Probably the loudest cheer in the Hatchet House on Wednesday occurred before the game, when Seth Coy was introduced to the big crowd during ceremonies honoring the 2008 Washington state championship team. And while for most of his former teammates, being introduced in front of a large crowd is something they haven’t been a part of since that title winning evening in Conseco Fieldhouse last March, Coy is once again hearing cheers from adoring fans on the basketball court.

Before seeing his season temporarily derailed due to a broken foot suffered in practice last week, Coy had worked his way into the East Tennessee State starting lineup, including scoring 18 points on 7-9 shooting from the floor in the Buccaneers’ home opener, a 96-66 victory over Wingate on Nov. 20.

Coy recorded a double-double in an exhibition game for ETSU, and his play in the preseason earned him a spot in the Bucs seven man rotation when the season started. The 6-11 freshman then progressed into the Bucs lineup before a teammate stepped on and broke Coy’s right foot in practice last Saturday, an injury which will leave him sidelined for 3 to 4 weeks, though Coy will see the court much sooner than his former Hatchet teammate Tyler Zeller at North Carolina, whose season is likely over due to a wrist injury suffered against Kentucky last week.

I had a chance to sit and chat with the always affable Coy at halftime of the Hatchet-Viking game, after he had completed the eight-hour drive from Johnson City, Tenn., to Washington in record time, at speeds I won’t mention in print (including a detour on a back road to avoid being pulled over). Obviously, Coy wanted to be a part of the ceremony, which was attended by every teammate from last year save for Zeller, who was in Hawaii with North Carolina at the Maui Invitational.

Like all freshmen, college has been a big adjustment, but Coy said he’s handling it well, both on the court and off.

“I love it. It took a lot to get used to early on just because it was far from home. I wasn’t really homesick, but it was just . . . I came home a couple of times, and I don’t think that was a really good idea. But I like it now,” said Coy.

“The competition’s not real great, but it’s manageable, I’m playing like I should be. I’ve adjusted well,” added Coy.

“I think I can contribute as a freshman right now. I was doing really well, and then this (foot) happened. I’ll just have to work that much harder when I get back.”

In the win over Wingate, ETSU point guard Courtney Pigram recorded the second triple-double in school history with 21 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists, with many of those assists going to Coy in the low post. Pigram, a senior, has already discovered the benefits of having a big man who can shoot and score in the center spot, something which has been lacking in the Bucs’ program prior to Coy’s arrival.

“Our point guard (Pigram) had his first triple-double, and he said it was easy to get that just because he could feed me the ball,” said Coy. “After the game the other day (against Tennessee Tech, the first game Coy missed with his injury) he said ‘Seth, I need you’ and I said ‘What do you mean?’ and he said ‘They don’t post like you do.’”

And in case anyone wonders whether or not playing Division I basketball has gone to Coy’s head, consider this; after Coy’s performance against Wingate, Buccaneers coach Murry Bartow said Coy was already becoming a “fan favorite” at East Tennessee State.

Sounds like he’s still the same old Seth to me.