[Rocketfan]

Ok, im honestly trying to understand and not undermind.....lets start with that.

In watching last nights game from the baseline, if RMK is seeing that samething as i am, what am i missing:

1. Stephene isn't slashing to the basket for shots, he is tentative to take an open 3 and his "hand off" passes like Jesse weren't working. Is there some reason in the interim we dont' use Curry has a PG when Sanders is out. I mean if Stephene or Spencer aren't truly providing a lift on Offense or Defense is there a reason we dont' move to something different.

2. Austin Smith clearly looked like a deer in the headlights last night. I would have thought a little "pump me up" talk by an assistant or maybe just telling him to pop open 15 foot jumpers would have done the trick however i didn't see that happen and man he looked tentative. In addition it is not his strength to guard a much quicker Willie Bell, but with him in and there pick an roll offense he was constantly on the perimeter getting beat to the basket off the dribble. Is there a reason we don't play a different zone that puts him under the basket at all times?

3. I noticed a pretty constant rotation of players ( due to VMI running alot, this is natural) but Weaver is only getting 5 minutes.....any reason in a game like that he doesn't get more PT?

[LUconn]

I don't get Stephene. I thought he was a shooting guard. I watched him make a very high % of 3s in practice during his RS year. But he can't hit a lick this year. He's not that great of a passer. He kind of telegraphs what he's going to do. He is VERY quick off the dribble, but he's prone to get blocked when he tries to use that to score.

[TDDance234]

1. Curry spent the majority of time at the point against ODU. It completely took Ohman and Anthony (until it was too late) out of the game as they had to create their own shots and obviously, didn't work.

2. Smith hasn't played much...and against the speed of VMI, he's going to get lost. However, we need his size on the floor and he's got to get adjusted sometime. I'd rather take a thumping in the reg. season and have Austin ready for a playoff run.

3. Weaver has zero offensive game and is a post-player stuck in 6'4, 6'5 body. He's been passed over by Austin, Spencer and Tyler.

[Chris Lang]

A variety of people ran point last night ... Curry ran it at times, Stephene, Spencer, even Floyd. Nothing worked.

Sanders is a special player. Anyone else running the point is such a drastic step down that it's very noticeable on both ends of the floor. With Sanders, Liberty is a very good team. Without him, Liberty is mediocre.

It's clear the team has come to rely on Sanders for leadership on both ends. Liberty has played two of the worst defensive halves I've seen it play in the second half against ODU and the second half against VMI.

Sanders does things none of those other guys can do. When he gets in the middle, he's completely confusing to cover. When Stephene gets in the middle, you know what he's going to do. He's either going to take it to the basket or make the basic pass. With Sanders, he may spin move right past a defender for a take, he might make a quick handoff back to the top of the key, he might make a slick cross-court pass to someone only he can see. He has uncanny court vision and confidence.

Stephene, Floyd and Spencer just don't have that in their games. And it's not Curry's comfort zone either. He can run the point, but it affects the better part of his game -- the catch and shoot or the headfake and dribble drive.

[kel varson]

A variety of people ran point last night ... Curry ran it at times, Stephene, Spencer, even Floyd. Nothing worked.

Sanders is a special player. Anyone else running the point is such a drastic step down that it's very noticeable on both ends of the floor. With Sanders, Liberty is a very good team. Without him, Liberty is mediocre.

It's clear the team has come to rely on Sanders for leadership on both ends. Liberty has played two of the worst defensive halves I've seen it play in the second half against ODU and the second half against VMI.

Sanders does things none of those other guys can do. When he gets in the middle, he's completely confusing to cover. When Stephene gets in the middle, you know what he's going to do. He's either going to take it to the basket or make the basic pass. With Sanders, he may spin move right past a defender for a take, he might make a quick handoff back to the top of the key, he might make a slick cross-court pass to someone only he can see. He has uncanny court vision and confidence.

Stephene, Floyd and Spencer just don't have that in their games. And it's not Curry's comfort zone either. He can run the point, but it affects the better part of his game -- the catch and shoot or the headfake and dribble drive.

Well said Chris. I think we are learning just how vital Sanders was to the success of this team. He is indeed a special player.

[Chris Lang]

Rocketfan, one more thing to add on Bill Weaver and I'll shut up .... he came in the game last night without about 10 minutes left. There was a loose ball, one he could have easily dove for it to show he WANTED more minutes. Instead, he just stood there and let VMI scoop it up. If you're a five-minute a game guy and you want to become a 10-minute a game guy, you HAVE to dive for loose balls, no matter the score, no matter the situation. Those sort of hustle plays in garbage time are what coaches love to see from bench players. I guarantee Weaver will get to see that play again on video.

[Rocketfan]

1. Curry spent the majority of time at the point against ODU. It completely took Ohman and Anthony (until it was too late) out of the game as they had to create their own shots and obviously, didn't work.

2. Smith hasn't played much...and against the speed of VMI, he's going to get lost. However, we need his size on the floor and he's got to get adjusted sometime. I'd rather take a thumping in the reg. season and have Austin ready for a playoff run.

3. Weaver has zero offensive game and is a post-player stuck in 6'4, 6'5 body. He's been passed over by Austin, Spencer and Tyler.

im good on everything but the Smith part....you can't teach speed....so if he gets lost now, he is getting lost in our playoff run against any team with speed. I also don't think we needed his size on the floor because its not like he was dominating the boards or facing an equally tall post player at all.

[Rocketfan]

Rocketfan, one more thing to add on Bill Weaver and I'll shut up .... he came in the game last night without about 10 minutes left. There was a loose ball, one he could have easily dove for it to show he WANTED more minutes. Instead, he just stood there and let VMI scoop it up. If you're a five-minute a game guy and you want to become a 10-minute a game guy, you HAVE to dive for loose balls, no matter the score, no matter the situation. Those sort of hustle plays in garbage time are what coaches love to see from bench players. I guarantee Weaver will get to see that play again on video.

Thus the reason for this thread....i honestly was taking pictures and must have missed that play.

[ToTheLeft]

Rocketfan, one more thing to add on Bill Weaver and I'll shut up .... he came in the game last night without about 10 minutes left. There was a loose ball, one he could have easily dove for it to show he WANTED more minutes. Instead, he just stood there and let VMI scoop it up. If you're a five-minute a game guy and you want to become a 10-minute a game guy, you HAVE to dive for loose balls, no matter the score, no matter the situation. Those sort of hustle plays in garbage time are what coaches love to see from bench players. I guarantee Weaver will get to see that play again on video.

I saw that play and thought the very same thing... dude was closer to the ball, a dive and he would have at least earned a jump ball if not kept possession. He just didn't want it/didn't care.

[JDUB]

funny i saw that play too and took note. I think I even said something to whoever was beside me

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

funny i saw that play too and took note. I think I even said something to whoever was beside me