[BJWilliams]

(I made that mistake once and I don't intend to repeat it)

is that when you said Manny is a big baby and cant play football? It was something like that!

No...I would never call Manny a baby, to his face or otherwise. Im not going to revisit what that was all about because I learn from my mistakes and its not wise to continually talk about them (as you guys do even though it is all in good fun and in the name of giving me a hard time), all I will say is that I learned a thing or two about how to handle sources

[PAmedic]

A lot of this we knew, of course - maybe we're someone's source?

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

Flames will have new look after dismal year

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
April 22, 2006

Six weeks have passed since Liberty limped home from South Carolina following a blowout loss to Winthrop in the Big South men's basketball tournament.
In that short time, the Flames' roster has undergone a massive makeover.

Forwards Eric Bigby and Jeremy Eck, junior college transfers who were limited in both minutes and impact, are no longer with the team. Neither is Evan Risher, a sophomore who started the season as the Flames' point guard but struggled so much that forward Damien Hubbard had to take over at the point early in the year.

Now, Hubbard's playing status for next season is in jeopardy. Friday, Flames coach Randy Dunton suspended the 6-foot-6 rising senior indefinitely for violating the team's academic policies.

"He was not responsible to the structure of our academic program," Dunton said. "I think this should take care of it. He dug himself a hole in the first semester, and I expect a sense of urgency we haven't seen."

Hubbard's situation will be re-evaluated in "a couple weeks", Dunton said.

Also gone from the team is forward Doug Stewart, who is graduating early and will not play basketball next fall. Earlier this week, star guard Larry Blair made himself eligible for the NBA Draft but did not hire an agent, leaving him a chance to return to LU.

Eck's basketball career is over because of a painful back injury. Bigby and Risher will both transfer to Division II schools, Dunton said.

So the Liberty team that takes the floor in November will be drastically different than the one that finished 7-23 last season.

That's not such a bad thing. With fresh faces comes fresh energy, something that's been apparent during the team's spring individual workouts.

"They're excited to play together," Dunton said. "That's one thing I'm excited to see. We have a group of kids who are preparing very, very hard for the season because they believe they can compete effectively."

Providence College transfer Dwight Brewington, high school senior Armon Jones and junior college transfer forward Alex McLean represent the first three parts of Dunton's 2006 recruiting haul. Jones, a 6-8 center from Charis Prep in North Carolina, signed in November and Brewington and McLean transferred to LU in January.

Dunton announced two more spring signings: B.J. Jenkins, a 6-foot combo guard from Green Run High School in Virginia Beach and Larry Franklin, a 6-1 junior college guard from Eastern Oklahoma State.

Jenkins averaged 21 points per game as a senior and Dunton was impressed with his shooting range.

"He may be the most dedicated gym rat that we've recruited in my 15 years here," Dunton said.

"I mean he is a relentless worker on his game."

Dunton said LU still hopes to sign one more frontcourt player this spring.

Adding two more healthy bodies in point guard Justin Holland and forward Tyler Baker will only help the Flames. Holland battled a nagging groin injury all year and Baker had surgery to repair an injured ankle ligament.

NOTES: The Flames will open the 2006 season at Oklahoma. LU will also travel to Orlando for an eight-team tournament in December. Lipscomb, Longwood and St. Francis (Pa.) are confirmed home opponents. LU is trying to get East Carolina, SMU and Central Michigan into Vines for home games. Dunton said the Flames are close to securing a Jan. 2 game in Gainesville against defending national champion Florida. ? Brewington becomes eligible Dec. 16. Dunton is trying to schedule as few games as possible before that date. As of now, LU will play five games without Brewington.

[Brokeback Flamer]

A lot of this we knew, of course - maybe we're someone's source?

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

Flames will have new look after dismal year

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
April 22, 2006

Six weeks have passed since Liberty limped home from South Carolina following a blowout loss to Winthrop in the Big South men's basketball tournament.
In that short time, the Flames' roster has undergone a massive makeover.

Forwards Eric Bigby and Jeremy Eck, junior college transfers who were limited in both minutes and impact, are no longer with the team. Neither is Evan Risher, a sophomore who started the season as the Flames' point guard but struggled so much that forward Damien Hubbard had to take over at the point early in the year.

Now, Hubbard's playing status for next season is in jeopardy. Friday, Flames coach Randy Dunton suspended the 6-foot-6 rising senior indefinitely for violating the team's academic policies.

"He was not responsible to the structure of our academic program," Dunton said. "I think this should take care of it. He dug himself a hole in the first semester, and I expect a sense of urgency we haven't seen."

Hubbard's situation will be re-evaluated in "a couple weeks", Dunton said.

Also gone from the team is forward Doug Stewart, who is graduating early and will not play basketball next fall. Earlier this week, star guard Larry Blair made himself eligible for the NBA Draft but did not hire an agent, leaving him a chance to return to LU.

Eck's basketball career is over because of a painful back injury. Bigby and Risher will both transfer to Division II schools, Dunton said.

So the Liberty team that takes the floor in November will be drastically different than the one that finished 7-23 last season.

That's not such a bad thing. With fresh faces comes fresh energy, something that's been apparent during the team's spring individual workouts.

"They're excited to play together," Dunton said. "That's one thing I'm excited to see. We have a group of kids who are preparing very, very hard for the season because they believe they can compete effectively."

Providence College transfer Dwight Brewington, high school senior Armon Jones and junior college transfer forward Alex McLean represent the first three parts of Dunton's 2006 recruiting haul. Jones, a 6-8 center from Charis Prep in North Carolina, signed in November and Brewington and McLean transferred to LU in January.

Dunton announced two more spring signings: B.J. Jenkins, a 6-foot combo guard from Green Run High School in Virginia Beach and Larry Franklin, a 6-1 junior college guard from Eastern Oklahoma State.

Jenkins averaged 21 points per game as a senior and Dunton was impressed with his shooting range.

"He may be the most dedicated gym rat that we've recruited in my 15 years here," Dunton said.

"I mean he is a relentless worker on his game."

Dunton said LU still hopes to sign one more frontcourt player this spring.

Adding two more healthy bodies in point guard Justin Holland and forward Tyler Baker will only help the Flames. Holland battled a nagging groin injury all year and Baker had surgery to repair an injured ankle ligament.

NOTES: The Flames will open the 2006 season at Oklahoma. LU will also travel to Orlando for an eight-team tournament in December. Lipscomb, Longwood and St. Francis (Pa.) are confirmed home opponents. LU is trying to get East Carolina, SMU and Central Michigan into Vines for home games. Dunton said the Flames are close to securing a Jan. 2 game in Gainesville against defending national champion Florida. ? Brewington becomes eligible Dec. 16. Dunton is trying to schedule as few games as possible before that date. As of now, LU will play five games without Brewington.

Bigby, Eck, Richer, Hubbard and Stewart. Although one is graduating if you add Monceaux and Dee's to that mix that makes 6 players (or 5 if one gets grades up) who have transferred or "left the program" over the last two years. If I recall, RD said that 7 players have left the program for various reasons. Who was the 7th? Or was that 7 before these guys left? Just curious. Maybe our nefarious GUEST can shed some insight. I would ask DE but I don't like his type......er I mean tone

[LUconn]

Rashad Robinson. I think that was his name. The terrible 6'9" JUCO with the lead feet who missed 90% of all his layups.

[kel varson]

Good description of Rashaad. He had like a 6 inch vertical.

[TIMSCAR20]

Elijah Miller makes 7 I think. He never saw the floor though but he was 6-11.

[LU'sbestmanger]

BEST PRACTICE OF THE SPRING!!!! THE TEAM LOOKED GREAT! alex looked amazing, LB was LB, brew had to have the best day of them all, making every basket. russell was running up and down the floor and hammering dunks down. the team looked phenominal! im very excited about LB, brew, and smitty in the same offense.

[Hold My Own]

Thanks for the update LUBM, I'm looking forward to getting to another practice ASAP, this kind of LU ball is a lot of fun to watch....I too liked that description of Rashad, but sometimes I even wonder if we even missed him last year....and that's saying something, b/c he was awful

[jcmanson]

Rashad was pretty bad, but we were downright awful in the post this past year. Anyone, including him, could have only helped.

[LUconn]

Seriously, he's 5 fouls we could have used to stop their big men.

[A.G.]

LUBM?? That looks so wrong--although certainly an accurate description of last season.

[JReebs]

"Dunton said the Flames are close to securing a Jan. 2 game in Gainesville against defending national champion Florida."

~What?! Nobody ever listened to me when I suggested playing UF! Coach D, at least save me some tickets!!

[LU'sbestmanger]

LUBM?? That looks so wrong--although certainly an accurate description of last season.

are you saying that they "looked good in the spring last year also?
trust me, dwight is from the big east, he will produce. the crazy thing is that he wants to pass! he's a great scorer with a great scorer on his team, and HE WANTS TO PASS! next year should be special. smitty looks 5X better. damien looks amazing at the 4. i really think it's going to be a good year. coach D says, if we get this kid that we are interested in, that should be the last piece of the puzzle.

"Dunton said the Flames are close to securing a Jan. 2 game in Gainesville against defending national champion Florida."

~What?! Nobody ever listened to me when I suggested playing UF! Coach D, at least save me some tickets!!

that game is already set.. it's been set. he's working on other games now

[jmdickens]

What would be Damien's role on this years team???? With three scorers, I would think Coach would use him for defense, but I think Armon Jones could contend for that spot.

[Hold My Own]

What would be Damien's role on this years team???? With three scorers, I would think Coach would use him for defense, but I think Armon Jones could contend for that spot.

Simple, a watered down Scottie Pippen.....AKA a role player

next year really will be fun...I mean think about it like this....ASmith wasnt ready for a huge role....yet was in the prime to be a role player....LB cant score 70 a game and needed one more option and Hubberd couldnt handle his role last year (and it was a stretch to even ask him to), now we have Brew which is that second option for LB and not to mention a bigger body down low (not all of the answer but 1/2 of it) and now we have a shooter (baker) that WILL be able to hit from his spot when LB and Brew get the double team I just hope he'll stay healthy all year b/c I believe he'll be the sleeper, everyone is going to watch the kid that has "Near NBA" talent (what a news paper said about Brew) and LB already has made for a name for himself

[TIMSCAR20]

2 things HMO: Scottie Pippen a role player? I would call him a sidekick but not a role player...Hall of fame? We can start a thread on his resume later (Steph Leary and me debated this last year when he retired). Second thing. Is Armon like Scotty? That would be nice!

[Chris Lang]

Manager ... the contract for the Florida game is not back yet, at least it wasn't as of Friday. That's why it was written as "close."

[jmdickens]

I got a chance to watch him play this season for Charis Prep, and he is tough. He is a banger, and will get rebounds. Something our team last season lacked.

[Hold My Own]

2 things HMO: Scottie Pippen a role player? I would call him a sidekick but not a role player...Hall of fame? We can start a thread on his resume later (Steph Leary and me debated this last year when he retired). Second thing. Is Armon like Scotty? That would be nice!

that's why I said a real watered down version....to me that would be a role player....but sidekick follows Brew as well, similar to what we had with Dee's and LB but one of the two wasnt happy with being Robin (which with his talent I guess it's understandable)


Armon like scottie...nahhh

[LU'sbestmanger]

Manager ... the contract for the Florida game is not back yet, at least it wasn't as of Friday. That's why it was written as "close."

are you sure?

[Chris Lang]

'Tis what Dunton told me. I think it's a formality, but it wasn't signed yet. But that was four days ago. It very well could be signed now.

[WinthropEagleFan]

I got a chance to watch him play this season for Charis Prep, and he is tough. He is a banger, and will get rebounds. Something our team last season lacked.

Hey jmdickens, since you saw Charis Prep play, I was wondering if you had any impressions of what kind of player Anthony Williams is...he's a Winthrop recruit that nobody seems to know much about.

And apologies for the slight hijack of the thread....please continue talking about Brew and the rest of the Flames.

[jcmanson]

If Hubbard looks so good at the 4, and that's where he plays. Where will Rell play? I love Rell. He is very underrated, and there is no way he can play the 5 and us still get the inside presence we need.

[kel varson]

Unless Rell drastically improves his offensive game, he won't see a lot of pt. I like him and he is a hustler but right he is a defensive role player.

[Hold My Own]

It's going to be hard to keep the caption out of the lineup....it's possible we'll see Hubbard at 3 and Rell at 4 he will also have to play some 5 but you know the drill...there will be 2 4's on the floor......you can win in the BS without having a true 5....a lot of teams have proved that thus far