The Time Is Now
October 17, 2003 | Men's Basketball
"I think this is a big year for us because we have a lot of returning veteran players that have been in the program and have been through the wars," said Pirate head coach Bill Herrion. "Our key guys are older, veteran guys. I'm hoping that the experience of these returning players is positive."
While the 2002-03 season didn't end on a high note, the Pirates finished with strong showings on the road at NCAA Tournament participants Cincinnati and Louisville. ECU led the nationally ranked Cardinals at the half and had the Bearcats down until the final 10 seconds, proving to itself for the first time in its brief history as a Conference USA member that it had the potential to win on the road in one of the nation's premier basketball conferences.
"We've proven that we can be competitive in this league," stated Herrion. "Fundamentally we do things well enough to win games."
The 2003-04 version of the Pirate basketball team is comprised of five seniors, one junior, two sophomores and three freshmen. However, while the sheer numbers indicate that ECU is loaded with experience, there are only three players that have been in the program two years: seniors Erroyl Bing and Gabriel, and junior Moussa Badiane.
Two of East Carolina's top three returning scorers will be entering their second season on the Greenville, N.C., campus, senior Derrick Wiley and sophomore Belton Rivers. Wiley led the Pirates in scoring with a 14 points per game average, while Rivers was fourth, averaging eight points per contest.
"We're a year older, a year more mature, and a year more experienced. I hope with the natural progression of this program, we continue to get better each year."
Since Herrion first arrived on the ECU campus in the spring of 1999, the Pirates have gotten better each season. While it may not be conveyed in terms of wins and losses yet, there is no question that the level of play has risen each year.
"I think we have kids in the program with good character that really love the game," Herrion commented. "The guys that we have right now are always playing and they seem to understand the urgency of the season, especially the seniors. If we do the things that we are capable of doing as a team, then the wins will take care of themselves."
Leading that group of seniors are four-year starters Erroyl Bing and Gabriel Mikulas. From the moment that they stepped on the basketball court at ECU, Bing and Mikulas have each been big contributors to the development of the program.
After leading East Carolina in rebounding each of his first three season, Bing will look to become just the second player since the early 1960s to lead the Pirates in rebounding four consecutive years. Bing has ranked among the C- USA rebounding leaders each of the past two seasons and should he maintain his career average in 2003-04, he would become the second leading rebounder in Pirate basketball history.
If East Carolina expects to be competitive this season, Bing will have to be more of a factor on offense. Bing averaged double figures scoring as a freshman and sophomore, but struggled with his offensive game as a junior, averaging just eight points per game.
"Offensively, he didn't have a great year last season," Herrion said. "He's a kid that gives you everything he has from an effort standpoint and can rebound the basketball with anybody. He just didn't put the ball in the bucket consistently enough. We need Erroyl and Gabe, first and foremost, to be the leaders."
Mikulas proved that he could help turn the fortunes of ECU basketball in just his second game as a Pirate in November 2001, recording a double-double with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Since then he has quietly gone about his business, averaging almost 13 points and six rebounds throughout his career. A superb foul shooter, Mikluas enters the season tied atop the ECU career chart for free throws made. He was one of only two players in Conference USA last season to rank among the top 10 in field goal and free throw percentage.
"We need more out of him this season now that he is a fourth-year senior," stated Herrion. "He's got to do a better job of adjusting to the speed, quickness and intensity of this league. He has the ability to be that go to guy that we need down the stretch as do Erroyl and Derrick."
Anchoring the middle will be junior Moussa Badiane. A revered defender in the paint, Badiane has established himself as the premier shot blocker in Conference USA, leading the league in blocked shots each of his first two years.
Although he is still learning the game, Badiane continues to get better each season. While his offensive numbers weren't significantly higher, his per- game scoring and rebounding averages were up from his freshman season. Should he dramatically improve those numbers, it would go a long way to helping East Carolina to a winning season.
"He's arguably one of the hardest workers in this program and has been that way from day one," explained Herrion. He's got a real desire to try to become the best player he can be and as he continues to get stronger and develop physically, then his game is going to get better. I think he's going to have a really good year for us."
Senior Garth Grindley will also help provide depth off the bench. He played in just nine games a year ago, but has a very physical frame that allows him to bang underneath the boards. Freshman Keith Foster will also add depth to the Pirates' interior core.
Sophomore Corey Rouse is going to move from playing on the perimeter as a swing forward to playing around the basket more. His physical stature isn't very imposing, but he's a good rebounder and defender that has big hands, long arms and a nose for the ball. As a freshman, he averaged three points and three rebounds in nine minutes of action per game.
"He has got a lot of potential and upside," stated Herrion. "Corey needs to get stronger physically, but he really produced for us when he was in the game last season, so we want to try to get him around the ball more in 2004.
"We have a veteran frontcourt. Physically we are becoming a strong basketball team, which I think is important. Defensively, we are always going to guard people and that is always going to give us a chance to be in position to win games. If there is a weakness, I think right now we're a little inexperienced at the point guard position and that is going to be a big key. Collectively, we have to score and shoot the basketball better."
Headlining the Pirates' long list of backcourt players is Wiley. After one season of competing at the highest level of Division I basketball, Wiley must elevate his game and his team if ECU is to make a run at postseason play. In addition to leading the Pirates in scoring last season, he led the team in double figure scoring games and 20-point scoring games. He is a very athletic player that can drive and slash his way to the basket to get his points, but must develop a long-range perimeter jump shot to become more of an all-around offensive player.
"Derrick Wiley has proven he can score, but for his game to take the next step, he has got to be able to shoot the three."
The departure of senior Travis Holcomb-Faye, ECU's career leader in assists, leaves a void at the point guard position that will be filled by a combination of two players, Rivers and freshman Japhet McNeil.
More of a shooting guard than a point guard, Rivers had to learn the position as a freshman. He ranked fourth on the team in scoring and second in assists, pouring in double digit points 11 times. Rivers started 25 of 27 games during his rookie campaign led the team in three-point field goals made and three-point field goal percentage.
Regarded as one of the top high school point guards to come out of New York City, McNeil averaged 18 points and 6.5 assists as a senior at Christ the King High School and will have the opportunity to play immediately.
"He is going to get an opportunity right away to get the basketball," Herrion stated. "We think he is a true, pure point guard; and very good passer, but he is a freshman. From an experience standpoint he's got some limits. He comes from an extremely successful high school basketball program that plays at a very high level. He knows how to win and I don't think he's going to be afraid when he steps on the court.
"Belton's natural position is more of a scorer off the basketball. I think he did that very well at times last year, but then we had to move him to the point. Belton can play both positions. I think we have two point guards, so they are going to share time at that position."
Recruited to be the Pirates' designated three-point sharp shooter, senior Luke MacKay appears to be primed to have an outstanding senior season. His first year in Greenville following junior college presented many challenges and obstacles for the Australia native, but he now has a clear mind and focus for his final collegiate campaign.
"He has the ability to shoot the basketball and we need him to make threes," stated Herrion. "And we need him to do it consistently."
Freshman Mike Cook and Frank Robinson are both very athletic shooting guards and will give the Pirates added firepower off the bench.
In summary, East Carolina returns a host of veteran players that have loads of experience and talent. The pieces appear to be in place for a successful season. If the Pirates can improve their perimeter game, get their post players to become bigger factors around the basket and learn how to close out games, East Carolina could be looking at one of the most triumphant seasons in school history and a place it hasn't been since 1993, the postseason.
