[rogers3]

A great start. Maybe the most talent on a team at the same time. Up tempo. Plenty of hustle and enthusiasm. But LOTS of ill advised and unnecessary speed shots. VMI style doesn't win championships. The numbers of 3ptrs shows our opponents our glaring weekness. Loved the crisp precision passing they have. Surely more patience will result in more points. Sometimes they seemed selfless and sometimes they seemed selfish. Clearly this should be a great exciting season. The Men will have competion for more of my time this year. With all of our teams improving looks like I'l have to wait for June and July to catch up on my rest. A great feeling.

I've been following LU for a long time (watched games played at the Jeff. Forest gym!) and I agree with you on the talent level. Sometimes the players had a hard time playing good team ball, but hey, it's the first game. When they moved the ball around, and passed more than 2 times, they looked really good; when Ohman et al when straight to the hoop on a break, they looked somewhat innefective. We would have a 20 pt lead, then we seemed to do get into the street ball mode as opposed to running an effective offense. MC would work it down to 13, then our guys would get serious and look for good open shots. Coach McKay has a lot of talent to work with and I think that this team will exceed many people's (WEF) expectations. One thing that we WON'T have the benefit of is playing teams that turn it over like Montreat did last night.

Monroe was recruited by Michigan too. Getting a letter doesn't mean they made you an offer. Hey, it's my opinion - and I hope I'm wrong. I just think he is too skinny to play at this level and we don't need another 3 point shooter. Did you see his hook shot last night? To even get out there further - I like Monroe More - there I said it. I saw more potential in Monroe - he just lacked confidence in himself.
He looked out of place, lost in the post against smaller players and I've seen better footwork by Warren Sapp on "So you think you can dance".

We're all entitled to opinions, but I'd bet yours would put you in the minority.
Here's mine- and it probably goes back a bit further than some:

Monroe <or=" Soldesi

McMasters > Soldesi

Just my opinion, of course.

[prototype]

What impact did Soldesi have with Liberty?

McMasters > Armon Jones
McMasters = Russell Monroe
McMasters < Damien Hubbard

Rank of Freshman Class
1) Curry
2) Floyd
3) Sanders
4) Weaver
5) Stephene
6) Smith
7) McMasters

[olldflame]

For those who are under 40, Carter is the 3rd player in LU history listed at 6'11". Russ was the second, and the first was Eduardo Soldesi from Brazil. I have to respectfully disagree with Rogers3 on this one. IMHO Soldesi's career was even less illustrius than Russ' and it was against D2 competition. He was a great kid though.

I've said it many times, but I'll say it again. Too much obsession with weight around here. Carter could benefit from more physical strength, but he can get a lot better without gaining a pound. Adjusting to the level of play and being more mentally tough are IMHO a lot more important than just packing on some pounds. It's really tough for a BB player to put on weight during the season, so Carter is likely to still be 215 come March, but I think he will be a better player.

[Cider Jim]

I hate to draw comparisons, but if anyone is old enough to remember Peter Aluma's freshman year, he too was rail thin but he knew how to rebound and block a shot; that part of his game reminded me a little of Carter last night.

And I'm only comparing their freshman years at age 18, not the monster that Aluma became after he gained weight and strength during his sophomore - senior years.

[olldflame]

I saw Aluma's first game against VCU. He was pushed around under the basket, but showed signs of what was to come by using his huge wingspan to block a shot or 2 as well as a couple of pass deflections on defense. By the end of the year he was BSC tournament MVP and we were playing the Tar Heels in the dance. He was still skinny. While the size and strength he gained in the next couple of years made him a better player, as best I can tell, he ultimatly ate himself out of a pro career.

[CMII]

It is no shot at anybody just an observation. I believe with the way Mckay plays, our total lack of an inside presence, rebounding and inexperience that we will find it difficult to get in the top four. But hey with a weak schedule maybe the confidence will build prior to full blown BSC play.

[sweetnahmah1]

Yes, rebounding was pathetic it seemed.

[jcmanson]

I caught some of practice today and Carter did not participate as one of his legs was on ice.

[Sly Fox]

Someone let Scar know that his boy Eduardo is getting multiple mentions on the board. Ed was a great guy but his basketball IQ was nearly nonexistent. Carter has the know how and the skills to be a major contributor. He just needs to adjust to a much more physical level of basketball. You don't have to a bruiser to be effective in the paint.

[Cider Jim]

He [Aluma] ultimatly ate himself out of a pro career.

I doubt Carter will ever have that problem.

You don't have to a bruiser to be effective in the paint.

Ralph Sampson was no bruiser his freshman year either, but he had an okay college career.

[LUconn]

What impact did Soldesi have with Liberty?

McMasters > Armon Jones
McMasters = Russell Monroe
McMasters < Damien Hubbard

Rank of Freshman Class
1) Curry
2) Floyd
3) Sanders
4) Weaver
5) Stephene
6) Smith
7) McMasters

Is this list based on what you saw last night? Because Weaver didn't do anything last night.

[LUFlamer09]

The McMaster's hating needs to stop. He's played one game, and didn't play horribly. When I say he didn't play horribly I mean he didn't look lost or uncomfortable. Again, as others have cautioned the sunshiners it was an NAIA squad. But he's got game and more importantly height. He changed a few shots last night and we'll count on his height in Big South play at points. His shooting ability will come into play this year moreso than his back to the basket game which can use a ton of work. But to compare him to Big Russ or to even compare him to Damien Hubbard is a joke. His potential is twice theirs. Rant over.

With that being said, this team will struggle in the beginning. But some of the positives that I took from the game, Brolin Floyd. Pair him up with Anthony Smith and you have two athletic big bodies which can bang inside as well as shoot. This allows McKay to run his offense to it's full potential. Obviously Seth Curry is an absolute joy to watch, and heck he has his own thread so there's not much that needs to be said. I liked Jesse Sanders poise as well running the point. He'll struggle with some of the quick guards that we'll face off with but with Mckay's defensive schemes I think we'll be able to lessen the damage there. I need to see more of Austin Smith to really have an opinion on him, but obviously we'll need effective minutes out of him to be successful.

All in all, this year is going to be an exciting one for us. There is a different feeling around this team than in previous years. McKay now has his pieces set, so we'll see what he is made of this year! Can't wait to see LU on ESPN!

[LUFlamer09]

Question:

What do you guys think minutes will look like for guys like Weaver, Stephene and Spencer?

Out of the three I'd only expect Stephene to see regular minutes. But I was just wondering if their minutes last night were a result of the opponent.

[olldflame]

Austin is going to have to learn how to play without fouling or his minutes will be limited by the refs if not the coach. 4 fouls in 12 minutes last night. Weaver is so obviously athletic, and yet looking at who we have, it's hard to project many minutes for him once Tyler and Jeremy are healthy. If he can improve his handle and his perimeter shot, maybe more of a guard than a small forward. Stephene actually played the same minutes as Jesse (20), but that was mainly because Jesse had 2 early fouls. I think when Anderson returns and comes in at the 2, we will see more of Seth at the point, which will mean fewer minutes for Stephene.

[TIMSCAR20]

I have to say that the Eduardo Soldesi references made me laugh. He was a great guy but could barely play basketball. Carter was offered by SEC schools. He will be fine. Let Carter be Carter though. He is not those other guys. He has a skill package that can be used. He will be an asset on Defense and his face up game is good. Carter has 1000 times more confidence than Russell ever had and also more experience against real competion. Russ didn't have the benefit of playing against good players. This team will be fun to watch though.

[Eagle Ed]

Thanks Scar ... well said.

[rogers3]

I have to say that the Eduardo Soldesi references made me laugh. He was a great guy but could barely play basketball. Carter was offered by SEC schools. He will be fine. Let Carter be Carter though. He is not those other guys. He has a skill package that can be used. He will be an asset on Defense and his face up game is good. Carter has 1000 times more confidence than Russell ever had and also more experience against real competion. Russ didn't have the benefit of playing against good players. This team will be fun to watch though.

I figured that you and a couple of the older guys might get a laugh out of the Eduardo comparisons. Few people on Liberty teams have endeared themselves with the fans the way Eduardo did. To be sure, the comparisons (Russ-Eduardo-Carter) were tongue in cheek, and directed at proto's original comparison. Carter did look comfortable and I'm betting that his detractor(s( will lay off the rhetoric after 4 or 5 games.

Just a caveat- the person that wrote the comments above was an immediate Aluma fan, but also thought that every year would be a breakout year for Adam Hopkins!

[Hold My Own]

Props for some how fitting Adam Hopkins into this thread! Well done!



Any of the Day brothers, anyone?

[Sly Fox]

Hey, somehow formerplayer made it into a football discussion so I guess we are feeling a little nostalgic tonight.

For the record, Eduardo was a cult hero in the old Liberty Gym.

[Cider Jim]

For the record, SCAR was a cult hero in the old Liberty Gym after his ETSU dunk.

FIFY

[olldflame]

Soldesi was not just a "hero" in the gym (the player at the end of the bench the students chanted for at the end of a blowout). He was probably the most popular/well liked guy on campus. I'm curious to know what he is doing now. I think I'll start a thread in the "Missing Persons" section.

[TIMSCAR20]

Soldesi was my roommate 2nd semester of my freshman year after I earned a scholarship and got moved over the the basketball dorm. Yes I was a walkon for those that didn't know. I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship for all but my 1st semester of school though. Eduardo didn't have anything in his room either. His closet was almost empty. I moved over from Bald Spot's dorm 8 (he was my 1st RA) into Dorm 23 with Eduardo...Ed was a nice guy but he was the most dangerous player I ever saw on a basketball court. His elbows often did damage to his own teammates. I believe he broke Steve Farquahar's nose twice. He also got ejected in the Towson game for breaking a guy's nose with his cast on his left hand. The guy was talking trash and Ed lost it. I heard the hit but I didn't see it until video the next day. He destroyed that guy ....Also Purple Haize wanted a shout out on Friday for being a former Montreat coach but I couldn't work it in so....I met Purple when he was on staff at Montreat and I was at Liberty. He met Mrs Purple that night for the 1st time as well. Only 2 days late Purple but I got it in

[Purple Haize]

SCAR That hurt man. I had to watch that WHOLE game waiting for the shout out. You needed to be creative there. I see where I rank on your "My Circle" list! Geez, I lose Richmond and nothing but the COLD SHOULDER from MR BIG TIME!!! With as much fill as you guys needed I am sure you could have tied it in somehow.
I will get over it I am sure. But it was good as Mrs Purple and I went over the "Recruiting" form I filled out!!

[Sly Fox]

I had Ed in several classes and the ladies absolutely loved him. We had quite a few Brazilians on campus back in the day and they all played up the Portuguese accent. Hey I would've too if Appalachian hillbilly would've worked (it was the only thing I had working other than Spanish taught in Ohio that sounds nothing like Espanol).