Spring Break
Opinion: Pirate basketball earning respect
Kellen Holtzman
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Sports
Every season under Holtz, the gridiron Pirates have improved and now the team, as well as the fans, fully expect to win every time out.
"I think in Skip's fourth year, he is right on schedule to building a team that is going to be competing for the Conference USA title every single year," said McCarthy. "And that would be a reasonable goal for us - to be in the top echelon and competing for postseason play in four or five years."
He doesn't rule out the team being able to do it this year.
The schedule hasn't been overloaded with powers, but recent home outings against George Mason and VCU illustrate the progression the program has made. ECU took the Patriots to the wire before knocking off the Rams in an overtime thriller.
But it wasn't that they won or lost these games. The outcomes could have gone either way. It was how they played. They played like a true team, one capable of reaching postseason play sooner than some might think.
In Hinnant's first two seasons as a Pirate, fans knew what to expect from the team. The idea of winning began to grow implausible.
"Then, we were hoping to win," Hinnant said. "Now, we're expecting to win because we have a better team, better coaching and the chemistry is so much better."
As McCarthy's tenure lengthens, don't be surprised if those wins grow in numbers in the coming seasons.
The 2008-09 Pirates are an exciting team to watch and worth a trip to the hardwood to see. If you don't believe me, come to Minges and check them out. It's the building beside the football stadium.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
"I think in Skip's fourth year, he is right on schedule to building a team that is going to be competing for the Conference USA title every single year," said McCarthy. "And that would be a reasonable goal for us - to be in the top echelon and competing for postseason play in four or five years."
He doesn't rule out the team being able to do it this year.
The schedule hasn't been overloaded with powers, but recent home outings against George Mason and VCU illustrate the progression the program has made. ECU took the Patriots to the wire before knocking off the Rams in an overtime thriller.
But it wasn't that they won or lost these games. The outcomes could have gone either way. It was how they played. They played like a true team, one capable of reaching postseason play sooner than some might think.
In Hinnant's first two seasons as a Pirate, fans knew what to expect from the team. The idea of winning began to grow implausible.
"Then, we were hoping to win," Hinnant said. "Now, we're expecting to win because we have a better team, better coaching and the chemistry is so much better."
As McCarthy's tenure lengthens, don't be surprised if those wins grow in numbers in the coming seasons.
The 2008-09 Pirates are an exciting team to watch and worth a trip to the hardwood to see. If you don't believe me, come to Minges and check them out. It's the building beside the football stadium.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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