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ETSU Men’s Basketbal – Interviews with Courtney Pigram and Mike Smith
Oct 02, 2007Firing Up the Hardwood
Scroll down to find interviews with East Tennessee State University’s Courtney Pigram and Mike Smith.
And check back over the next two weeks to find fully-transcribed, exclusive interviews with Buccaneers coach Murry Bartow and the rest of the 2007-08 ETSU Bucs.
What follows is the first glance into what should be a big season for the ETSU men’s basketball program.
The Bucs – currently taking part in loose shootarounds and pick-up games at the Memorial Center – finished 2006-07 with an impressive 24-10 (16-2 Atlantic Sun) record, but fell short of their main goal: a berth in the NCAA tournament. After dominating the Atlantic Sun Conference during regular-season play, the Bucs fell hard to Belmont, 94-67, in the tournament championship game. The loss then pushed ETSU into the NIT, where the Bucs were knocked out in the first round by Clemson, 64-57.
Courtney Pigram
Pigram, a 6-foot-1, 197-pound junior guard, was named the 2006-07 Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year. The Memphis, Tenn. native posted big numbers (18.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.6 assists) last season, started all 34 of the Bucs’ games, and said he spent the summer “playing hard, working on defense and getting ready.” Factor in Pigram’s hefty 06-07 numbers, and that he still has two full years of eligibility left while in a Bucs uniform, and 07-08 could – and should – be Pigram’s year.
Here’s a quick Q & A with the young star.
BTS: How’s the offseason been going?
Courtney Pigram: (Enthused) It’s been going real well. I’ve been focusing on the things I can do, real well. Tryin’ to get better on the defensive end. And, you know, just bettering my game on the offensive end.
BTS: What have you been focusing on?
CP: Just, uh, cutting down on a lot of turnovers, and, you know, getting my team … more involved in the game. I’m a team player. I like playing together. And I love winning.
BTS: You guys had a great record last year, but maybe didn’t finish like you wanted. Did you think about that during the break?
CP: I mean, it was a great season, and the record was nice and all that. But we had, you know, a tough loss at the end, like you said. We gave up a lot of points on the defensive end. And that’s what we’re trying to focus on right now. We’re just starting, and we’re trying to get around the corner, right now.
BTS: What about your game? What do you still need to improve?
CP: Just being a better all-around guard, and helping my teammates out.
BTS: How excited are you for the season to begin?
CP: Oh, man, I cannot wait for the season to get started. (Laughing). Just being around all the guys is great, and we’re really goin’ at it.
BTS: Do you feel like you still have unfinished business?
CP: Yeah, yeah. All of that. All of us do. This is a new start.
Mike Smith
Smith, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound sophomore forward, was a major role player in 06-07. While he only started seven of the Bucs’ 34 games, you’d never know it from Smith’s numbers. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 25.7 minutes per game. He was also second on the Bucs in made 3-pointers (48), shot 79.6 percent (78 of 98) from the free throw line, and 43.1 (124 of 288) from the field. This year, expect Smith to blossom.
BTS: What are you thinking about coming into this season.
MS: Well, we still have a bad taste in our mouth after last year, you know. We’re hoping to win more games this year, you know, and when it comes tournament time, to win the tournament and go to the NCAA tournament. Every day, we just come to practice and we think about that. It makes us want it a little bit harder each day in practice. And hopefully we just come out, play each game, and do our best.
BTS: What do you think are going to be the team’s strengths this year?
MS: We’re tall, we’re long, we’re quick … we should be pretty good. We should be able to run the floor well. We’ve got a bunch of great kids who just want to work.
BTS: What has coach been stressing in the early workouts?
MS: Our coach is always preaching defense, and that’s a big thing. He wants us to keep our opponents under 69 points and 39 percent field-goal shooting. Those are the numbers he’s always preaching: 39, 69. He always says if we play good defense, that’ll get us going in transition, for offense.
BTS: What about your own game?
MS: I spent the offseason working in the gym, just doing everything I could to make myself better, and to make the team better. And I’ve just been working here, doing the small things to get better.
BTS: Specifically?
MS: Everything. All around. I don’t want to be one dimensional. I want to be able to do everything. I’ve been trying to get quicker. I’ve been working on my foot speed this summer a lot. Just coming off the dribble and being able to shoot – different things like that. I think I’ve gotten a lot better at ball handling, too. So, I’ll be ready to go when it comes time to play.
BTS: You’re feeling pretty confident?
MS: Yeah. I am.
Posted by Brian T. Smith Small College Football
Sep 29, 2007This is how teams from around the region did today on the gridiron:
Bethel 66, UVa.-Wise 48
Emory & Henry 13, Methodist 3
Tusculum 31, Wingate 28
Carson-Newman 49, Newberry 19
Appalachia State 49, Elon 32
Posted by Tim Hayes Small College Football
Sep 29, 2007This is how teams from around the region did today on the gridiron:
Bethel 66, UVa.-Wise 48
Emory & Henry 13, Methodist 3
Tusculum 31, Wingate 28
Carson-Newman 49, Newberry 19
Appalachia State 49, Elon 32
UVa.-Wise vs. Bethel
Sep 29, 2007In the second quarter of a game between NAIA powers: Bethel 30, UVa.-Wise 12
Virginia Tech football
Sep 28, 2007Allen Gregory’s view from the press box in Blacksburg
Is there any hope for the Tech offense?
The Hokies entered the game ranked 107th nationally in total offense, and just produced yet another sleep-inducing first half.
On the bright side, Tech has allowed only 43 yards rushing so far behind linebacker Xavier Adibi. How long can this defense save this team, however.
Halfway through the third quarter, and Tech continues to search for a flow on offense. As usual, the defense is solid
North Carolina (1-3) at No. 17 Virginia Tech (3-1)
Pregame notes:
By ALLEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
The resume for North Carolina football coach Butch Davis is full of highlights, yet there is a dark chapter.
During his six-year run as head coach at the University of Miami, Davis won just once against Virginia Tech – a 41-21 decision in 2000. In fact, the Davis-led Hurricanes lost five straight games to the Hokies from 1995-1999.
Davis is now the head coach at North Carolina, but most experts feel his bad luck against Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer will continue. The Hokies open Atlantic Coast Conference today at noon against UNC.
“It’s always a challenge to face Frank Beamer teams,’’ said Davis, who also coached the Cleveland Browns. “This is the best defense we’ve faced all season, and I’m not sure if this isn’t best defensive group that I’ve seen Tech have.
“[Virginia Tech] is big and physical up front, their linebackers are fast and athletic and the secondary can run and hit.’’
Except for the 48-point meltdown at LSU, the Tech defense has been solid. The concern for Beamer is an offense still struggling to establish a running dimension and led by a true freshman quarterback in Tyrod Taylor.
“When we changed our quarterbacks, we changed what we emphasized on offense,’’ Beamer said. “Our offense has been inconsistent, but I see us getting better and better.
The Hokies passed for 154 yards and rushed for 133 last week en route to a 44-3 win over William & Mary. Beamer hopes those balanced numbers are a sign of things to come.
“I think we’re going to add a little more to our offense each game,’’ Beamer said. “We need to get our best players on the field and get them in the right position to make plays.’’
The playmaking ability of Taylor is obvious, and a growing concern to all ACC coaches.
“Experience is the key thing,’’ Beamer said. “Tyrod is very talented and capable, and he’s getting better with every quarter.’’
Posted by Allen Gregory 
