Pirates Announce 2003-04 Men's Basketball Schedule
September 29, 2003 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Non-conference games at Seton Hall and Ole Miss, a neutral site game versus Virginia Tech in Norfolk, Va., and a full Conference USA slate highlight the 2003-04 East Carolina University men's basketball schedule which was released today.
East Carolina will face all 13 members of Conference USA this season as the league abandoned its two division format for the upcoming season and moved into a single conference alignment. ECU will continue to play 16 Conference USA games, one against every other conference member. The Pirates will also play a home-and-home series with three C-USA mirror foes. ECU's mirror opponents for the 2003-04 season are Charlotte, UAB and USF.
The Pirates will face eight opponents ( a total of nine games) that participated in postseason play. Among those opponents visiting Greenville this season will be DePaul, Louisville, Memphis and UAB. The Pirates' Jan. 15 game at home against Louisville will be televised by ESPN2 for a second consecutive season. Memphis and UAB will be making their first ever visits to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum as will Conference USA member Tulane.
In addition to its game at Seton Hall, a NIT participant in 2003, ECU will travel to 2003 postseason teams Cincinnati (NCAA), Marquette (NCAA), Saint Louis (NIT) and UAB (NIT).
"We have a good mix of games for this season," said Pirate head coach Bill Herrion. "We've got several tough road games, plus a good number of home games during the non-conference portion of the schedule which will hopefully help us gain some confidence before getting into league play."
The Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va., is the site of ECU's December 27 game against Virginia Tech. This will be the third consecutive season in which the two teams have met with each team winning on its home floor the previous two seasons.
The Pirates open the season at home for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign on November 22 against Campbell. ECU is 16-1 all-time against the Fighting Camels at Minges Coliseum.
ECU also plays non-Conference USA home games against UNC Pembroke, Coastal Carolina, N.C. A&T, Gardner-Webb, Hampton and Radford. The Pirates will also pay a visit to former CAA rival George Mason.
ECU is also scheduled to host two exhibition contests - November 6 vs. World Young Stars and Nov. 13 against Charlotte Stars.
The Pirates will officially open practice on Oct. 18.
