Pirates Open Season Against Milligan College
November 11, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 11, 2011
Gameday Central | Game Tracker | All-Access | Twitter
GREENVILLE, N.C.- The East Carolina University men's basketball team opens up the 2011-12 season on Friday night when it welcomes NAIA member Milligan to Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. Tip-off between the Pirates and Buffaloes is scheduled for 7 p.m.
ECU returns three starters and six total players from last season's squad that produced the school's first winning season in 14 years, advanced to the semifinals of the Conference USA Tournament and earned the program's first postseason invitation since 1993. To that returning group, second-year head coach Jeff Lebo added a four-member recruiting class and a pair of transfers that sat out last season.
The Pirates enter the game without the luxury of having played in front of a crowd in an exhibition game, while the Buffs carry a record of 2-2 into the contest.
"We've had two scrimmages and haven't turned it on in front of people," Lebo said. "We haven't put on the uniform yet and that's a little unnerving as a coach. Guys respond and react much differently when the lights are on. Some guys react in a positive way and then some respond in negative way and try to do much. Hopefully that won't be the case on Friday."
The two teams have never met before, but Lebo's Chattanooga team routed the Buffaloes by 50 early in the 2002-03 season.
Milligan, which was ranked 26th in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll, has six players from North Carolina on its roster led by Charlotte native Kyle Grisby. He is one of three players on the squad averaging double figures. Grisby leads the Buffs in scoring with 14.8 points per game.
"I don't care who you are playing, whether you know them or not anything can happen on a given night in this game," Lebo said.
Tickets for Friday's opener are available via the Athletics Ticket Office by calling 1-800-DIAL-ECU or by clicking here.
Following Friday's game, the Pirates will head to Buies Creek to face Campbell on Monday evening at 7 p.m.
