[paradox]

I guess that was the problem: his strengths were not on the perimeter, but his inside game was outstanding. Had he stayed, he could have been everything that Gabe Martin was and more. He was a perfect fit at the four, but he undoubtedly desired to be in the backcourt. And Brew in the backcourt is clearly not what's best for the team.

[Cider Jim]

I realize that we are hopelessly again, but since we are here, does anyone know what position Brew played at Providence? If he strugged at point guard for us in the Big South, I would be surprised if he played that same position at Providence in the Big East.

[LUconn]

He didn't. That's one of the reasons why he left.

[kel varson]

Brew was the best player on the team last year. The offense should have flowed through him, but Blair had no leash.

[Cider Jim]

Kel, you may have a point there, considering the last play of the last game of the season, when we're down by one or two and had the last shot: according to the paper, RD drew up a play that had the ball going into Brew on the inside, but since he was covered, LB got the ball instead and took an off balance fade away shot, and we all know what the result was--an LU loss and RD's contract not renewed.

[SuperJon]

Students have been saying since January that we weren't doing enough with Brew and that Larry's shots were stupid. However, we're just students and Larry's a god here so everyone said we were stupid. Kinda funny that other people are saying the same now.

[LUconn]

Students have been saying since January that we weren't doing enough with Brew and that Larry's shots were stupid. However, we're just students and Larry's a god here so everyone said we were stupid. Kinda funny that other people are saying the same now.

I don't think anybody here is saying that about Larry. Except Kel, but he's always been saying that. You'd have to be pretty thick headed not to realize that Brew was not taking enough shots. I doubt Larry was keeping him from doing that, and I doubt Dunton told him not to. He didn't start, played passive when he was in and was looking to be unselfish. So really it seems to me like the combination of Dunton, Larry, and himself led to him not being as spectacular as he could have been.

I hardly think that the last shot of the season can be used as an example of Larry taking "stupid shots". He didn't have a choice. Anthony made a hasty pass and Larry had to deal with it. Yes, he takes crazy looking shots. But if you can make them, who cares how off balance you are? Honestly, I think anybody who thinks Larry's shots were stupid, is an idiot. He shot 44%. Others may have shot better but how can you complain about 44%? Add on 3.3 assists (the most of anybody on our team).

[SuperJon]

I'm not basing it on that last shot.


I think he blew the Coastal game. He came down and threw up a stupid 3 pointer at the end (before the free throw) because he thought he had to be the man.

[ludeal]

there are some that are very skeptical about bannister next year, i am not saying that he is not going to be good, however i wouldnt say that he is going to be great or even our best, in highschool in jacksonville his high school team was unbelievable, Uva was recruiting him in hopes that they would land several of his teamates as well, at Uva he was playing with two of the best at the gaurd position in the country, he is a good player but i am just a little leary about him having to be a leader and bring other people's game up a level. i hope that he can adjust becasue he definately has the potential, but that is a very hard and sometimes frustrating transition to make ( from being a role player with great play makers, to being the playmaker with other role players)......... lets hope he stays confident with his teamates and rises to the challenge, but we should wait and see......

[thepostman]

bash larry all you want....and i agree with a lot of it....but he may have missed his share of stupid shots...but he also made a good share of them...when you have a player like that its a give and take every night....

I personally think Larry was used wrong and should have been point guard the last 2 years....he is an underrated passer and really could have done well for not only LU but any pro dreams he may have.....

of course this ultimately goes back on the coach...but its all living in the past....

coaching or not...brew did not live up to the hype people were giving him...yes we all saw the potential...but seeing potential and actually performing at the level some on this board said he would are two completely different things....

people were saying Brew would take us to that next level....I didn't really see that at all

with that said, this thread is about the best player on the team currently...and of course its too early to tell...it could be TJ...Anthony Smith is primed and ready to have a break out year i believe...McKay seems to believe in him as well...it will be an interesting season to say the least

[Cider Jim]

Actually, this thread is supposed to be about our best NEW player for next year, and Brew, Larry (and even Anthony) don't qualify. Our only choices are:

(1) TJ Bannister, the senior point guard transfer from UVa
(2) Johnny Stephene 6-0, the freshman combo guard from Boynton Beach, Fla
(3) Jeremy Anderson 6-3, the shooting guard from Bowling Green, Ky
(4) plus any walk-ons that we may have

So please save the Blair & Brew talk for the Old Folks Home, since neither is a current player for LU.

[jmdickens]

there are some that are very skeptical about bannister next year, i am not saying that he is not going to be good, however i wouldnt say that he is going to be great or even our best, in highschool in jacksonville his high school team was unbelievable, Uva was recruiting him in hopes that they would land several of his teamates as well, at Uva he was playing with two of the best at the gaurd position in the country, he is a good player but i am just a little leary about him having to be a leader and bring other people's game up a level. i hope that he can adjust becasue he definately has the potential, but that is a very hard and sometimes frustrating transition to make ( from being a role player with great play makers, to being the playmaker with other role players)......... lets hope he stays confident with his teamates and rises to the challenge, but we should wait and see......

I am going to go ahead and say that you are wrong about that....the only other major recruit in 03 for that team was Dwan Youmans....I think he went to Auburn for a year

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=78&p=8&c=2 ... 63&yr=2002

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:aMl ... 53214.html see if you catch Youmans ranking, and the former LU player ranked above him

[paradox]

Actually, this thread is supposed to be about our best NEW player for next year, and Brew, Larry (and even Anthony) don't qualify. Our only choices are:

(1) TJ Bannister, the senior point guard transfer from UVa
(2) Johnny Stephene 6-0, the freshman combo guard from Boynton Beach, Fla
(3) Jeremy Anderson 6-3, the shooting guard from Bowling Green, Ky
(4) plus any walk-ons that we may have

So please save the Blair & Brew talk for the Old Folks Home, since neither is a current player for LU.

With Bannister's ACC experience along with his playmaking ability he is the clear and early favorite, and for good reason. However, don't be surprised if Jeremy Anderson emerges by season's end. From what I understand JA is a McKay-esque type player with all of the intangibles.

[paradox]

there are some that are very skeptical about bannister next year, i am not saying that he is not going to be good, however i wouldnt say that he is going to be great or even our best, in highschool in jacksonville his high school team was unbelievable, Uva was recruiting him in hopes that they would land several of his teamates as well, at Uva he was playing with two of the best at the gaurd position in the country, he is a good player but i am just a little leary about him having to be a leader and bring other people's game up a level. i hope that he can adjust becasue he definately has the potential, but that is a very hard and sometimes frustrating transition to make ( from being a role player with great play makers, to being the playmaker with other role players)......... lets hope he stays confident with his teamates and rises to the challenge, but we should wait and see......

I am going to go ahead and say that you are wrong about that....the only other major recruit in 03 for that team was Dwan Youmans....I think he went to Auburn for a year

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=78&p=8&c=2 ... 63&yr=2002

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:aMl ... 53214.html see if you catch Youmans ranking, and the former LU player ranked above him

He'll make plays and open things up like Gaynor does for Winthrop or like Brian Woodson did for us a few years back. He's money from the free throw line and he penetrates well. He could realistically be a 12 point / 5 assists per game player for us, which would be huge.

[grm]

Permit me to go back to the last play of last year. We all knew that Larry would be watched (and I believe he was fouled on the last play, but that's ok.) and so he was basically a decoy. Brew seemed to be open, and said he was, and could have driven to the hoop. That's what Coach drew up, but it didn't happen. By the time Larry received in the in-bounds, as I recall, he was already going away from the basket and was nearly in the back-court. So now...Larry's in a bind, Brew's left out, Coach is questioned, and the game, season, and a few coaching careers at LU are history. Of course, Coach's was already doomed as of October 16th, 2006, since Jeff Barber's decision (and whoever else as well) had already been made. Some people feel that Coach spent his last year just decorating his own casket. For RMK's sake, I hope he never ends up in that position. Randy went 2-1-2 in his first three years, and everyone was ready to "Lynch" him for the cause of "Liberty." I hope better for RMK.
[/list]

[LUconn]

well... we did have a timeout left.

[grm]

Hard to continue this without criticizing unnecssarily. You could have all of the time-outs in the universe, and draw up all of the plays in the basketball world, but the right decisions then have to be made, and players have to make plays. I don't think the ball should have gone to Larry, and Webber should not have called that time-out a decade or two ago.... Things happen that shouldn't in big moments.

[The Rock]

Coach was known for drawing up good plays during time outs I think thats where most people have an issue. And the fact that it seemed it was unclear to some on the bench if we did in fact even have time outs. Either way we're living in the past and not talking about the future and who the best "new?" player next year will be.



My vote is for Smith, if it's a new player then TJ? Not sold yet on many counts


I'm new and you'll be seeing more of me

[whmatthews]

IF YOU SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
WHAT THE ROCK
IS COOKIN

[whmatthews]

Best new player = TJ
Best returning player = Alex

[whmatthews]

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER = BJ

[Fumblerooskies]

I hear that J.R. Nicholas kid is supposed to be the real deal.

[PAmedic]

I'm new and you'll be seeing more of me

welcome aboard

hope you enjoy the commentary

[jcmanson]

I think the most improved player will be big Russ.

[SuperJon]

Amen.