by David Hall, The Free Press, Kinston, N.C. , The Free Press

Updated: November 21, 2008, 6:30 PM EST

add this RSS blog email Print

The Pirates, off to their first 3-0 start in five years, have not only taken care of three teams they should've beaten; they've won each game with ease, by an average margin of 24 points.

Historically, ECU has been on the receiving end of beatings like those, often against opponents from smaller schools with fewer resources.

Historically, ECU tends to struggle with the likes of Coker, St. Andrews and Campbell. (See: Lee 77, ECU 75 last season.)

But maybe these aren't your father's Pirates. Just three games in, a culture change could be rearing its long-awaited head.

Several ECU players hinted before the season that the 2007-08 team, which made strides but finished just

11-19, was plagued by some degree of in-fighting and me-first attitudes. Some of those attitudes appear to have either transferred or graduated, leaving behind a close-knit group that's already beginning to show its cohesiveness.

"It's just really about chemistry and us loving each other," senior guard and team leader Sam Hinnant said after Sunday's matinee win over St. Andrews.

Guard James Legan, sitting a few feet away, couldn't help but correct his fellow senior.

"I don't love you, man," he deadpanned, causing Hinnant to drop his head in laughter.

It was the kind of friendly give-and-take that's manifested itself on the floor. Hinnant, the team's leading scorer last season, is enjoying the luxury of not having to carry the offensive load. The Pirates have had four players in double figures twice already this season.

Instead of spreading blame, they're spreading credit.

And they're proving multi-dimensional. Freshman forward Darrius Morrow -- all 6-foot-8 and 250 rock-solid pounds of him -- is establishing himself as an immovable object in the post. Sophomore point guard Brock Young has shown a sometimes acrobatic knack for finding both shooters and shots.

The Pirates are energetic and relentless on defense, even if it's sometimes misguided. Second-year coach Mack McCarthy's only real complaint so far has been his team's lack of execution when defending.

McCarthy, a 34-year veteran of the college game, certainly takes comfort in the fact that the Pirates are shooting a blistering 44 percent from the floor when they have the ball.

"We have more weapons than we've had in the past, especially on the offensive end," McCarthy said Wednesday. "We still are searching for a defensive identity."

It is, of course, too early to define an overall identity for this team, which put Campbell away with a stifling late first-half run that hinted at its potential.

Alas, beating the Camels doesn't put ECU over the hump. But the decisive win was the latest evidence that the Pirates might finally be on their way.

George Mason visits ECU on Saturday to avenge last season's upset, giving the Pirates a chance to further measure their progress.

A competitive game against the defending Colonial Athletic Association champions would be a good showing, another sign of improvement.

A win and a 4-0 record would be nothing short of glamorous.

David Hall's column appears in The Free Press on Fridays. He can be reached at (252) 559-1086 or at dhall@freedomenc.com

To see more of The Free Press or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kinston.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, The Free Press, Kinston, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Terms & Conditions     Privacy Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.