beale will have to work hard to get inside position, but will alleviate some of the pressure off Castro and Rouse.

Freshman Quinton Goods has a similar frame to Beale, but is bulkier at 6-8, 220 pounds. Like Beale, Goods also averaged a double-double in 2004-05 with 18 points and 10 rebounds per game at Charis Prep in Goldsboro, N.C.

Goods is a strong and athletic forward that runs the floor extremely well and can score around the basket.

Sophomore Jonathan Hart is another strong and athletic forward, perhaps the most athletic player on the team.

Although he saw limited action as a freshman, Hart has unlimited potential. He has superb leaping ability, which will make him a formidable rebounder as he gains strength. He averaged 11 minutes per game and contributed 2.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per outing. His desire to excel at the highest level, along with an added mid-range jumper, should allow the Pirates' to utilize his abilities more this season.

After sitting out last season as a transfer from LaSalle, David Bell is eligible for competition this season. Bell, who underwent knee surgery last fall, will have the opportunity to exhibit his perimeter scoring skills. He averaged 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds during two years at LaSalle, while playing out of position at power forward. Sophomore Taylor Gagnon and O'Neil each earned a spot on the team as a walk-on last season and give the Pirates added depth along the frontline. O'Neil is more of a traditional post player, while Gagnon has good perimeter range.

BACKCOURT
As noted, the Pirates' biggest struggles a year ago were shooting the basketball from the perimeter. Through the recruiting efforts of the coaching staff and their tireless effort during individual workouts, the Pirates' shooting percentage should improve.

Sophomore Tom Hammonds, one of two returning starters at guard, led the Pirates in three-point field goal shooting last season at 34.4 percent. Hammonds was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team after averaging eight points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Hammonds scored double figures in five of the final 10 games and led ECU in scoring in wins over Charlotte and UAB.

The Pirates' lone remaining returning starter is junior Japhet McNeil. As a sophomore, McNeil made 24 starts and handed out a school record 122 assists. The Pirates' best on-the-ball defender, McNeil made 59 steals last season and ranked among the conference leaders in both assists and steals per game. While he struggled shooting the ball, his assist to turnover ratio was one of the best in the league.

One player expected to share point guard duties with McNeil is junior college transfer Courtney Captain. As a sophomore at San Jacinto College, he averaged over 16 points and five assists per game, while connecting on close to 40 percent of his three-point attempts. A first team all-region player, Captain brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team.

The other newcomer brought in to alleviate the Pirates' shooting woes is freshman Sam Hinnant. Ranked among the nation's top fifth-year players, Hinnant, a Charlotte native, is a 40 percent three-point shooter. He led Vance High School to the state 4A championship as a senior before prepping at Fork Union Military Academy last season.

Josh King, perhaps the Pirates' most naturally gifted shooter, returns for his sophomore campaign. One of the top three-point shooters in the history of U.S. prep basketball, King struggled to make the transition to Division I last season, averaging just over three points and shooting less than 30 percent from behind the arc. Should he find the touch that made him the best long-range bomber in the history of North Carolina high school basketball, King will give ECU its most lethal perimeter shooter.

Conceivably, the most anticipated debut in the history of ECU basketball will be made following the conclusion of exams when Kinston (N.C.) native Jeremy Ingram dons a Pirate jersey for the first time. Regarded as one of the nation's premier players out of high school, Ingram signed with Wake Forest and spent one and one-half years in Winston-Salem. Longing for an opportunity to play more consistently, Ingram transferred to ECU at the end of the 2004 fall semester.

His arrival gives the Pirates a player that can create his own shot, drive and slash to the basket, and has the potential to become a solid outside shooter. Ingram also brings with him the experience of playing one season in the highly competitive and visible Atlantic Coast Conference.

Nick Mattone and Jeff Robinson are a pair of invited walk-ons that can both shoot from beyond three-point range. Their perimeter games will help open up things underneath, while also allowing their fellow guards a breather.

THE SCHEDULE
In the newly aligned Conference USA, the Pirates will play a 14-game schedule instead of a 16-game conference slate in years past. ECU will its "mirror" rivals: Marshall, Tulane and UCF on a home-and-home basis, while playing each of the other eight teams once. The Pirates will welcome Houston, Memphis, SMU and Tulsa to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum and take to the skies for trips to Rice, Southern Miss, UAB and UTEP. Of its 11 conference rivals, four made postseason appearances in 2005.

All-in-all, the Pirates' 2005-06 schedule contains eight opponents that reached postseason play, including five NCAA Tournament participants. In addition to playing Conference USA members UAB, UCF and UTEP on the road, the Pirates will also travel to 2005 NCAA participants Old Dominion, Wake Forest and Winthrop. The addition of Wake Forest marks the first appearance by the Deacons on the schedule since the 1985-86 season.

Also returning to the Pirates' schedule this season is former CAA nemesis UNC Wilmington. The Pirates and Seahawks will hook up for the first time since ECU left the CAA on New Year's Eve inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

East Carolina also has a quartet of games against Southern Conference opponents hosting UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina, while playing a home-and-home series with Wofford. The Pirates open the season trio of home games, hosting NC A&T and Gardner-Webb before beginning its series with Wofford at home.