[BJWilliams]

The LUnatics was something unique that may never be truly replicated. Jon. FFG, TTL, BrysOn, JDUB, Karen and the rest were a combination of personalities that lent itself to that sort of a group. For any group to even come close, they would have to have a level of passion, ingenuity and all-around...well...sheer awesomeness (along with a high level of organizational and networking skills) to make that happen.

[thepostman]

Calm down beej. The LUNatics were great but it wouldn't take much to replicate that. Just a few committed students.

[Sly Fox]

Agreed, postie.

[ATrain]

Calm down beej. The LUNatics were great but it wouldn't take much to replicate that. Just a few committed students.

Exactly.

JJ is one. Any others?

[bluejacket]

Calm down beej. The LUNatics were great but it wouldn't take much to replicate that. Just a few committed students.

[TDDance234]

I think that's one place Ritchie will excel where Dale probably struggled - getting the community and study body engaged. Layer tried but just wasn't in his personality, IMO.

[SuperJon]

Calm down beej. The LUNatics were great but it wouldn't take much to replicate that. Just a few committed students.

Agreed completely. It's not that hard:

1) Have a leader who is organized and passionate.
2) Have 10-15 people who are committed to it.
3) Do things the right way.

Done.

[thepostman]

Calm down beej. The LUNatics were great but it wouldn't take much to replicate that. Just a few committed students.

Agreed completely. It's not that hard:

1) Have a leader who is organized and passionate.
2) Have 10-15 people who are committed to it.
3) Do things the right way.

Done.

Glad you didn't take it as me taking a shot at you guys because you guys did a great job.

BJ just likes to hype things up. The one thing that is probably the hardest thing about starting a group like that is having patience. It won't catch on right away as I know you saw. Liberty students are a unique bunch.

[BJWilliams]

Calm down beej. The LUNatics were great but it wouldn't take much to replicate that. Just a few committed students.

The bold is the key. Jon and the gang were 100% committed. Im glad that this JJ fellow is all in...its a question of how many others could have that same level of fandom, and can maintain itself beyond the graduation of the core group

[SuperJon]

The catch with the leader is he can't be socially awkward. I don't mean to sound mean and I don't know the JJ kid at all, but it takes someone who is a gatherer and can work with people well. Socially awkward kids will naturally gravitate to a group like that, but if it's full of those kids, it won't wirk.

[Schfourteenteen]

yeah.

[comet]

The catch with the leader is he can't be socially awkward.

Leaders aren't socially awkward, or else they wouldn't be leaders. I'd be happy if we could just pack the Vines with everyone wearing LU red. Did you see the Wisconsin crowd on Monday night? You had a sea of red, except for four guys that, for whatever reason, dressed up as the Teletubbies. No need. Just wear red.

[olldflame]

Question for those who are or have been college coaches or are otherwise familiar with NCAA rules.

I know that for the most part basketball is limited to conditioning during this part of the year, but do they make any allowance for a new coach to conduct workouts with individuals or small groups for the purposes of evaluating/assessing his talent? That would seem to be pretty much job one for Ritchie right now so he knows who the guys are who will fit his system and can help the team next year and beyond (and who doesn't and can't) Obviously he can look at game and practice video and he has the advantage of having Mance and Olinger, who are very familiar with what the guys can do, but it's not the same as being able to personally put them through the paces.

[Chris Lang]

Teams regularly conduct individual workouts in the spring, so the answer to your question is yes.

[JK37]

Up to 8 hours per week may be committed to athletically related activites (weight lifting, conditioning, agilities, on-court workouts, etc.), with up to 2 of those being sport specific (the on-court workouts). Additionally, through April 15 the on-court workouts have no restriction based on number of personnel (whole team workouts). After April 15, the maximum is four players at any one time. And finally, all workouts must cease seven days prior to the start of final exams.

[Chris Lang]

Sat down with Ritchie for a long conversation on Thursday. Here's the transcript:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... 4e5c9.html

[PAmedic]

great article LANG

RMK:So yeah, we’ll recruit nationally, but we want to do a great job in the state and in the region.

RMK: Jeff Barber’s painting of the portrait of the athletics facilities and where he wants the department to go, resources and competitive wise, is a huge attraction to me because I’m really competitive. I want our program to be at the very top. I know there’s a process to getting there, but I’m two feet in.

re: atmosphere in the Vines:

RMK: “I have no doubt, especially given the growth of the student body, that we can recreate, if not further that. But we have to give them something that’s worthy of rooting for. We’ve got to give them the right representation on campus. Our student body has to feel like our guys are a part of them, not above them. We’ve got to give them a good product on the floor. We certainly have to do our part in the sacrifice it takes in becoming a great team. It’s one thing to be a great individual player. But great teams don’t come around that often.”

lotsa other good stuff in there @ the offense and non-conf scheduling

[PAFlame]

I especially like the non-scheduling bit. Did we ever get an explanation or an idea of why the previous staff decided on scheduling so many non-division one games? I can imagine it was to get some home games in, but I also have trouble believing that not a single one of the 350+ DI teams were able or wanted to play Liberty.

[Sly Fox]

You forgot to ask him about scheduling more games near Houston, Chris.

[TIMSCAR20]

I especially like the non-scheduling bit. Did we ever get an explanation or an idea of why the previous staff decided on scheduling so many non-division one games? I can imagine it was to get some home games in, but I also have trouble believing that not a single one of the 350+ DI teams were able or wanted to play Liberty.

The obvious answer is to get wins and to get home games. The part about wanting to play at Liberty is actually true. It is not that they were afraid to play Liberty but they all want to play at home. Everyone wants to play at home. Scheduling is a huge negotiation game and a give and take. Much more complex than suggested on this board as I have said a dozen times. Also the obsession with who Liberty plays and strength of schedule also amazes me. IT DOESN'T MATTER that much. Until you start playing at a national level, like Winthrop did with Gregg Marshall and like Coastal is trying to get to, the strength of schedule isn't important. Now I will say I agree that 4 non's is a bit high but when you are trying to get home games and no one wants to come play you you still have to fill the schedule and get some games so you play the non's.

[VAGolf]

The only part of that interview that disappointed me was the apart about Bennet's offense at UVA. A coaches main responsibility isn't to win. It's to enable his players to play to the best of their abilities. Bennet's strategy completely inhibits the artistry of the game. What made college basketball great was the Phi Slamma Jamma's and the incredible UNLV squads. This boring style of play only takes away from that and creates an awful product. Coaches that micromanage every aspect of a basketball game is just not fun to watch.

[TDDance234]

The only part of that interview that disappointed me was the apart about Bennet's offense at UVA. A coaches main responsibility isn't to win. It's to enable his players to play to the best of their abilities. Bennet's strategy completely inhibits the artistry of the game. What made college basketball great was the Phi Slamma Jamma's and the incredible UNLV squads. This boring style of play only takes away from that and creates an awful product. Coaches that micromanage every aspect of a basketball game is just not fun to watch.

Boring is subjective. I enjoy watching tough, physical defense. Virginia's offense - when they move the ball, it's a lot of fun to watch.

[thepostman]

I never found UVA to be as boring as some of you claim it to be. If Liberty won like that I would be fine with it.

With that said nothing about McKay's past hints he will run his team with that kind of mindset offensively.

[TIMSCAR20]

I never found UVA to be as boring as some of you claim it to be. If Liberty won like that I would be fine with it.

With that said nothing about McKay's past hints he will run his team with that kind of mindset offensively.

Yeah ESPN and others are driving this narrative and I couldn't disagree more. They are trying to make the college game more like the NBA. The problem with that is the NBA has nothing but elite players. College basketball is full of very good to great players but very few are elite. What is wrong with good defense? The same with the NFL. I am tired of folks trying to legislate offense. a 30 second shot clock is going to create more bad shots in my opinion and the scoring won't necessarily be impacted in a positive manner. I attended several NIT games and watched on TV and I can say that the 30 second shot clock made teams force up shots late a good deal of the time. In the NBA when they are up against the shot clock you have guys that can create a high percentage shot in a matter of moments. Most college players can't do that against a set defense.

[Chris Lang]

You've got to consider too that those NIT teams spent the entire year running offense geared toward a 35-second clock, not a 30. With more prep time, I'm sure the offense would settle in fine with the shorter clock. But Ritchie has a good point about 3/4-court traps and trying to find ways to further shorten the shot clock within the possession.