[R i]

This season has given us more than anyone expected, including myself. It would be nice to cap it off with a few tournament wins, send Jesse out of here like one of the best PGs in school history should be.

I made the mistake of feeding into it yesterday, I couldnt control myself. Send them a PM if its something your really concerned about. Its what I had to do. It was a topic I was interested in discussing, but the board has seen enough of it. PMs are a much healthier discussion sometimes.

[bradyfan]

Twitter tells me JVP made the sports center top 10. I can't find a clip online anywhere though.

I saw the same Twitter post, stayed up until 2am to watch SC and it didn't make it. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't on Sportsnation or something today. It was a pretty nasty dunk.

[jcmanson]

Good win. I believe this is our best win of the season, to date, but I expected us to win. We're playing really good right now. Here's to hoping we can win a game or 2 (or more) in the tourney.

Hey oldflame, riddle me this: our 6'10" Center, when going up against one of the best rebounding teams in the league, had this impressive stat line: 6-6 fgs, 6 rbs, 13 pts, 1 foul, in 23 minutes. Why is he only playing 23 minutes?

[Rooster Cogburn]

All I can say is that I am very impressed with this win. Burrus was quiet, JCS was off, Jesse didn't score much but otherwise had a great game, so JVP Steps up, as does Speeks hitting some key shots, and Manaya looked unstoppable for a while. They just seem to be able to find a way to win no matter the wierd circumstances. I think that bodes well for the tourney no matter the seed. I can't wait for Senior night Saturday and to see these guys step up big in another huge game.

I'm gonna stick my neck out and say this team is in the BS Semis and possibly even the championship game. Watch out.

[LUconn]

just saw the top 10 from this morning's SC and that play was not on it.

[olldflame]

Good win. I believe this is our best win of the season, to date, but I expected us to win. We're playing really good right now. Here's to hoping we can win a game or 2 (or more) in the tourney.

Hey oldflame, riddle me this: our 6'10" Center, when going up against one of the best rebounding teams in the league, had this impressive stat line: 6-6 fgs, 6 rbs, 13 pts, 1 foul, in 23 minutes. Why is he only playing 23 minutes?

Same reason he has played somewhat limited minutes all season. He has had a bad back, and it acts up if he plays too much. He certainly was looking healthy last night though. Hopefully he has put that behind him and Layer can increase his minutes now.

[Bigsouthking]

Good win. I believe this is our best win of the season, to date, but I expected us to win. We're playing really good right now. Here's to hoping we can win a game or 2 (or more) in the tourney.

Hey oldflame, riddle me this: our 6'10" Center, when going up against one of the best rebounding teams in the league, had this impressive stat line: 6-6 fgs, 6 rbs, 13 pts, 1 foul, in 23 minutes. Why is he only playing 23 minutes?

I actually agree with you big guy! I been saying on other threads that LU has a good enough front line with out JB to compete. and POY Sanders, 2 transfer wings in Minaya and Speaks. Im not sure why they are just now winning?

[flamesfilmguy]

I just rewatched the game on ESPN3. MAN i miss watching Jesse play. what an absolute Baller. great win for this team. So sad to think what migh have been if we had just stayed healthy all year.

on a far less positive note this is the first game i actually got to watch for awhile and i'm seriously dissapointed with the attendence. when a few of us back in the LUnatic days where still in school that crowd would have pushed 4,000. I understand our record has a lot to do with it, but it still upset me that we could only draw just under 3000 for a game against a rival. maybe i haven't been paying much attention and this isn't new but it hit me watching that game that the vines is so much more amazing when there is a huge student turnout.

[R i]

And the team is not fighting for a 7 seed.

[olldflame]

Good win. I believe this is our best win of the season, to date, but I expected us to win. We're playing really good right now. Here's to hoping we can win a game or 2 (or more) in the tourney.

Hey oldflame, riddle me this: our 6'10" Center, when going up against one of the best rebounding teams in the league, had this impressive stat line: 6-6 fgs, 6 rbs, 13 pts, 1 foul, in 23 minutes. Why is he only playing 23 minutes?

I actually agree with you big guy! I been saying on other threads that LU has a good enough front line with out JB to compete. and POY Sanders, 2 transfer wings in Minaya and Speaks. Im not sure why they are just now winning?

Highly questionable reasoning bsk. "They are winning now, therefore they must have superior talent and should have been winning all year." It is implied that someone, I can only surmise DL, did a poor job in not getting them to play this well from day one. IMHO, a far more reasonable explaination is that we indeed took a huge hit in talent and experience with the loss of JB and Sommy, and some players had to play larger roles than they were initially prepared for. Our coaches have worked with them, and they have grown into those roles, thus we are playing better.

[From the class of 09]

Ok I know it is a big "what if" but if LU somehow manages to pull the upset in the BS tourney and gets into the NCAA, we obviously are a 16 seed. There is a team sitting at number 5 that will be in the discussion for a 1 seed baring a meltdown. I don't think you could find a more interesting matchup for a 1 and a 16.

[olldflame]

A bit more regarding how PT is alloted. Different coaches have different philosophies. There are coaches who believe in "going with a hot hand" and will leave a player in longer than normally if he is having success. Most (including DL)don't, and IMHO with good reason. They have a rotation which is based on the player's overall body of work, both in games and practice. Messing with that rotation because a player is having a good night can risk the overall team chemistry. Health issues aside, if JVP were producing consistently at anything approaching the level he did last night, he would play more. He doesn't. He has had a lot of games where he has been pretty much invisible.

[drumnColby757]

Went to Buffalo Wild Wings after the game and sportscenter was on JVP's dunk was #9 the vids for daily top tens are almost impossible to find.

BWW's went nuts!

[BJWilliams]

Ok I know it is a big "what if" but if LU somehow manages to pull the upset in the BS tourney and gets into the NCAA, we obviously are a 16 seed. There is a team sitting at number 5 that will be in the discussion for a 1 seed baring a meltdown. I don't think you could find a more interesting matchup for a 1 and a 16.

That would be an interesting matchup...although if we won the Big South we'd probably end up in the First Four round

[Rooster Cogburn]

If you guys haven't see this, you need to. Walt does this before Every game to get the team fired up. this was from last night.
[youtube]<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9d3nf16vFmE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>[/youtube]

Someone please fix the embed code. I can't ever make that work. Here's the link for now: http://youtu.be/9d3nf16vFmE

[PAmedic]

I just rewatched the game on ESPN3. MAN i miss watching Jesse play. what an absolute Baller. great win for this team. So sad to think what migh have been if we had just stayed healthy all year.

on a far less positive note this is the first game i actually got to watch for awhile and i'm seriously dissapointed with the attendence. when a few of us back in the LUnatic days where still in school that crowd would have pushed 4,000. I understand our record has a lot to do with it, but it still upset me that we could only draw just under 3000 for a game against a rival. maybe i haven't been paying much attention and this isn't new but it hit me watching that game that the vines is so much more amazing when there is a huge student turnout.

we shouldve skyped. I was doing the same thing.

(Thank God MrsPA talked me into the Xbox system- I can get my SCAR fix)

2765 attending and I had the same thought. What does it take to get people up for a big game? Liberty Gym used to be PACKED for every freakin' game back in the day. I wouldve killed to have the ammenities they have down there now.

Oh well different times I guess.

[PAmedic]

great win BTW- but I can't help thinking (when you look at our offensive capability compared to the top programs) we are just so far below the standard. The pass pass pass around the perimeter, hoping for an open look from 20' or more makes me CRAZY.

I know these guys are busting their butts, leaving it all out there on the court each nite, but we HAVE to recruit someone that can take it to the hole. Yes- easier said than done. But the limitations we have on talent may be the greatest example of just how good a job DL is doing with this program. Gotta believe a move to a better conf will help alleviate the situation.

And hopefully better talent brings a more exciting brand of hoops which brings better crowds which generates more excitment around the program which helps recruiting which brings better talent.

thus ends my missive for the day.

PS: almost forgot to whine about the FTs. We couldve easily lost the game due to missed front-end of the 1&1's in the last minute of the game. Ho-lee-krap that was awful. No excuse for that. 6 points off the board and led directly to at least 4 for them.

[Bigsouthking]

Good win. I believe this is our best win of the season, to date, but I expected us to win. We're playing really good right now. Here's to hoping we can win a game or 2 (or more) in the tourney.

Hey oldflame, riddle me this: our 6'10" Center, when going up against one of the best rebounding teams in the league, had this impressive stat line: 6-6 fgs, 6 rbs, 13 pts, 1 foul, in 23 minutes. Why is he only playing 23 minutes?

I actually agree with you big guy! I been saying on other threads that LU has a good enough front line with out JB to compete. and POY Sanders, 2 transfer wings in Minaya and Speaks. Im not sure why they are just now winning?

Highly questionable reasoning bsk. "They are winning now, therefore they must have superior talent and should have been winning all year." It is implied that someone, I can only surmise DL, did a poor job in not getting them to play this well from day one. IMHO, a far more reasonable explaination is that we indeed took a huge hit in talent and experience with the loss of JB and Sommy, and some players had to play larger roles than they were initially prepared for. Our coaches have worked with them, and they have grown into those roles, thus we are playing better.

The funny thing is most of you guys want to have your cake and eat it too...

Explanation here -- In other threads you guys are saying how great a job DL is doing all of a sudden (last 2-3 weeks) -- but last year when LU lost 5 straight to end the season, isn't that poor coaching??? what's the difference??? If he is great now, was he bad then??

My whole thing is he has Jesse and he wins games cause that's in his DNA... other guys are following JS lead... I never said they had superior talent, but have top 6 talent in BSC for sure. Sommy is not better than JVP!!!! None of the guards got hurt did they?? JS, JSC, TS, DM all been playing the whole year.

[Purple Haize]

BSK. I think you hit on a good point. That is chemistry. By the end of last year it is apparent we had a toxic locker room and that affected the results. This year I think you are seeing a culmination of2 factors. The first being the development of players whe were not quite ready for prime time or were new to roles.the. Second being the locker room looks much more harmonious. These guys can look back on the season and see that everyone in there is working hard and no one wants to let their team mates down. They have been through a battle and come out stronger. This is not always the case. Some players just care more then others.
Chemistry is a powerful thing.

[IMBach]

It was a very good win for the team. But some on here are going to say whatever to protect the direction. they even say that 5th place or 6th is good and 2nd and 3rd is bad. Yet on here they are self proclaimed expert with inside knowledge.

[jcmanson]

Coaches have good years and bad years, good games and bad games.

[olldflame]

I was very disappointed with the way we finished the season last year bsk, as I believe were most of the guys here, and Layer is far from blameless there. IMHO, he did not handle the situation with Gordon well, and it ended up messing with the chemistry of the team.

As far as Sommy being better than JVP this year, we never got to find out. Even if we accept the assumption that Joel is better, he has been limited in how many minutes he can play because of his back. Sommy would have given us much better depth at the 5.

[Bigsouthking]

PH if I didn't know any better you may have potential Upward coaching in your future!! you get it!

Hold classes for these other guys or at least call Dr. Gibson back to do it!!

Catch you guys tomorrow I'm heading to play some Golf!!

[Bigsouthking]

Old flame ---

5 men or Centers don't win in the Big South anymore.. This isn't the '90's my friend the BSC is a guard heavy league!! JVP is good enough to win games!

[jbock13]

If I may just add a few words. I have been highly critical of JVP in the past. He has REALLY stepped it up as of late. If we are to make a run, we need him to continue playing like he has. Personally, I'm very happy with what I see. He's done a great job improving.