Pirate Fans,
Well, the time for letters is back. We will continue to do these monthly during the season as long as there appears to be interest. We are off to a pretty good start where there has been improvement in almost every phase of the game so far. We literally took steps forward in each of the first five games. The sixth game at Winthrop was not as well played, but there could be a variety of reasons for that. We ARE young and that was the first road game for many of the kids plus Winthrop is very good at home. I think the stat I saw was 19 home losses in 11 seasons! It was our first game without DaQuan Joyner and it certainly impacted our substitution rotations and the product we were able to put on the floor. The very good news was that we came from double figure points down and made plays down the stretch that enabled us to win. This included the final five minutes where we gave up NO field goals!

Thanks for being so supportive. Our crowds have been good and enthusiastic. We need to get to the point where every time we open the doors at Williams Arena it is packed. We've got a lot of work and improvement yet to do, but the team is working hard to make you proud.

I got a couple of very positive e-mails this month that I'd like to share with you, so I've posted them at the bottom of this page. We are so fortunate to have such passionate fans at East Carolina and I certainly appreciate that more than you could know. Hopefully many of you will be able to join us Wednesday night for our game at UNC Wilmington. I know it gives our team a real boost to see a lot of purple in stands when we're on the road.

My radio show begins this Thursday night, Dec. 4, at 7 o'clock at Logan's Roadhouse. Please feel free to call in with any questions you have. Or better yet, come out and join us in person. I'd love to chat with you. If you can't make it to the radio show, come join us for the next meeting of Mack's Mates on Sunday at 5 o'clock in the Pirate Club Building. We have a lot of fun talking about Pirate basketball and almost anything else that is brought up for discussion, including the best places to dine throughout Conference USA.

Now to answer some of this month's e-mails.

Bill,
Derek O'Bryan was subject to transfer rules and should be eligible at the end of the first semester.

Andy,
The coaches huddle prior to visiting with the team on occasion due to several factors. Sometimes we don't meet. That is usually when the timeout is called for a specific, immediate purpose. When we do meet prior to visiting with the team, each coach speaks to what is happening within his area of responsibility. Each coach is in charge of something--offense, defense, special situations--just like the football staff. They will bring performance issues or strategic suggestions to my attention in a concise manner. They will also give me feedback as to their observations of personnel matters. I then edit the information and present it to the team. Another reason we meet is that timeouts are longer than in the past due to media obligations. We want to hit on a few key points with the players, but we don't want to give them too much information to process. This extra time allows us to look ahead to what adjustments we might want to consider at the game moves forward. Most of the discussion on the bench is "play-to-play" so to speak, so this is our time to consider the big picture.

Jason,
The team has improved in many areas. We have tried to address every phase of the program, from academics to marketing to x's and o's, to coaching, to travel, to recruiting, to the actual playing surface, and everything else that might affect the student-athlete's experience. That being said, many of the upgrades are obvious on the floor, but the final record will be impacted not only by what we do, but by what our opponents do, also. C-USA is getting better and doing it n a hurry. Our non-conference schedule is also very challenging. The ACC headliners and other traditional NCAA participants dot the non-conference schedule. We are going to focus on the factors under our control and let the chips fall where they may. Also, we did sign two outstanding players in the early signing period who will positively impact this program for years to come.

Rob,
Postseason play is the goal of every team that starts practice in October. There are approximately 340 Division I basketball teams. There will be 65 in the NCAA and 32 in the NIT. The CBI (a new post-season event won by Tulsa last season) has not announced their plans for this season yet. Statistically, everything being even, we have a 28 percent chance. However, as we know, not everything is even for us at this point. We truly believe we have a chance to surprise folks, but it will take a special and sustained effort where a lot of things have to fall into place. A goal is a dream with a plan, and this team has that. A goal without a plan is just a wish, and I do think we are beyond that. (By the way, I'm not sure who said what I just paraphrased or I would give them credit!)

Coach Mack,
I was a football player at UTC while you were there, and you allowed me to play basketball for you on the team that went to the sweet sixteen. Long story short, I went on to play basketball again the next year, and I've continued to be someone who really enjoys both basketball and football. I am a teacher and coach in Metro Nashville Davidson County (my hometown); I've been a head basketball coach for the past six years and am now in my seventh year. I am also an assistant football coach, but my situation is very unique now. I have the wonderful opportunity to be the head coach now at a brand new high school. I was at John Overton High School for six years, but Metro opened an amazing new facility (Cane Ridge High School) that will eventually host close to 3,000 students. I just wanted to say hello and that you were a big influence on my coaching career, and I would like to know any pointers you could give me being that we open this year with only freshmen and sophomores and will play a varsity (10th-12th) schedule. We're young and not very big, but we are fairly athletic. I have a couple of big kids I left with my freshmen team, but we are going to struggle. I was just on the computer and thought I would look you up, and I saw the place to ask question(s). Good luck this season!! - Romie Reed

No question here coach. Just wanted to say thanks to you and everyone else who made it possible to get these ticket packages the way they are. Being from Richmond, VA, I cannot make it to every home game, but with these 4 and 6 and 8 game packages, I can make a commitment and make trips down to see our Pirates. Thanks again. - Brian Hawkins