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2018-19 American Athletic Conference preview: UConn is still on top, but the middle of the pack is strengthening

By Russell Steinberg

Connecticut Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) pushes the ball up court against Temple during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at McGonicle Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. Dangerfield scored 12 points to help UConn to 113-57 victory. (John Woike/Hartford Courant/TNS via Getty Images)
Connecticut Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) pushes the ball up court against Temple during the first half on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 at McGonicle Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. Dangerfield scored 12 points to help UConn to 113-57 victory. (John Woike/Hartford Courant/TNS via Getty Images) /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, TX – JANUARY 13: East Carolina Lady Pirates head coach Heather Macy gives direction during the women’s game between SMU and East Carolina on January 13, 2018, at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, TX – JANUARY 13: East Carolina Lady Pirates head coach Heather Macy gives direction during the women’s game between SMU and East Carolina on January 13, 2018, at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

East Carolina Pirates
Predicted finish: Seventh

Key returners (last year’s stats):

G Ariyana Williams, So.: 9.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 20.7 MPG
G Lashonda Monk, So.: 7.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 19.9 MPG
G Alex Frazier, Sr.: 6.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 29.1 MPG
F Destiny Cambpell, Sr.: 6.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 50% FG, 14.3 MPG
F Salita Greene, Sr.: 6.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 20.4 MPG
G Necole Hope, So.: 5.2 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 14.5 MPG
G/F Dominique Claytor, Jr.: 4.9 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 22.1 MPG
G Raven Johnson, Jr.: 4.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 12.4 MPG

Key losses (last year’s stats):

C Thais Oliveira, 6’2: 7.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 72% FT, 24.4 MPG
F Mickayla Sanders, 6’0: 5.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 78% FT, 12.9 MPG

Newcomers:

G Kaylee Jefferson, Fr.: Averaged 17 points and nine rebounds as a high school senior. All-District and All-Region honoree.
G Jade Lewis, Jr.: Played for Northwest Florida State Community College. Ranked No. 20 JuCo prospect by All-Star Girls Report, No. 23 by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report and ESPNW.
F Tiara Chambers, Fr.: Ranked as 146th best recruit in nation, per All-Star Girls Report. Averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds, and eight blocks.
F Nique Cherry, Jr.: Ranked as No. 26 Junior College recruit by All-Star Girls Report. NJCAA D-I Third-Team All-American at Jones County Junior College.

Key non-conference games:

Dec. 28 at Duke

Head coach: Heather Macy, 9th season

With 134 wins as Pirate head coach, Macy has won more games than any coach in program history.  She’s brought ECU to the WNIT three times but is still trying to get the team into the NCAA Tournament. This may not be the year that happens because the Pirates still have a way to go, but they can take a step forward this year.

Outlook: ECU was a bad offensive team last year. Like, really bad. They ranked last in the American in three-point percentage (26%), second-to-last in field goal percentage (37%), and did not have a player averaging double-figures in scoring. The good news here is that ECU is getting a little bit of help all around with a freshman (Chambers) who nearly averaged a triple-double in high school, a highly ranked JuCo guard (Lewis), and a JuCo All-American (Cherry). There’s hope in G-Vegas (that’s what they call it).

Best-case scenario: ECU’s non-conference schedule isn’t exactly daunting, so it’s easy to see the Pirates racking up some wins there. It’s still unclear if the Pirates can build a resume worthy of, say, a WNIT appearance, but it can definitely happen.

Worst-case scenario: Returning most of your team is a good thing, but when they were so inefficient on offense last year, how much improvement can really be expected? Looking solely at personnel, it’s not reasonable to expect ECU to be worse than last year ­— barring injury — but more of the same is possible. Worst-case: Another .500 season that’s forgotten about by the second week of March.

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