News Nuggets, 09.23.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Pirates order up heavy hoops menu

'Where's the beef?' will not be a valid beef this season for fans that have expressed dissatisfaction with some of East Carolina's recent non-conference basketball schedules.

Games against Clemson and South Carolina and a regular season opening tournament in Raleigh involving some formidable competition highlight the Pirates' road challenges in the the 2004-05 schedule announced Wednesday.

Conference USA battles with Cincinnati and Marquette headline ECU's home slate.

There are 13 games scheduled against teams that participated in either the NIT or NCAA Tournament last season.

The Pirates begin their season sixth season under head coach Bill Herrion against Pepperdine on Nov. 17 in the opening round of the BCA Invitational at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Host NC State, Elon, Fairleigh Dickinson, New Orleans, Oregon State and Sienna are also in the three-day tournament.

ECU opens its 13-game home schedule against Belmont Abbey on Sunday, Nov. 28.

In other early-season games before diving into the C-USA schedule, ECU will face South Carolina on Dec. 20 in the Coors Classic Invitational in Mobile, AL, followed by a first-ever meeting with Clemson on the road on Dec. 29.

The Conference USA Tournament will be held March 9-12 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. The top 12 teams in the final regular season standings will all compete for the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

ECU will play two November exhibition games at home against non-Division I teams.

EAST CAROLINA'S 2004-05 BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Day Date Opponent Site Time TV

Thurs. Nov. 4 Newberry (exhibition) 7:00
Thurs. Nov. 11 Barton (exhibition) 7:00

BCA Invitational, Raleigh:
Wed. Nov. 17 Pepperdine 12 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 18 Oregon State or Siena TBA
Fri. Nov. 19 NC State, Elon, Fairleigh Dickinson or New Orleans TBA

Tue Nov. 23 at Gardner-Webb 7:00
Sun. Nov. 28 Belmont Abbey 4:00
Wed. Dec. 1 Toledo 7:00
Tues. Dec. 7 at Western Carolina 7:00
Sun. Dec. 12 Old Dominion 1:30
Fri. Dec. 17 Winthrop 7:00

Coors Classic Basketball Doubleheader, Mobile, AL:
Mon. Dec. 20 South Carolina 6:30

Wed. Dec. 29 at Clemson 7:00 [Fox Sports Net South]
Mon. Jan. 3 St. Andrews 7:00
Wed. Jan. 5 South Florida* 7:00
Sat. Jan. 8 at Charlotte* 7:00
Wed. Jan. 12 Cincinnati* TBA
Sat. Jan. 15 UAB* 1:00 [ESPN Plus]
Wed. Jan. 19 at Louisville* 7:30
Sat. Jan. 22 at DePaul* 2:00
Wed. Jan. 26 Saint Louis* 7:00
Sat. Jan. 29 Charlotte* 1:00 [ESPN Plus]
Wed. Feb. 2 at Memphis* 8:00
Sat. Feb. 5 at Texas Christian* 8:05
Sat. Feb. 12 Marquette* 7:00
Wed. Feb. 16 at UAB* 8:30
Sat. Feb. 19 at South Florida* 7:00
Wed. Feb. 23 Southern Miss* 7:00
Sat. Feb. 26 Houston 7:00
Sat. Mar. 5 at Tulane 8:00

Conference USA Tournament, Memphis, TN:
Wed. Mar. 9 First Round TBA [ESPN]
Thurs. Mar. 10 Quarterfinals TBA [ESPN Plus]
Fri. Mar. 11 Semifinals TBA [ESPN Plus]
Sat. Mar. 12 Championship TBA [CBS]

All times listed EST
Asterisk (*) denotes Conference USA game.

Compiled from an ECU Athletics report.

Miami seeks win and new recruits in Houston

HOUSTON — Houston coach Art Briles looks forward to the day when a visit from Miami is seen as more than a chance for the Hurricanes to sustain their recruiting pipeline into Texas.

"We're going to have more kids than usual at the game," Briles said. "What we're trying to do is figure out how to make ourselves reach the level that (Miami) is at."

The fourth-ranked Hurricanes (2-0) will roll into Houston on Thursday night as four-touchdown favorites in a game many don't expect to be even as competitive as some of their intrasquad scrimmages.

About once a year, Miami plays a game like this — a nationally televised showdown against a struggling program in some of the nation's top recruiting spots. The Hurricanes had a game like that last year against Louisiana Tech in Shreveport.

This season, it was time for a return for Texas.

"Texas has been very good to us," Miami coach Larry Coker said. "Texas ranks very, very high because ... we've had a lot of success with Texas players."

The Lone Star State has given the Hurricanes stars like linebacker Jesse Armstead, defensive tackle Damione Lewis, tight end Bubba Franks and center K.C. Jones over the years.

Miami currently has 10 players from Texas on its roster, including three starters — left tackle Eric Winston (Midland), left guard Tony Tella (Houston) and tight end Kevin Everett (Port Arthur).

Not surprisingly, the Hurricanes will use their first game in Texas in seven years as a chance to woo some of the state's best prep talent. Miami already has a commitment from the nation's top tight end prospect, Martellus Bennett, a senior at Alief Taylor High in Houston.

Several assistants plan to stay behind after the game, visit high schools across the state and watch a few games Friday night.

"Texas will get a chance to see 'The U' and see what it's all about," Winston said.

The Cougars (1-2) already have an idea of what Miami is about after watching film this week.

"Everybody who watches them recognizes their team speed," said freshman safety Rocky Schwartz, one of two Florida natives on the Houston roster. "They're big, fast and strong. It's going to be big for us to play against them."

Alas, the intimidating mystique of the Hurricanes is usually the biggest obstacle for most teams in lopsided nonconference matchups like these. Most teams that play Miami are beaten before they ever step on the field.

Briles, who was a receiver for the Cougars when they last beat Miami in 1976, recognizes the challenge of getting his team to believe it can hang with the 'Canes. Especially after losing 63-13 at No. 2 Oklahoma two weeks ago.

"This game allows us to have to play at a high level against one of the best teams in the nation, and see where we stack up," Briles said. "We're at a point right now where we are trying to become the football team that we know we are."

For the Hurricanes, who haven't lost to an unranked opponent in five years, the trip is just another opportunity to strut their stuff.

"Anytime you can play on national TV it's huge," center Joel Rodriguez said. "There's not much going on Thursday except maybe a 'Friends' rerun."

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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