Men's Basketball Holds First Practice Of Stokes Era
October 14, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The Ricky Stokes era in East Carolina basketball began quietly inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on Friday night as the Pirates held their first practice of the 2005-06 season. Without all the fan fair of "Midnight Madness," ECU worked about for approximately two and one-half hours.
"The kids had a great attitude and played with a lot of energy and emotion tonight," said Stokes. "I thought they got winded, but it wasn't because they weren't hustling. There are a lot of things we need to continue to work on, but if we continue to work at this pace with this attitude I think we'll all be pleased."
It was a particularly special night for Stokes, who is a head coach again for the first time since holding the reigns at Virginia Tech from 1999-2003.
"Naturally it is exciting to be the head coach again," said Stokes. "But every opportunity to coach is delightful and working with this group and these coaches is delightful."
The Pirates opened practice with 16 players on the roster after coach Stokes announced on Thursday that freshman Justin Ramsey would have to sit out the 2005-06 season as a non-qualifier. The Pirates return eight lettermen from last year's squad and welcome two junior college transfers and four freshmen into the program. Division I transfers David Bell and Jeremy Ingram are also eligible for competition this season.
East Carolina's 16-man roster represents the most players it has had on its season-opening roster since beginning the 1998-99 campaign with 14 players.
"It's a long season and guys will have multiple opportunities to play and help the team," Stokes stated. "Eventually we'll have to settle on a set of five guys to play, then work toward eight or nine guys being able to play and hopefully develop a complement of 10."
The Pirates open the 2005-06 season against North Carolina A&T at home on Friday, Nov. 18.
