If ECU loses to a team with the name Blue Hose, you can probably just go ahead and end the season. The hose are projected #314 by Torvik and it's a home game, so it would be a terrible loss. It's a fair projection as the Blue Hose only finished #270 net last year and lost their best player, to transfer. A 6-4 guard that went to Grand Canyon (17.1ppg, 3.9rpg 3.0apg). It's another example of a player originally from South Carolina going to a mid-major. However the more I researched this team, the more scary they became.
The good news for the Blue Hose they return most everyone else that played including 6 players with starting experience. They all started at least 15 games in a season, and have a good amount of size and versatility. They are led by a 6-7, 230lb skilled 5th year post player that averaged 12.2ppg, 6.5rpg with a 22 PER. He was picked 2nd team All Big South this preseason and will likely be a handful for young ECU post players if he plays. He didn't play in the opener vs a non D1 they won and I'm not sure what his status is. The pirates might catch another injury break. The panty hose also added a D2 transfer from Anderson that averaged 17.6ppg and shot 42% from three the last 2 seasons and 46% from three in his 1st year there. That's a likely formidable inside-out combo and anyone making 43% from three can get hot.
Likely starters
| McCormick | 6-9, 230 | 9.5ppg, 5.0rpg | 14.8 | Sr |
| Hill | 6-7, 240 | 12.2ppg, 6.5rpg | 22 | Sr |
| Stewart | 6-6, 180 | 5.3ppg, 3.3rpg | 14.9 | Jr |
| James | 6-0, 180 | |
| Jr |
| Reddish | 6-4, 205 | 10.2ppg, 2.6apg | 11.4 | Sr |
Bench
| Barnett | 6-4, 195 | 5.8ppg, 2.6rpg | 14.4 | So |
| Ard | 6-7, 220 | 3.9ppg, 3.4rpg | 9.3 | r-So |
| Lovan | 6-0, 170 | 1.1ppg | 4.7 | So |
McCormack's numbers are from 2 seasons ago and Ard started more last season for some reason, even though McCormack was a starter the previous season, and brings more size and experience. He wasn't bad last year and has made 79 three-pointers at 32% in his career and gives them a stretch big option. That's a strong projected starting post duo if Hill is back. McCormick is also a good passer out of the post averaging 1.8apg the season he started. I have this as a win, but in game two there is enough experience and size that this isn't a team ECU can take lightly as such a young team if Hill plays. If he doesn't at home this should be an easy win.
This was a respectable 131st ranked defensive team that returns most of their players. Losing the transfer they did shouldn't impact that a lot as a guard. It likely should be a decent defense again with the chemistry and so many returners. The offense is their issue and shooing 27% and ranking 357th in three-point percentage out of 358 teams sunk them. Adding a transfer that makes 43% over 3 years on high volume should really help there. I expected an easy win but it's a team that has gotten scary as I have done more research.
They added a freshman that is listed as a 4 star composite player from Norfolk on Verbal Commits but I'm skeptical of that. He only had a few offers, the best to ODU and JMU. Maybe it was a grade issue because apparently, he was a post grad player last year, so a little older than most freshman helps as well. He had 27 points on powerhouse IMG's so there is reason to have some concern about him as well prior to the season. He didn't score in their first game though. The Blue Hose play a non D1 to open the season and the Citadel tonight so there isn't a lot more we will know about this team before ECU plays them in two days. The biggest news is if Hill will be available, he's still on the roster so it seems to be a health issue and perhaps another ECU break. I'll probably update after their game tonight.
Post Citadel Edit: The Hose lost by 12 points to a Citadel team that wasn't good last year, lost their best player to South Carolina who ECU will see later in the season, and have a new coach. Hill didn't play again. This is a team ECU has to beat at home now. I'm expecting an easy out the way Brandon Johnson played last game as long as Hill isn't back.
