[TIMSCAR20]

I think this team is way more talented than last season's VMI team. Glasscow and Covington are really good players. Okoye can be a handful and so can Keith Gabriel at times. Their bench is ok and the style of play allows some of those guys to contribute. Liberty should win the battle on the boards but if the turnovers start to happen there will be run outs and dunks at the other end. This is one I am looking forward to though....Luconn I love the signature! We need a "like" button on Flamefans!

[Bigsouthking]

Actually it got him to 1, I believe. Ironically enough playing the exact opposite way got him to the other.

I did some research on coach sweater vest teams... the year they beat RD - they played 2 -3 zone for 3 straight games and still avg. 85 ppg in those games... that's a lot!

if that Allison guy could recruit any better coach sweater vest would probably have a ring by now.

[jcmanson]

if that Allison guy could recruit any better coach sweater vest would probably have a ring by now.

And that falls on sweater vest

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

I think VMI could potentially be our worst nightmare. They play well on the road, they havent started that army crap yet (that drains their players), Their style is always a nightmare, They actually have a big kid that can create matchup problems, and how we have been playing and winning wont work against them.

As we all know, no lead is safe against them, but our turnovers will cause us the most problems. Their pressure is to force turnovers and we have been giving it away with no pressure as it is. They wont miss or take bad shots in transition, and that could really hurt us. I think the real factor is going to be post play. JVP, Burris, Sommy, and probably Carter are just going to have to impose their will. RD's last year when we went to their place and won it was because Alex had 40 pts and 19 rebs (if I remember correctly)... Our Posts HAVE To rebound because with having other options you have to account for Okoye can really get on the offense glass even more than last year.

All that being said, we play the best kind of style to beat VMI offensively. A slow, patenient offense that will sometimes lead to nothing, but takes 35 seconds and VMI will have to sit down and guard for 35 seconds and they really dont want to. There is no reason we shouldnt win.

IMO:
Liberty's X-Facor- David Minaya. He always plays the game well in this type of style. If he can sustain a high level of play past the first 5:00 and get some confidence, he could really come out to play.
(Also I would say if Carter gets any PT, his ability to stretch the floor if we play another big could be great as well, but God knows thats not going to happen.)

VMI's X-Factor- Okoye. He's never really been THAT great playing us, but he absolutely has the ability to. Having to account for the other players and as sloppy as we can be, it could really be a coming out party for him and if he is on the glass, we could be in trouble.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

if that Allison guy could recruit any better coach sweater vest would probably have a ring by now.

I hope you're joking. I REALLY hope you're joking.

[Rooster Cogburn]

What is the highest point total we've scored this year? Those final scores above are all 80s or above.

[olldflame]

I agree with TBGBG on Minaya. With his newfound confidence and versitile skill set, he could have a really big game.

As far as turnovers are concerned, while I have absolutely no numbers to back it up, my impression is that a high number of ours this year have not been a result of pressure defense, but rather from mistakes or forcing things in the half court. Look at how many turnovers JB and Antwan have. They didn't come against pressure. It was bad hands or poor passes to the post. A lot of Jesse's turnovers have come when he tries to do too much off the dribble in the half court offense. I think we may surprise some people by breaking the pressure quite a bit and finishing at the rim.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Video Interview with Layer: http://www.wset.com/global/category.asp ... Start=true

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

As far as turnovers are concerned, while I have absolutely no numbers to back it up, my impression is that a high number of ours this year have not been a result of pressure defense, but rather from mistakes or forcing things in the half court. Look at how many turnovers JB and Antwan have. They didn't come against pressure. It was bad hands or poor passes to the post. A lot of Jesse's turnovers have come when he tries to do too much off the dribble in the half court offense. I think we may surprise some people by breaking the pressure quite a bit and finishing at the rim.

And pressure only makes those things worse. We havent played against a really high level of pressure yet either. If there is a little pressure and you throw it into the 4th row, what happens when there is pressure. Thats all Im saying.

[Bigsouthking]

Yes I was serious.

And after watching Layer interview, LU will win a championship either this season or next. Bet my farm on it.

[olldflame]

Hope you are right. I really like the direction we are going.

[jcmanson]

LU will win a championship either this season or next. Bet my farm on it.

I called it first:
http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtop ... =3&t=16647

[TDDance234]

I agree with TBGBG on Minaya. With his newfound confidence and versitile skill set, he could have a really big game.

He's suddenly found three-point range, too, which has added some versatility to his game. He really was a spot-up shooter from the elbow last year. Over the past three games, he's hit 4-of-9 (smaller sample size). He had only attempted 5 in the previous 6 games.

If he can continue to develop that kind of range, he becomes even more dangerous.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Yes I was serious.

VMI is THE toughest place to recruit. To put the talent on the floor to compete EVERY YEAR is amazing. Since 99% of their signees have to be late sign's I would say that recruiting is one area where they are doing VERY WELL... I cant even begin to see how you could see otherwise.

[olldflame]

It seems like so much longer, but this is actually only the 5th season Dugger has been using this system. He has only had one winning year in conference (13-5 in 08-09, when the Holmes twins and Willie Bell were Seniors).

VMI is 33-39 doing it this way, but the year before they were 2-14, so you have to say it's been an improvement, even if you don't factor in the excitement it generates not only at home, but on the road. I'm sure there are fans everywhere they play who come just out of curiosity.

[BJWilliams]

VMI has a system that can cause us problems I agree...I dont think they are some "silver bullet" that is going to make us look like a high school JV basketball team compared to them. We have shown that we can do well playing their way both here and at Cameron.

[Bigsouthking]

I coach Upward basketball and have a won a few games, so I have experience when I speak.

Let me pose a question or theory.

If Duggar coached let's say Winthrop's players and Peele coached VMI players -- who would have the better record right now? WU coached by Duggar or VMI coached by Peele.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

I coach Upward basketball and have a won a few games, so I have experience when I speak.

Let me pose a question or theory.

If Duggar coached let's say Winthrop's players and Peele coached VMI players -- who would have the better record right now? WU coached by Duggar or VMI coached by Peele.

Im sure you are referring to style of play in each situation. Thats a wierd thing to even think about haha but I would say Peele at VMI only because Peele coaches defense and VMI has offensive talent where WU doesn't... so in this crazy scenario I think Peele would coach them defensively and their scorers and athletes would be able to provide offense in the sets they run. WU doesnt really have the shooters that VMI does so the run and shoot offense wouldnt work as well there. Those guys are somewhat athletic but mainly defenders and tough players... neither of which is what Duggar runs in his current style. Make sense? Thats just my logic behind my answer.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

I guess it could go either way though... Duggar will run whatever it takes ('07 BS Tourny came out and went to the 2-3 zone against us)

[jbock13]

Last year (I was at the game at VMI) and we trailed by about 20 before we ended up winning by about 10. You really can't try to slow VMI down, or else there's a chance you'll end up being beaten. West Virginia tried it and VMI nearly beat them. Coach Layer tried that last year and it produced almost the same result. If you play their game at their tempo, they're easy to beat.

[BJWilliams]

VMI is the kind of game where you have to fight fire with fire basically...because trying to counter their system is like pouring gasoline on a fire.

[prototype]

I guess it could go either way though... Duggar will run whatever it takes ('07 BS Tourny came out and went to the 2-3 zone against us)

He didn't and won't do that until tourney time.

[coastalalum]

LU will win a championship either this season or next. Bet my farm on it.

I called it first:
http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtop ... =3&t=16647

yea, but realist said ya'll were paper tigers....and she is all-knowing. isn't she???

[jcmanson]

LU will win a championship either this season or next. Bet my farm on it.

I called it first:
http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtop ... =3&t=16647

yea, but realist said ya'll were paper tigers....and she is all-knowing. isn't she???

[bigsmooth]

really looking forward to this game. hopefully the students come out and some of the corps show up. we need to win these home games!!