Coach Mack excited to get started

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina conducted a two-hour skills workout on Friday to unofficially open the basketball preseason.

The official first practice is Saturday afternoon with a short scrimmage to follow just before the football game against Rice.

ECU Head Coach Mack McCarthy and his staff are excited for the season to be rolling around and it won’t be long before it begins in earnest and he talked to PI about the new players and returning veterans that make up this year’s squad.

McCarthy says this is a more athletic team from top to bottom and he hopes to have a winning season and maybe even get into postseason play.

But for now, deciding who will be able to immediately contribute this year will be a big focus with some new players on hand.

ECU is led by junior point guard Brock Young who led the nation for much of the year in assists last season.

In the post, Darrius Morrow is now a sophomore and he will begin to take a leadership role along with forward/wingman Jamar Abrams.

Coach Mack McCarthy talked to PirateIllustrated about the new player in the program, their goals for this year and more in this PI Preseason Basketball Update.

Also catch Darrius Morrow and Brock Young video interviews on the PI front page media player.