Gameday: Pirates Host USF In Saturday Matinee

Game 19: vs. USF
Date:	Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019
Time:	4 p.m. (ET)
Location:	Greenville, N.C. (Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum)
Tickets & Parking:	Game Tickets \| Parking Information
Live Game Coverage:	Radio: WNCT 107.9 FM \| TuneIn Radio Online Television: ESPNU
Internet Options:	Live Stats
Game Notes:	ECU \| USF \| The American

After opening its American Athletic Conference by playing four of its first six games on the road, ECU will play five of its next seven games at home starting Saturday afternoon against USF in the first of two regular season matchups.

Off to a 1-5 start in league play, the Pirates have already played every team in the top half of the conference standings and only have two return games against the group, hosting both Memphis and Houston in February.

"This is about as tough as six-game stretch to start a league as I've ever been around," ECU Head Coach Joe Dooley said. "Four games on the road against the top six teams [in a 12-team league]. SMU is in sixth and we worked our way up the ladder to first-place Houston. With the exception of the last couple minutes of the first half and the second half against Houston, we've been right there.

"We've got to shoot the ball better. We've put too much pressure on our defense and that's hurt."

Despite having lost four in a row since stunning reigning conference champion Cincinnati, the Pirates are glad to be returning home where they own an 8-3 mark this year.

"Our crowds have been great and have helped us develop some confidence," Dooley stated. "We've got seven home games left, so let's go out [and play] with some confidence."

The Bulls, who finished 3-15 in The American last season, have as many wins in seven league games this year as they did in all of 2018. However, all three of those wins have come at home with three of their four losses coming on the road, two of those by three points or less.

Temple needed overtime to beat USF in Philadelphia and it took a buzzer-beater from Tulsa's Curran Scott to end the Bulls' eight-game winning streak.

"They lead the league in turnovers forced and they've done a really good job getting on the backboards," Dooley said. "They've gotten really good guard play. [David] Collins and [Laquincy] Lideau have done a really good job of forcing action. [Alexis] Yetna has had a really good year and those guys have really improved."

Collins (14.7 ppg), Rideau (14.1 ppg) and Yetna (12.4 pp) ranks one, two and three on the team in scoring with Yetna leading The American in rebounding (9.9 rpg) and double-doubles (9).

The Bulls are second in the conference in rebounding offense (39.2) and rebounding margin (+7.0).

"We've got to make sure we block out and get on the backboards," Dooley said. "All five have to rebound the ball."

The league's top rebounding tandem of Jayden Gardner and Seth LeDay (15.9 rpg) will be charged with limiting USF's second chance opportunities and cleaning up the offensive glass. Gardner ranks second behind Yetna with 9.1 rpg, while LeDay is seventh with 6.8 rpg.

Gardner is tied with Wichita State's Markus McDuffie for atop The American scoring leaders with 19.2 points per game. LeDay is third on the team in scoring at 11.7 ppg with Shawn Williams sandwiched second with 11.9 ppg.

ECU ranks 10^th in The American in scoring and field goal percentage, and 12^th in 3-point field goal percentage. USF is fourth in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, while ranking third in 3-point field goal percent defense.

"We've got to jump up and make some shots," Dooley explained. "The game we did make some shots, obviously we won. We talk about it all the time, we've got to shoot the ball from perimeter."

The Pirates swept the season series last year and have won eight of 16 games in the overall series, including five of eight at home.

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Players Mentioned

Jayden Gardner

Seth LeDay

Shawn Williams

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