Pirates Continue Preseason Practice
October 14, 2015 | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - After enjoying four days off for Fall Break, the East Carolina men's basketball team returned to the Smith-Williams Center to begin its second week of practice Wednesday afternoon.
The Pirates tipped off the preseason with their first official practice on October 2, which was the initial of seven practices before the team exited campus for Fall Break. Altogether, East Carolina will have 30 scheduled practices during the six-week period leading up to the regular season opener against Grambling State on November 13.
"It's been typical of early practices," ECU Head Coach Jeff Lebo said. "The kids are all of a sudden playing at a pace that's a little new to them. It's not pickup ball anymore. We're trying to get them now back in the comfort zone of playing at that pace and doing it right."
The Pirates have 10 returning lettermen to help their six newcomers adjust to the pace of play, which will increase this season with the shot clock reduced from 35 seconds to 30 after scoring in Division I men's basketball dipped to 67.6 points per game (ppg) last season, which neared historic lows. ECU averaged just 64.1 ppg a year ago.
Junior Caleb White and sophomore B.J. Tyson combined for an average of 24.8 ppg during the 2014-15 campaign with the other eight returners accounting for 19.4 ppg.
The Pirates added significant size to their roster with the addition of 6-foot-10 freshman Deng Riak, 6-foot-8 junior Clarence Williams and 6-foot-5 freshman Kentrell Barkley. The trio joins returning juniors Marshall Guilmette and Michel Nzege along with seniors Kanu Aja and Michael Zangari, each listed at 6-foot-8 or taller, in the frontcourt.
Senior Prince Williams, junior college transfer Charles Foster and sophomore Lance Tejada are competing for the starting point guard nod, vacated by Antonio Robinson, and will join Tyson and White in the backcourt.
"We'll definitely be a lot better than last season," Williams stated. "We're just starting practice and we've got to see how guys gel together, but I definitely feel that we're going to be a lot better."
With less than 10 practices completed, Lebo noted that he hasn't seen anything unexpected and has been pleased with his team's work ethic.
"[It's] still a little early yet for any kind of surprises," he said. "Our effort's been really good. The kids have been dialed in."
