[thepostman]

perfect for a team in rebuilding mode needing some confidence. I am not normally in favor of such weak schedules, but this team needs it to get some confidence in themselves. If the schedule looks like this next season I will be very upset.

[TDDance234]

I'm starting to get cautiously optimistic we'll be decent. Not world changers by any means, but decent.

Probably the most talent we've had in years.

[Purple Haize]

Liberty is playing one of the worst schedules I've ever seen a low major play. If the Flames lose 20 games, they'll be a horrible, horrible team.

It's embarrassing. And I'd put the number at 15

[TIMSCAR20]

Non-conference schedule means nothing in the Big South especially for Liberty. There is not going to be an at large bid coming out of the conference so who cares how many wins you schedule? I do think 4 non-division 1's is a bit much and as a fan/media member I absolutely hated calling these games. For every other Big South school, I think money games matter but at Liberty they don't at all at this stage so why not schedule wins? I don't know a coach in America that isn't trying to schedule wins. For every Tom Izzo that goes and plays anywhere, anytime, anybody, there are, well, EVERY OTHER COACH IN AMERICA!

[TheGovernor]

Agreed. At this juncture this doesn't appear to be a 20 loss team...will see when the ball goes up next month

Did last year's team appear to be a 20 loss team? Dont underestimate the ability to lose games over here.

[Chippy]

Agreed. At this juncture this doesn't appear to be a 20 loss team...will see when the ball goes up next month

Did last year's team appear to be a 20 loss team? Dont underestimate the ability to lose games over here.

Not until watching them struggle in the first game with Randolph when they had to rally at the end of the game to widen the final margin and after the next 2-3 games it was obvious this team was in for a long season.

[TheGovernor]

Agreed. At this juncture this doesn't appear to be a 20 loss team...will see when the ball goes up next month

Did last year's team appear to be a 20 loss team? Dont underestimate the ability to lose games over here.

Not until watching them struggle in the first game with Randolph when they had to rally at the end of the game to widen the final margin and after the next 2-3 games it was obvious this team was in for a long season.

I was just saying at the same "juncture" (Middle of Oct.) no one would have said 20 loses for this last year's team. Once the season started, We all had excuses for everything that happened from there

[ThisGuy]

I'm starting to get cautiously optimistic we'll be decent. Not world changers by any means, but decent.

Probably the most talent we've had in years.

I find this very interesting. For you to say that this year's team has more talent than the previous two is something I would have a hard time being convinced of. Talent has rarely been the issue. Management of talent is the issue.

[olldflame]

Actually, there were a few people on ff who in fact predicted 20 plus losses prior to last season. I felt they were being unduly pessimistic at the time, and I feel the same way now, even with 20/20 hindsight. Last years team should have won more than 11 games. They may not have been athletic, but not every good team is loaded with athletes. They had tons of experience, size up front and shooters. I still scratch my head and wonder how they were that bad.

[BJWilliams]

As the cockroaches come crawling out again, I think a lot of it comes from a lack of sound leadership by the upperclassmen, and players that were playing out of their position, and probably also some degree of complacency as well

[TheGovernor]

As the cockroaches come crawling out again, I think a lot of it comes from a lack of sound leadership by the upperclassmen, and players that were playing out of their position, and probably also some degree of complacency as well

Did you just call me a cockroach for pointing out facts?

[BJWilliams]

I used the term because you have posters who only come out but certain times of year and then disappear into the darkness again when that time is up. Facts or not, you really only come out for an occasional comment and then disappear into lurking again after a few days. why not get a bit more active in the discussion or something

[TheGovernor]

I used the term because you have posters who only come out but certain times of year and then disappear into the darkness again when that time is up. Facts or not, you really only come out for an occasional comment and then disappear into lurking again after a few days. why not get a bit more active in the discussion or something

Some of us choose to read and not provide an opinion for every single thing that gets posted. Some of us also might just speak about basketball because it is what we know and follow enough to speak about at Liberty. Just because I dont post every day doesnt mean I care less or I just wait to pop up at a certain time. I would encourage you to tell me about what "time" it is that "we" pop up.

Some people post every hour, and I choose to post things that I have insight on. Sorry.

Aren't you the guy that predicted 20-30 wins last year? Maybe you should consider the same approach.

[Purple Haize]

As the cockroaches come crawling out again, I think a lot of it comes from a lack of sound leadership by the upperclassmen, and players that were playing out of their position, and probably also some degree of complacency as well

Did you just call me a cockroach for pointing out facts?

BJ is the King of Personal attacks. Take it as a badge of honor.

[WinthropEagleFan]

Non-conference schedule means nothing in the Big South especially for Liberty. There is not going to be an at large bid coming out of the conference so who cares how many wins you schedule?

It may be putting the cart before the horse, but if you end up getting to the NCAAs by winning the conference tournament, having any wins over other tournament schools or other schools rated highly in the RPI can be enough to differentiate you from other schools around your level when it comes to seeding (WU in Peele's first year got a 13-seed despite being significantly lower in the RPI than many of the 14 & 15 seeds due to having a win over a Miami team that made the NCAAs, along with a win over a top-100 RPI team in Georgia Tech). That's why I think just using an at-large bid as the only justification for playing a tough schedule as a bit short-sighted. You can't get any good wins if you don't schedule any good teams. Now obviously it doesn't make sense to load up on really tough opponents if you aren't capable of beating them, but I think non-conference scheduling can help, even if you don't feel you are at-large worthy....sidenote: while difficult to imagine, I don't find it impossible for a Big South team to get an at-large at some point.

[jcmanson]

WEF, you make valid points, but Layer is not worried about seeding in the NCAA tournament. He's worried about wins to keep his job.

[WinthropEagleFan]

WEF, you make valid points, but Layer is not worried about seeding in the NCAA tournament. He's worried about wins to keep his job.

Oh, I know that...I was speaking more against the philosophy of 'if you aren't going to get an at-large, what difference does your non-conference schedule make anyway?' Scheduling involves things like job-security and other items that have nothing to do with tournament seeding, and I completely understand that...And people like to see wins, so it is a delicate balance.

[olldflame]

Our WBB has certainly seen a difference in tournament seeding based on who they played (and beat) in non-conference games.

[TDDance234]

We're in the play-in-round no matter what.

But a couple blowout wins would do wonders for this team and their confidence. This is another sneaky year where the Big South could be down and we could surprise with a conference tournament win.

[TIMSCAR20]

Winthrop was the exception not the rule in the Marshall Era. I assure you no Big South Coaches are thinking of seeding when scheduling. THAT would be cart before horse for sure.

[BJWilliams]

My prediction of 20 wins last year, Governor, as with any other, was a speculation based on the information presented. I do my best to offer meaningful contributions whenever possible (though not always successfully). you don't make 16000+ posts without having a few gold nuggets

[thepostman]

Pulling out all the stops huh, BJ??

[BJWilliams]

Eh...not really. thegovernor is entitled to his opinion. the timing of his posts just came into question (to me at least) because he only seems to come out once every month or two for a couple days

[TheGovernor]

My prediction of 20 wins last year, Governor, as with any other, was a speculation based on the information presented. I do my best to offer meaningful contributions whenever possible (though not always successfully). you don't make 16000+ posts without having a few gold nuggets

I think you proved my point, so thank you?

[BJWilliams]

Maybe, maybe not...shall we move on? I regret taking that tangent from the OP already