A Sea Of Red

SID website giving us some pre-season information from coach Layer:

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 92&TeamID=

It may mean nothing, but there seems to be a foreshadowing of where he is leaning lineup wise. Tyler is grouped with the forwards. Vander Pol is referred to as Carter's backup at Center. Sounds like we may be going big.

If you followed Coach Layer's teams at CSU (and I know at least one of our regulars did) you would be aware of his love for big lineups. Considering his long history with our previous coach, it seems odd. But Coach Layer loves get his big men on the floor.

Also interesting is that Kyle and Minaya are not included, meaning they will be considered "guards". That means we will still have 3 "guards" starting (down from 5) because I don't see any way one of those 2 is not our starting small forward. With Jesse almost certainly playing 30+ minutes at the point, there are just too many players fighting for less than 50 remaining minutes in the backcourt, and I really don't think Konan or Burris are ready for major minutes at the 3.

The article also stated this will be Baker's last year.

Backing up McMasters as a big man is 6-10 freshman Joel Vander Pol. Hailing from Fort Meyers, Fla., Vander Pol brings a shot blocking, rebounding and scoring presence to the Flames’ arsenal. In his senior season at Evangelical Christian High School, he averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds per game, ranking No. 1 in boards and blocks in the Southwest Florida region.

“Joel has been a pleasant surprise,” Layer said. “He’s one of the most improved guys on our team. He has quickly established a high work ethic, high energy level and degree of toughness that has really helped our team. He is continuing to develop into someone who has a chance to be a really good player at Liberty.”

If JVP is the center-equivalent of Jesse as far as work ethic goes, maybe the freshman will push Carter to be all he can be. Sounds like a healthy competition at the 5 spot.

jcmanson wrote:The article also stated this will be Baker's last year.

Good catch, although the handwriting has been on the wall for that one ever since Baird committed. I would say that if Tyler enrolls in grad school by the end of this year and decides to continue working toward his masters there might be an outside chance he would play as a walkon in 10-11, provided the NCAA approves a 6th year, which is pretty much a crap shoot.

Sly Fox wrote:(and I know at least one of our regulars did)

Guilty as charged!

jcmanson wrote:The article also stated this will be Baker's last year.

? Let's send BJ over there to show him how to extend his college years a bit longer.

Sly Fox wrote:But Coach Layer loves get his big men on the floor.

My mind must be somewhere it shouldn't cause no lie I laughed out loud when i read this...

Not to be a Debbie Downer and I know yall aren't building him up to be a savior, but:

"He works really hard and has a chance to be really good down the road"

is essentially universal coach speak for:

"Don't expect much out of him this year."

Which is really what you have to expect from 6'10"+ guys that come to the Big South. The transition from high school to college is tough... and it's even tougher for big men.

UNCA Alum wrote:Not to be a Debbie Downer and I know yall aren't building him up to be a savior, but:

"He works really hard and has a chance to be really good down the road"

is essentially universal coach speak for:

"Don't expect much out of him this year."

Which is really what you have to expect from 6'10"+ guys that come to the Big South. The transition from high school to college is tough... and it's even tougher for big men.

Yes indeed, "hard worker" is generally a phrase coaches pull out when they don't generally have a whole lot of positives to say about a player's skill set. Now if it would have been prefaced with several other positives like "strong post skills", "able to punish defenders down low", "does a good job forcing opponents off the block", etc. and then "hard worker" was thrown in then that's awesome because it's hard to find players talented enough to play right away that are also hard workers.

Thanks guys. This is our first year with basketball so you guys are really helpful.

BUMP

The series continues, now with an installment about our GUARDS:

Another young lion who is anxious to take the court this season is Perez. Hailing from the same high school as Minaya, Oldsmar Christian in Oldsmar, Fla., Perez is a 6-4 freshman with a strong work ethic. Viewed as an energy boost to the Flames roster, the guard is known as a wing player who has the ability to defend, sink long-range jumpers and drive to the basket.

“Chris is an incredible competitor,” Layer said when speaking of the Florida native. “There won’t be a player this year who will outwork him and that’s what has gotten him to this point. The way he plays, he will find a way to help the team.”

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 26&TeamID=

Cider Jim wrote:BUMP

The series continues, now with an installment about our GUARDS:

Another young lion who is anxious to take the court this season is Perez. Hailing from the same high school as Minaya, Oldsmar Christian in Oldsmar, Fla., Perez is a 6-4 freshman with a strong work ethic. Viewed as an energy boost to the Flames roster, the guard is known as a wing player who has the ability to defend, sink long-range jumpers and drive to the basket.

“Chris is an incredible competitor,” Layer said when speaking of the Florida native. “There won’t be a player this year who will outwork him and that’s what has gotten him to this point. The way he plays, he will find a way to help the team.”

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 26&TeamID=

On a team with the likes of Jesse Sanders, that's pretty high praise. Lest we think he's JUST a hard worker, keep in mind that as a Soph in HS, Chris led Oldsmar in scoring. David Minaya was a Senior starter on that team. He obviously has scoring ability.