[grm]

I'll say one more thing: Cut it any way you want to, Kyle has put together a great career at LU -
no matter what happens the rest of the way.

He can take that with him for the rest of his life.

[Sly Fox]

[BJWilliams]

o.k. I'm showing my stupidity here. I'm out of touch, or whatever. I don't know what happened to announcer Edwards, and I mean no discredit whatsoever, but whoever this guy is on wrlv is doing a fantastic job. Not the first time I've heard him, but I just think he's REAL GOOD!

That would be Nick Pierce, and yeah, he's really good. Jerry had taken the rest of the season off at some point, and Nick has handled radio duties...

Tune in to a couple of baseball games and you'll hear Nick there, as well.

Nick is a real talent. I would not be surprised to see him getting a high market job within the next 5 years.

[jcmanson]

Wheels fell off again. I really try not to question Dale this early in his stay here, but this is just sad... Maybe it's the players, I dunno, but this team is playing terribly.

It's one game. Everything leading up to the game favored CCU, and they just capitalized. I'm more interested in seeing how we respond the next 2 games.

[olldflame]

We lost even worse at HP and responded by beating Radford at Dedmon. The team played badly last night, but it would not be fair or accurate to make a blanket statement that they are "playing terribly". They have been inconsistent, and IMHO that is mostly a result of inexperience, along with the fact that your most experienced player is, to put it nicely, "tempremental". Kyles technical was absolutely deserved. He was called for his 5th foul on a charge and he showed up the ref by mocking what he thought the defender had done, kind of dancing back and forth. I didn't hear what he said.

The free throws we missed last night came at key times. We were actually making a bit of a run midway through the second half. We had cut the lead to 14 and Antwan was at the line shooting one and one, with a chance to cut it to 12. The CCU crowd was starting to get a bit apprehensive. He misses the front end and we don't have floor balance when they rebound. 4 or 5 seconds later they are up 16, our momentum is broken and it's party time again for the Coastal fans. There was another time whem Kyle went 0-2 from the line and then comitted a foul a few seconds later and their guy made both FTs. 4 point swing. Going 8-20 from the line is more than just the 6-8 extra points we missed out on compared to if we had shot our normal %. The broken momentum and frustration cost us even more.

[ToTheLeft]

Wheels fell off again. I really try not to question Dale this early in his stay here, but this is just sad... Maybe it's the players, I dunno, but this team is playing terribly.

It's one game. Everything leading up to the game favored CCU, and they just capitalized. I'm more interested in seeing how we respond the next 2 games.

I dunno, I'm not blaming Dale, just questioning the "offense" we run, and the substitution patterns sometimes, but I'm not the one with 200 collegiate wins.

The team didn't execute, blame can go all around, but this isn't the first time we've play out this same script this year.

[olldflame]

While I don't have any inside info on the play by play announcer situation, I do know that in his role of general manager of WRVL, Jerry Edwards has a very full plate right now with the expansion of the station, getting translators up and running and arranging for local weather reports and other details for markets where we haven't been before. With Nick doing such a great job, he may have just decided his time was needed more for other things. Whether it's permenant orf not....................................... we can only hope.

Nick may have "big market" talent, but there is something to be said for being the voice of your alma matre's teams.

[jcmanson]

Wheels fell off again. I really try not to question Dale this early in his stay here, but this is just sad... Maybe it's the players, I dunno, but this team is playing terribly.

It's one game. Everything leading up to the game favored CCU, and they just capitalized. I'm more interested in seeing how we respond the next 2 games.

I dunno, I'm not blaming Dale, just questioning the "offense" we run, and the substitution patterns sometimes, but I'm not the one with 200 collegiate wins.

The team didn't execute, blame can go all around, but this isn't the first time we've play out this same script this year.

I agree with you, but there's no way you can jump on a coach during his first year. Especially with some of the "highs" we've had this year. If performances like this carry into next year, then yes I'd say it's time to start questioning him.

But last night we were on the road against the best team in our conference who had a chance to win the outright championship. Add that to the inexperience on our team, and that's a recipe that could easily lead to what we saw last night.

[ToTheLeft]

I am more worried about next year than I am hopeful. The more I think about it, the more I realize what we have coming back, what we have coming in, and how it might not be any better than this year. If we have a couple of guys progress a good bit, or if my boy Joel is really coming along in his time working with the coaches and learning from Baker, and can SCORE, then we'll be fine. We have a great collection of role players, we just need scorers... and don't give me John Caleb, because he's never played college ball before. If he winds up a scorer, great, but I don't wanna rely on him being the guy. I'd like to see a guy like Evan, Chris, Pat, or Carter step up and be a go-to scorer.

[jcmanson]

We think alike. See one of my posts from November:

I love that JC and Baird have signed. But what do they provide us? JC is another guard with skill sets similar to what we already have on the team. Sure he could be a little bit better than the guys we have, but how much of a difference can he make? As for Baird, he reminds me of Carter. I hope to God that he is an all conference performer when he gets here, but I’m not counting on it. I’m waiting to see who we sign in the spring because we need some more talent.

[ToTheLeft]

HOWEVER,

I can see Chris becoming a scorer, maybe in terms of 8-10 a game.

I can see Evan getting up in the 15 PPG range.

Antwan, if we GET HIM THE BALL WHEN HE GETS POST POSITION, could get 10 a game.

My main hope is that Joel gets us 10 a game, and if 3 of these 4 come true, we have some solid scoring options.

[Chris Lang]

Gordon could be 4-6 points better a game if he just learns how to handle the ball in traffic.

[flamesfilmguy]

Gordon could be 4-6 points better a game if he just learns how to handle the ball in traffic.

+1 If he didn't turn the ball over so much he would have been our man this year IMHO

[PAmedic]

depressing.

I'll fully acknowlege being a hoops novice, but why are we perennial re-builders? (I know- revolving door of coaches does not help)

that aside: this is the Big South. How can a school that is by FAR the largest in the conf and, I'd wager- on par (size-wise and $$$-wise) with MOST mid-majors in the country, fail to produce a quality product year in and year out? Mediocre at best is NOT a good return on the financial investment we've put into coaches, players (!) and facilities over the years.

swing away...

[Chris Lang]

Look, this year was going to be a wash. Most said that in the beginning. And it's turned out just as most thought. The most important thing that seems to have happened this season is a sense of stability. No one is leaving. The coaching staff will likely remain intact. And you've discovered some freshmen that are on the right path and have massive amounts of room to grow.

Burrus is a perfect example. He's a physical specimen, but he's not physical, if you know what I mean. You watch him in the post against big bangers like Harris and Lynch-Flohr and Parakhouski and you realize he doesn't have the confidence in his abilities yet to be assertive against those guys. But those experiences are great teaching tools, and I think he has tremendous upside. Remember, the kid was a late signee who didn't turn 18 until October. He's just now scratching the surface. A summer of working out with college players will do him wonders.

Konan looks much more like a 3 to me than a hybrid 3-4, which is what he was kind of playing to start. His offensive and defensive skills are much more suited for playing on the wing, and if Liberty can sign a true big guy in the spring, Konan can play more as an athletic slashing combo than a post guy.

I imagine Gordon will spend the summer working on his ballhandling, his vision and his ability to drive both sides so he's not so easy to defend. He's really close to being a very good player. Needs a few tweaks and he'll get there.

That's the key, of course, is finding one big guy, a McLean type you can anchor the offense around, a physical, 6-8, 230 type. Curious to see what the coaching staff comes up with in the spring in that regard.

[ToTheLeft]

Jesse
Evan
Pat
Antwan
Joel/Big Signee

That the kind of line-up you forsee then, Chris?

[Th3rd]

i think that Evan will deff be growing up this summer and really coming into the ball player that we need next year... i mean you got to remember that he still loves football more than basketball (and is better at football than he is basketball)

also i could see a guy like Carter and JVP being the number 1 scorer in the paint... i mean lets remember we get rid of Big Art this year, who else is going to have height to stop these guys...

i just dont think you can be unhappy with Coach and his sub rotation and the offense we run... I mean yes the obvious its his first year, i mean its like being unhappy with a guy

thats like being a UCLA fan in the 50's, seeing that Wooden had a bad year in '59-'60 (14-12) and saying that you question his coaching ability when 2 years later he gets to the Final 4 and in the next 5 he has built a one of the greatest dynasties ever....

you cant blame a coach his first year, if you do that then a) we would never have a coach because we would always be firing and hiring, and b) we would never know if that coach could have been our ticket to the Dance

i think with the potential we have shown this year that being anything less than hopeful for next year is just stupid IMHO

[jcmanson]

also i could see a guy like Carter and JVP being the number 1 scorer in the paint... i mean lets remember we get rid of Big Art this year, who else is going to have height to stop these guys...

Haha, yeah since Carter scored double figures against everyone but RU.

[Th3rd]

also i could see a guy like Carter and JVP being the number 1 scorer in the paint... i mean lets remember we get rid of Big Art this year, who else is going to have height to stop these guys...

Haha, yeah since Carter scored double figures against everyone but RU.

well i was more focused on JVP being that double double guy, Carter still shows good potential, but hopefully with the bigs that we have and adding JVP and Baird, Carter can go back to hitting those 3's that he was so good at

[Schfourteenteen]

I'm assuming if JVP could have made an impact this year, he wouldn't have been redshirted. Sure there are many variables associated with his RS, but if he was more productive than Carter I would bet he'd be playing right now.

[olldflame]

2 of Carter's best games have come against RU.

I may be a bit more optomistic than some of you about JC and Baird. I think they can give us needed shooting threats. I don't believe our recruiting class is complete yet either.

At this level, you're not recruiiting McDonald's all-americans, and you get some kids who turn out to be really good who don't necessarily make a huge impact as freshmen. I think we do have some players with a lot of upside.

[ToTheLeft]

I'm assuming if JVP could have made an impact this year, he wouldn't have been redshirted. Sure there are many variables associated with his RS, but if he was more productive than Carter I would bet he'd be playing right now.

I was told he redshirted so that he and Carter weren't in the same class, and so he could bulk up. If you've seen him practice, you've seen him be strong around the basket. I think he would have been an impact on this year's team, but the plan was to hold him back.

[Th3rd]

I'm assuming if JVP could have made an impact this year, he wouldn't have been redshirted. Sure there are many variables associated with his RS, but if he was more productive than Carter I would bet he'd be playing right now.

I was told he redshirted so that he and Carter weren't in the same class, and so he could bulk up. If you've seen him practice, you've seen him be strong around the basket. I think he would have been an impact on this year's team, but the plan was to hold him back.

thats the reason i heard as well, along with it was a personal choice for him because he didnt think he was quite ready for D1 basketball early in the season

[ToTheLeft]

2 of Carter's best games have come against RU.

I may be a bit more optomistic than some of you about JC and Baird. I think they can give us needed shooting threats. I don't believe our recruiting class is complete yet either.

At this level, you're not recruiiting McDonald's all-americans, and you get some kids who turn out to be really good who don't necessarily make a huge impact as freshmen. I think we do have some players with a lot of upside.

I hope we get one more player this spring.

And I am optimistic about JC, and cautiously sorta optimistic about Baird. At worst, JCS gives us another Jesse, which isn't a bad thing. At best, he's a scoring threat and a much needed addition at the 2.

[SuperJon]

Before the year, we all said that a .500 season would be a good year for us. We're exactly what we thought we'd be.

Also, look at how many guys are playing out of position:

1) Patrick - he's a 3 and is having to play the 4 and 5.

2) Antwan - he's a 4 and is having to play playing the 5.

3) Dave - he's a 3 and was having to play the 4 and 5 last night.

Next year these guys will still have to play out of position a little bit, but we'd be able to put them in their natural positions more often. We could play Joel at the 5 with Twan at the 4, Pat the 3, and Jesse/Evan at the 1-2. Dave would also be able to play more of the 3-4 as well.

Jeremy will be even better next year. It took him until January to feel comfortable playing again. His defense has jumped up tremendously. His shooting is still hit or miss but hopefully he'll get back to normal before next year.

Carter is improving in the post. His confidence and mental game isn't quite as far along as his physical game. Once he realizes how good he is and the talent that he has, he could become a very good player. If you ask people who followed Pittsnogle at WVU, they say that Carter is at the exact same place that Pittsnogle was as a freshman.

Evan is still learning. Remember, before the season and when he was signed, everyone called him a "project." He certainly hasn't played like a "project" this year. With a year of experience, and an off-season working out with his brother, he could make a big jump before next year.

Chris has gone through spurts just like any freshman would. There are times when he plays really, really well and there are times when he just doesn't look good at all. With another year he will hopefully become more consistent.

We're still building for the future. We have one of the best coaches in the league. We'll keep adding better and better recruits each year. Next year we should finish in the top four of the league. In two years, I think we'll be at the top and battling for the conference title.