If roundball is your blood, this is the place to discuss the Flames as they move into the Ritchie McKay era for the 2nd time.

Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke

By Realist
Registration Days Posts
#240680
Champion wrote:
Realist wrote:
phoenix wrote: Translation:
"This is irrelevent because it contradicts my 'McKay=0 conference titles' statement, so I will simply plug my ears and ignore you. It's easier to win in harder conferences because I said so. I just hope McKay leaves Liberty before the team starts winning even more.

The question is, do you think he'd be interested in trying to resurrect the WU program the way he has Liberty's?"
Funny, as I never stated he hasn't won a conference title. Of course, he's won one, while skipping around various programs, running them into the ground, then bolting for the next job before he can get run out of town. Unfortunately, he didn't get out of New Mexico in time and got canned.

Seeing how WU won a title last year and will continue to be the premier program, while LU continues to languish, I think I'll pass on some second rate coach such as Mckay.
Premier program? Did you happen to see your team play this year? If you want to talk about a coach bolting before the bottom dropped out of the program does the Name Marshall mean anything to you? Built a great program and then knew when to "bolt" before it caved in. let me give you some adivce...stop living it the past. Instead of living on past glories perhaps you should start hoping your team can win in the future since Marshall bolted.

Marshall wasn't around last year. WU won the conference and got the 2nd highest seed in the conference's history. Nice try though :D


Sucks not to have a past or future like LU eh?
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By kingaling42
Registration Days Posts
#240682
Realist wrote:
Champion wrote:
Realist wrote: Funny, as I never stated he hasn't won a conference title. Of course, he's won one, while skipping around various programs, running them into the ground, then bolting for the next job before he can get run out of town. Unfortunately, he didn't get out of New Mexico in time and got canned.

Seeing how WU won a title last year and will continue to be the premier program, while LU continues to languish, I think I'll pass on some second rate coach such as Mckay.
Premier program? Did you happen to see your team play this year? If you want to talk about a coach bolting before the bottom dropped out of the program does the Name Marshall mean anything to you? Built a great program and then knew when to "bolt" before it caved in. let me give you some adivce...stop living it the past. Instead of living on past glories perhaps you should start hoping your team can win in the future since Marshall bolted.

Marshall wasn't around last year. WU won the conference and got the 2nd highest seed in the conference's history. Nice try though :D


Sucks not to have a past or future like LU eh?
WU won the conference tourney last year because of Peele, Marshall's recruits + they were a group of upperclassmen who had played together for a few years- even a really poor coach would have trouble messing that up with such player leadership- besides Realist your argument would hold so much more weight had WU won a single D-1 game entering conference play THIS year..

I say the jury is still out on Peele though whether you like that or not- he coached them to great season last year, but you can't deny the Marshall influence that was still in place- let's see how these next couple years go before judgement especially if you're going to throw out a coaches past history..

For the record I wouldn't say that Marshall left before the program "caved in" Champion, even good programs in major conferences have down years to rebuild- I'm not a fan of Marshall, nor do I think his continual job search while at WU was a great indicator of his desire to stay in Rock Hill, but despite the migration attempts he continued to do the job on the court & brought in player after player into that program- WU was a perenial doormat ~12 years ago and not one of us can deny the job Marshall did, regardless of why he left (HINT- almost ALL coaches leave, it's just a matter of time)- otherwise you guys are arguing over 2 second year coaches, give em time before you feel the need to measure their manhoods...
By phoenix
Registration Days Posts
#240690
Realist wrote:You guys must teach some funky math at LU then, but that doesn't really surprise me.

Peele: 1 for 2 in championships

Mckay: 0
Realist wrote:]Funny, as I never stated he hasn't won a conference title.
I can understand you misquoting us, but yourself??
By Realist
Registration Days Posts
#240692
phoenix wrote:
Realist wrote:You guys must teach some funky math at LU then, but that doesn't really surprise me.

Peele: 1 for 2 in championships

Mckay: 0
Realist wrote:]Funny, as I never stated he hasn't won a conference title.
I can understand you misquoting us, but yourself??

Maybe you need to bone up on reading comprehension? This is obviously a reference to the current schools the two coaches are at. If not, then I would have included Peele's other championship.

I know all it takes to get into LU is breathing, but come on, at least show some sign of intelligence.
By thepostman
#240706
Realist wrote: I know all it takes to get into LU is breathing, but come on, at least show some sign of intelligence.
this last sentence is great because your views are so far from reality that you are either crazy or unintelligent...WU is going to improve a bit next year...but not by much and I don't understand how you can see it differently...but then again there are guys on here that think LU is going to win everything every year before every season....

I know WU has history...but that is all it is...history...I do not see your current coach changing it...If I am wrong about that I will gladly say I am wrong...

you repeatedly said WU was the most talented team in Big South this year..and there is no doubt you were wrong about that...but I won't expect you to admit you were wrong
By TIMSCAR20
Registration Days Posts
#240710
I think Radford will be head and shoulders above everyone else next year IMO. They have a transfer from Binghamton who is big like Art and supposed to be better than him. The big south has been run by 6-4 to 6-8 power forwards and centers for the past 10 years. Guys like Gabe Martin, Torrell Martin AZ Reid, Reggie Williams and Danny Gathings have been able to have major success in this league. However WU has been the biggest strongest team with Phillip Williams and 6-10 Craig Bradshaw for many seasons now. I guess what I am trying to say is that having a big 5 man that can play the next few years in the conference is going to be important. The old Big South from the mid to late 90's had tons of players above 6-9 or 6-10 and the teams that won most of the time had good post play. This conference is a perimeter oriented team but the teams that have won the league have had legitimate post players for the most part. Even LU with Louvon Sneed and Jason Sarchett who were decent players but not as big or strong as Parakouski were able to get it done in 2004.

Winthrop is going to be much improved with the players they get back including Big Andy. However I don't think they will be as good as Radford. I watched that championship game yesterday from press row and left very impressed with the Highlanders.
By Realist
Registration Days Posts
#240711
You guys have the worst WU envy of anyone in the conference and it shows----the joke at WU games among those who frequent boards is how bad you guys want us to fail b/c you are so jealous. To anyone who watched this year, it was easy to see that WU has the most talent top to bottom in the league---by far. However, there are seasons when injuries occur and when that happens with a young team means no championship.

WU definitely had its worst season in a long time---and there is no doubt they will be much better next year, unless they lose their starting pg and center to season ending injuries and various others for good amounts of time like this year. WU went .500 with a green team and half its team injured. That happens to anyone else and they finish near last or last in the league.

WU has something like 11-12 straight seasons of .500 or better records in conference play. There are only around 10-15 programs in the nation that can claim that, and that includes Carolina, Duke, Gonzaga, etc.

Seriously, when you guys have something to talk about, talk about it. But currently you still have the same program you've always had. A middle of the road at best BSC program. WU has a brand name mid major program that is listed among the elite.

Instead of being so jealous and trying to degrade what Winthrop is, why not try to elevate yourself.
By Realist
Registration Days Posts
#240712
SCAR wrote:I think Radford will be head and shoulders above everyone else next year IMO. They have a transfer from Binghamton who is big like Art and supposed to be better than him. The big south has been run by 6-4 to 6-8 power forwards and centers for the past 10 years. Guys like Gabe Martin, Torrell Martin AZ Reid, Reggie Williams and Danny Gathings have been able to have major success in this league. However WU has been the biggest strongest team with Phillip Williams and 6-10 Craig Bradshaw for many seasons now. I guess what I am trying to say is that having a big 5 man that can play the next few years in the conference is going to be important. The old Big South from the mid to late 90's had tons of players above 6-9 or 6-10 and the teams that won most of the time had good post play. This conference is a perimeter oriented team but the teams that have won the league have had legitimate post players for the most part. Even LU with Louvon Sneed and Jason Sarchett who were decent players but not as big or strong as Parakouski were able to get it done in 2004.

Winthrop is going to be much improved with the players they get back including Big Andy. However I don't think they will be as good as Radford. I watched that championship game yesterday from press row and left very impressed with the Highlanders.

That is true, post play always wins this league. WU and RU should be battling for it next year.
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By jcmanson
Registration Days Posts
#240713
Realist wrote:the joke at WU games among those who frequent boards is how bad you guys want us to fail b/c you are so jealous.
Does that convo include ALL 10 of your students that showed this year?
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By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#240715
Realist wrote:You guys have the worst WU envy of anyone in the conference and it shows----the joke at WU games among those who frequent boards is how bad you guys want us to fail b/c you are so jealous. To anyone who watched this year, it was easy to see that WU has the most talent top to bottom in the league---by far. However, there are seasons when injuries occur and when that happens with a young team means no championship.

WU definitely had its worst season in a long time---and there is no doubt they will be much better next year, unless they lose their starting pg and center to season ending injuries and various others for good amounts of time like this year. WU went .500 with a green team and half its team injured. That happens to anyone else and they finish near last or last in the league.

WU has something like 11-12 straight seasons of .500 or better records in conference play. There are only around 10-15 programs in the nation that can claim that, and that includes Carolina, Duke, Gonzaga, etc.

Seriously, when you guys have something to talk about, talk about it. But currently you still have the same program you've always had. A middle of the road at best BSC program. WU has a brand name mid major program that is listed among the elite.

Instead of being so jealous and trying to degrade what Winthrop is, why not try to elevate yourself.
You never, ever disappoint.

:lol:
By Champion
Registration Days Posts
#240720
Realist wrote:You guys have the worst WU envy of anyone in the conference and it shows----the joke at WU games among those who frequent boards is how bad you guys want us to fail b/c you are so jealous. To anyone who watched this year, it was easy to see that WU has the most talent top to bottom in the league---by far. However, there are seasons when injuries occur and when that happens with a young team means no championship.

WU definitely had its worst season in a long time---and there is no doubt they will be much better next year, unless they lose their starting pg and center to season ending injuries and various others for good amounts of time like this year. WU went .500 with a green team and half its team injured. That happens to anyone else and they finish near last or last in the league.

WU has something like 11-12 straight seasons of .500 or better records in conference play. There are only around 10-15 programs in the nation that can claim that, and that includes Carolina, Duke, Gonzaga, etc.

Seriously, when you guys have something to talk about, talk about it. But currently you still have the same program you've always had. A middle of the road at best BSC program. WU has a brand name mid major program that is listed among the elite.

Instead of being so jealous and trying to degrade what Winthrop is, why not try to elevate yourself.
The jury is still out on Peele. He won last year with Marshall's recruits. He still has a few years left to prove himself. I won't judge him just yet, but at this moment it's not looking good. Maybe LU was was a horrible team this year, but at least they did finish ahead of the most talented team in the conference....and they used four freshman starters to do it. You might want to concede a little something here.
By thepostman
#240721
Realist wrote:the joke at WU games among those who frequent boards is how bad you guys want us to fail b/c you are so jealous. .
Actually I would love for all other Big South schools to fail and us win and succeed in conference play every year....so yeah it has nothing to do with WU..I just do not believe WU is as good as you think they are...that is all...but you can keep telling yourself we are jealous of you if it makes you feel better about yourself :D
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By Cider Jim
Registration Days Posts
#240729
SCAR wrote:I think Radford will be head and shoulders above everyone else next year IMO.
You may have a point there, SCAR, and it sounds like Duggar agrees with you, because he pretty much considers Parakhouski the second coming of Ralph Sampson:
Parakhouski was the difference-maker Saturday. The 6-foot-11 junior, the Big South’s player of the year, earned tournament MVP honors after scoring 26 points and grabbing 18 rebounds in the title game. He was “a house down there,” VMI coach Duggar Baucom said, adding that Parakhouski “has no business playing in this league.” “He could play anywhere in the country,” Baucom said.
http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/sports/c ... ent/14130/
By olldflame
Registration Days Posts
#240733
SCAR wrote:I think Radford will be head and shoulders above everyone else next year IMO. They have a transfer from Binghamton who is big like Art and supposed to be better than him. The big south has been run by 6-4 to 6-8 power forwards and centers for the past 10 years. Guys like Gabe Martin, Torrell Martin AZ Reid, Reggie Williams and Danny Gathings have been able to have major success in this league. However WU has been the biggest strongest team with Phillip Williams and 6-10 Craig Bradshaw for many seasons now. I guess what I am trying to say is that having a big 5 man that can play the next few years in the conference is going to be important. The old Big South from the mid to late 90's had tons of players above 6-9 or 6-10 and the teams that won most of the time had good post play. This conference is a perimeter oriented team but the teams that have won the league have had legitimate post players for the most part. Even LU with Louvon Sneed and Jason Sarchett who were decent players but not as big or strong as Parakouski were able to get it done in 2004.

Winthrop is going to be much improved with the players they get back including Big Andy. However I don't think they will be as good as Radford. I watched that championship game yesterday from press row and left very impressed with the Highlanders.
All true SCAR, and it looks like Radford should be the team to beat next year.................. HOWEVER, our young and undersized group did come within a hair of sweeping them this year and we beat them on their home court with our point guard out and a walkon playing 39 minutes. I really don't think having a third legit big man will make Radford that much better. I guess it's possible that Trifunovic (who is not nearly as big as Art at 6'8 225) will be an upgrade over JL-F, but not by that much (Joey was first team all BSC after all :wink: ) There is no way they will play more than 2 of them at a time.
By paradox
Registration Days Posts
#240750
I'll admit that Big Art is special.

However, I gotta disagree a little here with the notion that the team with the dominating big man usually wins the conference. Superior gaurd play is what most often wins out, especially on the mid-major level.

And you really can't win anything on any college basketball level without true leadership in your backcourt. You're gonna go a lot farther with superior guard play and average post play than you would with the opposite.
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By vabigpoppa
Registration Days Posts
#240767
olldflame wrote:
SCAR wrote:I think Radford will be head and shoulders above everyone else next year IMO. They have a transfer from Binghamton who is big like Art and supposed to be better than him. The big south has been run by 6-4 to 6-8 power forwards and centers for the past 10 years. Guys like Gabe Martin, Torrell Martin AZ Reid, Reggie Williams and Danny Gathings have been able to have major success in this league. However WU has been the biggest strongest team with Phillip Williams and 6-10 Craig Bradshaw for many seasons now. I guess what I am trying to say is that having a big 5 man that can play the next few years in the conference is going to be important. The old Big South from the mid to late 90's had tons of players above 6-9 or 6-10 and the teams that won most of the time had good post play. This conference is a perimeter oriented team but the teams that have won the league have had legitimate post players for the most part. Even LU with Louvon Sneed and Jason Sarchett who were decent players but not as big or strong as Parakouski were able to get it done in 2004.

Winthrop is going to be much improved with the players they get back including Big Andy. However I don't think they will be as good as Radford. I watched that championship game yesterday from press row and left very impressed with the Highlanders.
All true SCAR, and it looks like Radford should be the team to beat next year.................. HOWEVER, our young and undersized group did come within a hair of sweeping them this year and we beat them on their home court with our point guard out and a walkon playing 39 minutes. I really don't think having a third legit big man will make Radford that much better. I guess it's possible that Trifunovic (who is not nearly as big as Art at 6'8 225) will be an upgrade over JL-F, but not by that much (Joey was first team all BSC after all :wink: ) There is no way they will play more than 2 of them at a time.
actually, lazar spent time playing the 3 at binghamton, so he is athletic enough to play the 3....so lazar, joey, and art WILL play at the same time.....also we all know RU wasnt really playing hard in that last game vs. you guys since we had already clinched :wink: (jk)
By SuperJon
Registration Days Posts
#240769
How will Radford's guards be? Will there be any type of outside threat? You can have all the big guys you want, but if there is no threat of the outside shot, the team won't be nearly as successful.
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By vabigpoppa
Registration Days Posts
#240776
SuperJon wrote:How will Radford's guards be? Will there be any type of outside threat? You can have all the big guys you want, but if there is no threat of the outside shot, the team won't be nearly as successful.
the loss of kenny thomas will hurt.....but amir and mceachin have shown they are capable of shooting the 3. We also have 2 incoming freshmen (Evan Faulkner and Michael Wooten) who are capable of stroking it. Evan is expected to come in and get some quality minutes as a freshman. Cole Wilder who can absolutely stroke it may get more playing time next year, he came in and contributed some clutch minutes during the tournament.

Evan
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiti ... son%3d2009

Michael
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiti ... son%3d2009
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By ToTheLeft
Registration Days Posts
#240778
Wilder seemed to me to be nothing more than a goon this season. I only got to see three of your games, but still.
By markymark550
Registration Days Posts
#240829
Next year's Big South will be interesting. I think RU will be the preseason favorite and LU will be preseason #2. Other than that, I have no clue how the preseason rankings will go. My preseason rankings based on no research of players lost, incoming freshmen, etc.:
1. RU
2. LU
3. UNCA
4. WU
5. GW
6. HPU
7. VMI
8. CCU
9. CSU
10. PC (if the 3 sophs do redshirt)

I wouldn't be surprised to see LU, UNCA, or WU finish in first place at the end of the year.
By SuperJon
Registration Days Posts
#240830
That looks legit although I may put VMI over HPU simply because their coach is so much better than HPU's. He'll win a few games that Lundy will lose for HPU. Not sure about GW either.
By olldflame
Registration Days Posts
#240871
I see 2 keys to our being able to challenge the Highlanders next year, and IMHO they are equally important. 1) Our "role players" (not named Ohman or Curry) need to be willing and able to take and make open shots. First on that list is Jesse, and I really have a feeling that with his work ethic, he will MAKE HIMSELF into a perimeter threat that cannot be ignored in the off season. Then we need at least 3 or 4 to step up from a group including Jeremy, Tyler, Brolin, Stephene, Austin, And newcomers David Minaya and Tre Lee. 2) We need to develop more of an inside presence. It would be nice if this were at both ends of the floor, but IMHO it is most important on defense. Hopefully the addition of length (if not bulk) in McMasters and Vander Pol along with development by Tyler and Austin will give us this.
By TDDance234
Registration Days Posts
#240875
vabigpoppa wrote:
the loss of kenny thomas will hurt.....but amir and mceachin have shown they are capable of shooting the 3. We also have 2 incoming freshmen (Evan Faulkner and Michael

I don't know why but it sure feels like Amir has been around forever.
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By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#240876
Jesse is able to shoot the 3-ball. With the weapons he had around him Seth, Kyle & Anthony he was better suited as the playmaker this year. With Anthony leaving perhaps he'll be more apt to pull up.

Do not forget Carter and Jeremy in your plans. For all of the complaints on here about Carter's short stint this season, I direct you back to the debacle at UNCA where he was arguably the only player on the floor that was able to do much of anything. With a year of practice and understanding of the college game under his belt I have a feeling he is going to have a bigger impact next season than most are giving him credit.

As for the incoming freshmen, outside of our Flying Dutchman I would caution factoring others into your plans quite yet. Although that could change shortly.
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By jcmanson
Registration Days Posts
#240889
Carter also proved in his limited play this season that he can alter shots in the paint. We didn’t have that at all this year.
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