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Insights and Observations
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Henry's Highlights
Thursday, January 22, 2004
By Henry Hinton
Broadcaster & Owner
of Greenville Cable 7 |
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'It's Time' for Seabiscuit
encore
©2004 GoPirates.com/Bonesville.net
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Here we are again. Mid-season for Pirate basketball and
it is already looking like Bill Herrion’s team will limp to the end of the
year. I think we’ve seen this movie before.
You have to feel for Herrion. The guy has put his
blood, sweat and tears into the program and, by his own admission, felt when
the season began that “Its Time.” That theme may come back to haunt him by
season’s end.
The Pirates had a promising start, but a tough home
loss two weeks ago to UAB followed by the loss of Gabriel Mikulas to a
career-ending broken arm have suddenly made ECU look to be in real trouble
in a league that is unforgiving.
The national television game with Louisville was
exciting and at times the Pirates looked like they could play with the high
flying Cards, in spite of the fact they never really were a threat to win
it.
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Saturday’s loss at Houston seems to have taken another
bite out of Herrion and his team. That was a tough one. You have to think
that Mikulas was missed and could have had an impact against the Cougars.
“It’s an unforgiving league. It really is,” says
Herrion. “Every time you step on the floor you face talented teams with
talented players. Everyone is well coached. If you’re not on top of your
game and ready to play you’re going to lose.”
The continued lack of a conference road win is eating
Herrion alive at this point. This weekend’s game with Saint Louis at the
Savvis Center does not seem to be the likely stopping point for the skid.
“This will be a very tough grind-it-out type of
basketball game,” Herrion says of Saturday’s matchup with the Billikens.
“Their home record over the years in that arena has been amazing. A lot of
people have trouble playing in that place.”
Saint Louis has won six of its last seven games and holds a 3-1 conference
record with wins over Texas Christian, Southern Miss and South Florida. Only
a two point road loss to Marquette two weeks ago mars its league mark. SLU
is 10-5 overall.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are 8-6 overall but a five-game
losing streak has marred their conference start and leaves them with an 0-4
record.
In a year when Herrion and supporters were hoping to
see some real strides of progress, it appears make or break time is nigh.
There is hope. Dim yes, but still, hope.
In spite of the league start and the tough upcoming
schedule, this team doesn’t seem to be afflicted with a propensity to quit.
The Pirates play hard for the most part and make up for the talent gap with
a lot of heart.
Perhaps they can get a surge going and turn the season
around before its too late.
Seabiscuit did it. Remember in the movie there were
those who gave up on that horse and those who believed he could still win.
Pirate fans need to dig down deep right now and
continue to support the cause.
It may not look particularly good at this moment, but
just like the horse in the movie this team needs some believers.
Otherwise, the movie we’re about to watch is just a
re-run.
It’s called 'Pirates Crash and Burn in February.'
 Send an e-mail message to
Henry Hinton.
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archives.
02/23/2007 10:13:07 AM |
