[nickrichard]

They did travel up last night, I don't know where that came from Richard....it makes very good sense to take a bus, it is more relaxing and probably a better environment for the players

Dickens, I'm pretty sure that is what I said, but thanks for clarifying. I was simply stating that I thought it was a good idea to take a bus, but why not wait until Thurs. to leave. This way, you sleep in your own beds on Wed, travel up Thurs, have a light workout Thurs evening and Fri, play on Sat. Why travel through the night? Even though there are beds on this bus, how well are you going to sleep/get rested? You get in at 6:00 am, and your entire schedule is thrown off. I just don't see what you gain by leaving after the game Wed???

You are really confusing me on this one....I don't think they left after the game wednesday because the game was last night on a thursday

Yeah, so today is Friday? Please disregard all previous posts in an attempt to no longer completely embarass myself anyfurther

[Sly Fox]

Here is what Chris had int he morning fishwrap:

Liberty drops to 1-10 on the road with loss at Longwood

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
February 16, 2007

FARMVILLE - Longwood coach Mike Gillian learned long ago that benching a player because of foul trouble isn't always the best course of action. So when Lancers forward Clayton Morgan picked up his fourth foul with 6:44 left in Thursday's game against Liberty, he stayed on the floor.

Morgan was playing too well to sit. He scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down six rebounds, including four points and two boards after the fourth foul, in the Lancers' 76-70 victory at Willett Hall.

"You have to manage it, but you can't really worry about it," Gillian said. "I'm a believer that if a guy picks up two quick fouls and you sit him down for the rest of the half, that doesn't do you much good. These are your best players. They've got to be on the court playing in order for you to be successful."

Once Morgan figured out how to negotiate the level of contact in the post, he flourished.

"In that first half, they just let us play," Morgan said.

Ten minutes into the game, only one foul was called. Officials clamped down in the second half, and Morgan found ways to bull his way into the paint and get to the line. He hit 9 of 10 from the free throw line, helping Longwood (9-19) battle back from four down in the second half to take a 10-point lead.

"He's got a wide body," said Liberty forward Alex McLean, who had 17 points and seven rebounds. "He finishes. He really beat us at the free throw line. He was knocking everything down."

Liberty (12-15) fell to 1-10 on the road and lost to the same Longwood team it beat by 28 points in December at home. The Flames haven't won in Farmville in nine tries since the 1978-79 season.

"There's a price tag to get a victory on the road, and we're just not digging down deep enough for it," Liberty coach Randy Dunton said. "Part of it is dealing with the frustration of what's going to happen with contact. You've got to play through it. If you don't get the whistle, you've got to be strong enough to continue to play through the contact and make things happen."

Larry Blair led the Flames with 23 points and continued his inevitable march toward Tony Dunkin's Big South scoring record. He needs 15 points to break the record and might get it as soon as Saturday, when the Flames play at Niagara.

But Liberty's offense lacked flow all night. The Flames only had seven assists on 29 made field goals, meaning a lot of one-on-one basketball was played. Blair was 9 of 19 from the field. Dwight Brewington scored 16 points on 8 of 16 shooting. Anthony Smith was just 2 of 7.

"I thought we were prepared," McLean said. "But in that first half, we didn't have any energy. We couldn't get any stops on the defensive end."

Longwood wing Maurice Sumter scored 19 points, and guard Kevin Swecker was perfect on four 3-point attempts and added 13 points. Brandon Giles, an 88 percent free-throw shooter, went 8-for-8 from the line and hit six free throws in the final minute after Liberty drew within two points with 44 seconds left.

"Even when we fell behind, the outcome was still in our own hands," Gillian said. "We weren't in a situation where we were panicking. It was pretty controlled."

Liberty's game on Saturday, which is part of ESPNU's BracketBusters event, leaves the Flames coaching staff with a quandary. Liberty's game next Wednesday at run-and-gun VMI will play a critical role in deciding which of those teams hosts the other in a Big South tournament game in two weeks. So how much does Dunton play his regulars in Buffalo?

"We're going to look at that," Dunton said. "It's a quality opponent, and I certainly would like us to play solid basketball, but I'm not going to be afraid to develop some kids in the process, too. We want to represent Liberty University in this game at the highest level. But at the same time, you've got to put it in context with what else you're facing and where your team is right now."

TIP-INS: Liberty elected not to fly to Niagara, instead making the 12-hour trip by sleeper-coach bus so it could return home by Sunday morning. If the team had flown, the earliest a flight could get it back to Lynchburg was late Sunday night. The team left for Buffalo after Thursday's game. *** Blair is one of four current Division I players to score 20-plus points in at least 50 games. The others are Nevada's Nick Fazekas, Towson's Gary Neal and Oral Roberts' Caleb Green. *** Longwood finished its season 3-2 against Big South teams, splitting home-and-home series with Liberty and High Point and beating Charleston Southern in a tournament in Las Vegas.

[flameshaw]

I'm sick of losing too, but I just don't see how we should have expected to win that game. This is exactly what we've done the past 2 years. No chance of winning on the road. Hopefully these guys will change that in these last 3 games, but I just don't see it happening. We have never played well at either VMI or Radford, and Niagra, no way.

I'm tired of losing just like the rest of you. It's getting old.

Good teams do better than 1-10 on the road.

I never called us good, we are certainly not good. I thought we would be, but the facts are that we are not. Even at the level of the Big South we are average at best.

JC my friend, I know you never said we were good, I was just making a statement that you have to win some games on the road, and that good teams do. Hope you have a good weekend and keep Richmond on it's toes.

[mrich]

We're going to look at that," Dunton said. "It's a quality opponent, and I certainly would like us to play solid basketball, but I'm not going to be afraid to develop some kids in the process, too. We want to represent Liberty University in this game at the highest level. But at the same time, you've got to put it in context with what else you're facing and where your team is right now."


In other words, make it 1-11 on the road.

[Chris Lang]

Yeah, and so what? Game is absolutely meaningless. You need players to be fresh for Wednesday's game. That's the only thing that matters right now. You can't compromise that game by wasting everyone in a meaningless non-conference game at Niagara.

[SuperJon]

Our starters not playing against Niagra is what most people would call smart.

[nickrichard]

Our starters not playing against Niagra is what most people would call smart.

You think Coastal and Winthrop are going to sit their starters in a "meaningless" game?

[SuperJon]

Winthrop's game is by no-means meangingless. They're fighting for an at-large bid.


I wouldn't be surprised if Coastal sat theirs. They're locked into 3rd place in the conference and have nothing to prove.

[jcmanson]

Good teams do better than 1-10 on the road.

I never called us good, we are certainly not good. I thought we would be, but the facts are that we are not. Even at the level of the Big South we are average at best.

JC my friend, I know you never said we were good, I was just making a statement that you have to win some games on the road, and that good teams do. Hope you have a good weekend and keep Richmond on it's toes.

Yeah I know, I was hoping you wouldn't take it that way. You do the same.

[flameshaw]

Dickens, I'm pretty sure that is what I said, but thanks for clarifying. I was simply stating that I thought it was a good idea to take a bus, but why not wait until Thurs. to leave. This way, you sleep in your own beds on Wed, travel up Thurs, have a light workout Thurs evening and Fri, play on Sat. Why travel through the night? Even though there are beds on this bus, how well are you going to sleep/get rested? You get in at 6:00 am, and your entire schedule is thrown off. I just don't see what you gain by leaving after the game Wed???

You are really confusing me on this one....I don't think they left after the game wednesday because the game was last night on a thursday

Yeah, so today is Friday? Please disregard all previous posts in an attempt to no longer completely embarass myself anyfurther

Nick,

I got an extra calandar if you need one. I liked your logic just fine, but you just got to know what day it is. ( By the way it is a SI desk calandar). Love ya man!!!!!!!

[jmdickens]

This game is meaningless, except for next season we get Niagra at home....

More time for Armon Jones

[SuperJon]

He'll foul out in ten minutes.

[jmdickens]

that is still 10 minutes.....


I was so ticked at him the other day....I think SCAR might agree on this
He was playing with Lamont and Alex in Lahaye with some other people, and he was beating everyone up and down the court.....where has that effort been??

[Chris Lang]

Coastal's a completely different case than Liberty. Coastal finishes with its last two at home and has secured a home game. Their game against Asheville won't potentially define their season. Liberty still is in pretty good shape to host VMI in the BST quarterfinals no matter what happens next Wednesday, but a win there would nail it down. I'm not saying "don't play the starters" at Niagara, but you've got to be smart about it. Giving McLean and Blair 38 minutes apiece in a game that means nothing in the grand scheme of things isn't smart. Cut all the starters down to 20-25 minutes and give others playing time. Even more important because the next game is VMI, and you can't go into that game gassed.

[Realist]

Hey Lang,

Have you ever seen Missouri State play for you work travels? What do you think of the game tonight?

[mrich]

I am not saying that we should play this game like it is the BST, but as you guys have noticed we don't recover well. Once we get rolling with the L's it is a slippery slope. I am expecting a L, and I really don't have a lot of hope for the rest of the year. I wouldn't be surprised if we lost our home game if we do get it.

[Chris Lang]

I have not seen Missouri State live, no. Seen them on TV several times and have come away impressed. This is going to be a very tough game for Winthrop. I'm glad it's on ESPN2 so I can watch it at the office ... Huge game for MO State. At No. 34 in the RPI, they should feel good about being in, but then again, they were in the top 20 last year and didn't make it. A loss at home to Winthrop would really hurt those chances.

This is, IMHO, Winthrop's only way to get into the at-large discussion should the Eagles falter in the BST. Need to get a big road win. It seems like Torrell's coming around, and it doesn't look like the Bears have much to throw at Bradshaw. Should be fun to watch.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

that is still 10 minutes.....


I was so ticked at him the other day....I think SCAR might agree on this
He was playing with Lamont and Alex in Lahaye with some other people, and he was beating everyone up and down the court.....where has that effort been??

Oh Yes, because playing in the Lahaye is just like playing Division I basketball

[jmdickens]

no I was just talking about his effort

[fsn32]

that is still 10 minutes.....


I was so ticked at him the other day....I think SCAR might agree on this
He was playing with Lamont and Alex in Lahaye with some other people, and he was beating everyone up and down the court.....where has that effort been??

Oh Yes, because playing in the Lahaye is just like playing Division I basketball

You can measure effort in any setting against any compitition... Lahaye, Vines or a pasture in French Lick.

That's why Magic and Bird were so good... they gave 100% effort everytime they stepped on the floor... in practice, pick-up or the NBA Finals.

[fsn32]

Your effort post beat my effort post by a minute.

[jmdickens]

Oh Yes, because playing in the Lahaye is just like playing Division I basketball

Well, it seems all our players and former players end up playing their last games at LaHaye anyway

[Brokeback Flamer]

Can I just say this is my favorite team on the schedule ??? Can there ever be a loser when playing LONGWOOD? I didn't think so
And we play Viagra........err Niagra next. This is the BEST stretch in our schedule right now!

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Very True... Gotta love those Let Downs... We just need to teach Scar that he can play his last game in the Lahaye and he wont have to get shown up in the Alumni Game hahaha


Effort Can Be Shown Anywhere, but when he is schooling Kids in the Lahaye that doesnt mean anything, youre basing how much time he should get on what you see in the Lahaye. That like me playing with a group of 5th graders and basing my talent level on that

[jmdickens]

I kid about playing Armon Jones more.....like people are with Russell and Kyle


Also, one of those kids he abused was Alex and the other was Lamont, take it for what it is worth