One can only imagine the reaction of East Carolina coach Bill Herrion to the new scheduling format in Conference USA. It had to be somewhere on the emotional scale between joy and delirium. Instead of playing conference powers Cincinnati, Louisville and Marquette twice, the Pirates will meet UAB, Charlotte and South Florida on a home-and-home basis.

C-USA has done away with the American and National divisions, and East Carolina is likely to experience little nostalgia for the old system. The Pirates were 1-10 in the American Division last year while going 2-3 against National Division teams.

"It's going to help us," Herrion said. "Arguably, we were in the tougher division."

Herrion has yet to enjoy a winning season at ECU, where he enters his fifth year. But the Pirate faithful appreciate his determination to raise the program to a level traditionally associated with ECU football and baseball. His contract runs through the 2005-06 season, and expectations are realistic considering Herrion was hired when the Pirates were still struggling in the Colonial Athletic Association.

FRONTCOURT

Herrion remembers when he first saw forward Gabriel Mikulas on his campus recruiting visit from Argentina. "He had long hair and sunglasses," Herrion said. "I didn't know if he was a player or one of the Beatles."

Mikulas has put in many a hard day's night for the Pirates, averaging 11.4 points last season against sagging defenses. Mikulas is adept at challenging interior defenders; he got to the free-throw line a team-high 114 times last year and made 83.3 percent of his foul shots. Mikulas operates mostly in the low-post area, but Herrion would like for him to improve his range so he can step back and hit shots to extend defenses.

Erroyl Bing and Moussa Badiane both possess specific talents. The sturdy Bing, despite being just 6-foot-7, averaged 8.7 rebounds, fifth in C-USA last season. The stringy Badiane has become ECU's career blocked shots leader in just two seasons.

The Pirates signed 6-8 Keith Foster, but he likely will have to sit out this season as an academic non-qualifier.

ECU's inside production also could use some help from the perimeter. The Pirates were last in C-USA in 3-point shooting last season, hitting just 27.9 percent.

"It's no secret that we struggled to make perimeter shots," Herrion said. "Every game we played, we'd throw it in the post and they'd double us and make us get rid of the ball."

BACKCOURT

Herrion went shopping for a point guard and nabbed Japhet McNeil from New York's Christ the King, which also has produced floor leaders such as Speedy Claxton (Hofstra), Derrick Phelps (North Carolina) and Omar Cook (St. John's). ECU isn't looking for scoring from McNeil, just offensive leadership.

"He comes from a very successful high school program," Herrion said. "He knows how to pass and how to be a playmaker. He is also a spectacular help defender. He's going to have a great opportunity here."

The opportunity is created by the exit of Travis Holcomb-Faye, who left as ECU's career assist leader. Belton Rivers played some point as a true freshman, but he is more of a scoring guard.

Derrick Wiley, a transfer who led the team with 14 points per game, has a funky release, but he's an athletic talent who has matched up favorably with stars such as Dwyane Wade of Marquette and Reece Gaines of Louisville. Injuries kept another transfer, Luke MacKay, from delivering needed outside shooting.

Incoming freshmen Frank Robinson and Mike Cook, who played for New England prep teams last year, were the result of ECU's search for added scoring punch from the perimeter.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Herrion would prefer to play man-to-man defense, but the Pirates often have played more effectively in a 2-3 zone. It seems ECU is continually faced with making adjustments to mask deficiencies. On the offensive end, ECU must get improved outside shooting to keep defenses from packing inside.

Herrion's club has been able to raise its level of play before supportive home crowds but obviously needs to improve its road performances. C-USA's new scheduling format should make life a bit easier. The NCAA Tournament is not a realistic goal, but Herrion's fifth ECU club could be in position to reach the 12-team conference tournament and grab a spot in the NIT.

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