Previewing East Carolina

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2009 Stats
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ECU Offense 07-08

Four Factors	Percent	Nat'l Rank
eFG%	48.6	215
Turnover Rate	21.0	181
Off Reb Rate	31.5	230
FTM/FGA	28.4	58

ECU Offense 08-09

Four Factors	Percent	Nat'l Rank
eFG%	56.2	17
Turnover Rate	14.6	4
Off Reb Rate	33.3	179
FTM/FGA	27.8	92

East Carolina ranks third nationally in raw offensive efficiency, mostly--I hope--thanks to a terrible schedule. Regardless, the Pirates are likely to make things interesting on Wednesday, and I think we can all agree that is way not cool.

The Pirates' newfound effectiveness comes to the surprise of many, not the least of whom being head coach Mack McCarthy. Had he thought his team could play like this, he probably would not have scheduled a bunch of non-I-A opponents (Coker; St. Andrew's, which is more of a golfing school; Limestone, which is a stone; and the Alabama Technical Institute Audio/Visual Club, which is not real).

With Sam Hinnant and James Legan leading the way, ECU is heavily perimeter-oriented:

         %Shots  2FGA  3FGA  3FGA/40   3FG%
Hinnant   24.4    41    72     9.1     31.9
Legan     24.0    28    70    10.0     47.1

Forty-four-point-one percent of the team's field goal attempts have been threes.

It's time now for Better Know A Pirate! (Brought to you by ECUPirates.com.)

Meet Derek O'Bryan, a junior forward from Virginia:










Says ECUPirates.com:

Earned a spot on the team as a walkon ... Transferred to East Carolina following his freshman year at Wingate University ... Gives the Pirates another body to bang underneath the boards.

I don't know that this was fully outlined to him during the transfer process.

Starters:

Brock Young (5-11, 175) -- Ranks 4th nationally with an assist rate over 43%, and he does an excellent job getting to the line, which suggests he is quick. I don't feel good about that.

James Legan (6-3, 200) -- The very definition of a three-point specialist; he brings nothing else to the table.

Sam Hinnant (6-4, 195) -- Dropped thirty on us last season, the bastard.

Jamar Abrams (6-6, 205) -- Decent shooter who doesn't rebound or get to the line much. Already has as many three-point attempts this season as he did in all of 2008.

Chad Wynn (6-10, 240) -- In limited action last season, Wynn struggled with his shooting and turned the ball over a lot. He's been much better so far this year, but how much of that is a function of their schedule and how much is real improvement...who knows. Good shot blocker, but his rebounding needs work.

ECU Defense 07-08

Four Factors	Percent	Nat'l Rank
eFG%	50.5	200
Turnover Rate	19.2	267
Off Reb Rate	39.7	338
FTA/FGA	42.8	290

ECU Defense 08-09

Four Factors	Percent	Nat'l Rank
eFG%	45.1	66
Turnover Rate	16.5	328
Off Reb Rate	36.1	251
FTA/FGA	30.5	68

Despite facing a bunch of terrible offenses, the Pirates are allowing more than a point per possession--they don't turn opponents over, and they're allowing plenty of second chances. They'd better pray their offense can continue to carry them. And also that we take no advantage of their shortcomings whatsoever, like last season.

The Pomeroy Predictor likes the Pack by four in a game with little defense from either side.