ECU Announces 2002-03 Men's Basketball Schedule
August 19, 2002 | Men's Basketball
ECU will host Louisville Jan. 16 on ESPN2 in its first nationally televised game since hosting Old Dominion on ESPN2 during the 1994-95 season. The Pirates also have a pair of games slated for ESPN-Plus at Louisville (March 1) and at home against Saint Louis (March 8).
"If we aspire to be a postseason tournament team, then we have to challenge oursleves with quality non-conference opponents," said fourth-year head coach Bill Herrion. "Bringing in Southeastern Conference and Big East opponents adds to what we are building here. The television exposure is priceless and shows how far we have come."
The 2002-03 schedule also welcomes the return of three Colonial Athletic Association members to the slate: William & Mary, Old Dominion and George Mason. The Pirates will play five teams from the state of Virginia as Radford is also on the schedule for a third consecutive season.
Following two exhibitions in early November, the Pirates begin the 2002-03 campaign on the road at Middle Tennessee State Nov. 22. ECU also has non-conference road games at Radford (Dec. 3), Old Dominion (Dec. 7), and Coastal Carolina (Dec. 23). The Pirates will also play Campbell at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., on Dec. 21.
"Once we begin Conference USA play in January, not only is every game tough, but so is the travel," stated Herrion. "We tried to limit our travel prior to conference play and I believe we achieved an overall balanced schedule, and one that geographically will give our fans the opportunity to watch us play."
East Carolina will play its first of 14 regular season home games as it hosts Ole Miss in its home opener on Nov. 24, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The Pirates will also host TCU on the football field the day before opening its home basketball slate. The Rebels become the first SEC team to appear on the Pirates's schedule since ECU played at both Georgia and South Carolina in 1998. Other non-conference home dates include William & Mary (Nov. 30), Virginia Tech (Dec. 9), Mount Olive (Dec. 14), George Mason (Dec. 19) and UNC Pembroke (Jan. 2).
The Pirates open Conference USA play on the road against in-state rival Charlotte on Jan. 11, before hosting Louisville in its first C-USA home game of the season. The 49ers make the return trip to Greenville on Feb. 22. ECU plays each of its American Division opponents (Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and Saint Louis) twice on a home-and-home basis. The Pirates host National Division opponents South Florida and Southern Miss, and travel to Tulane and Memphis.
2002-03 East Carolina Men's Basketball Schedule
November -- 8, U.S. Marine Corp (Exhibition); 15, EA Sports All-Stars (Exhibition); 22, at Middle Tennessee State; 24, Ole Miss; 30, William & Mary.
December -- 3, at Radford; 7, at Old Dominion; 9, Virginia Tech; 14, Mount Olive; 19, George Mason; 21, vs. Campbell; 23, at Coastal Carolina.
January -- 2, UNC Pembroke; 11, at Charlotte; 16, Louisville; 18, at DePaul; 22, Cincinnati; 25, South Florida; 29, at Marquette.
February -- 1, at Tulane; 4, at Memphis; 8, Southern Miss; 15, at Saint Louis; 18, DePaul; 22, Charlotte; 26, at Cincinnati.
March -- 1, at Louisville; 5, Marquette; 8, Saint Louis; 12-15, Conference USA Tournament.
