If roundball is your blood, this is the place to discuss the Flames as they move into the Ritchie McKay era for the 2nd time.

Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke

By newnavy84
Registration Days Posts
#374949
Is Dale Layer as confused as I am about who's the best 5 on the floor? So far he's tried just about every line up option mathematically possible and hasn't really stuck with one set. It's like we have one solid player in Jesse, we know we're going to get one half out of Minaya and Burris is going to fight hard. Then what?

Spotty JC who'll score 18 (13 of those were after we were down 29) in a game that doesn't matter, but airball a 3 in the three previous games? I know this is unfair, but not to mention that JC couldn't even spell the word "clutch."
Tavares, who can be a lost cannon, he'll make some nice baseline jumpers, then his brain will fall out and make some bonehead plays.
JVP, one of the softest big men I've ever seen, if Burris had his height, he'd be a beast.....at an ACC school.
Baird will play 20 minutes one game, then you won't see him for a couple weeks.
Phillips is a quick guard, but he's got grease on his hands and couldn't shoot his way out of a middle school girl game. But his minutes do give Jesse a much need breather.
Gielo has shown a lot of promise, but still nursing that injury.
Andrew Smith has scored 5-6 from the field with 8 boards and 3 blocks in 10 MINUTES OF PLAY ALL SEASON!!! What a waste of potential! Layer has already wasted the option of red-shirting Smith, why not give him some time on the court? He's been one of the brightest spot in this black hole of a season. Why is he not on the court?
Here's a better question, why IS Ethan Layer on the court so much? If they built a wall around him and said, you can shoot all day, he'd be fine, but if someone in Bedford put his hand up while Layer was shooting, you better box out. Oh that's right, coaches son....
Aikens has a ton of energy, but every time I see his slash towards the basket, I hold my breathe and think about how vital he is for Gill's first team at the Bill.

If I were Layer, I'd have Jesse, Minaya and Burris on the court every second they could be. Then I'd put Gielo as much as his arm could handle along with Smith. Maybe Smith is lazy in practice or something and that's why he's not playing, but when he gets in the game, he does some work. He put a move on one of the post players at the Richmond game that I haven't seen a Liberty player do since McLean. Smith would have to work his way OUT of my lineup. I would alternate Speaks in, along with Baird. Phillips would offer a breather for Jesse, then JC, then JVP to give our 3 forwards a minute to catch their breath, and Aikens would offer a defensive boost, then Layer when we're either up by 20 or down by 20 along with Assinesi, Hoyt and Gliedman (if he's still on the team, haven't see him lately).
User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#374951
Gliedman has left the team.

Interesting perspective laying it all out there. The good news is most of these pieces have at least one more season left after this year. That gives Coach layer the ability to try some things with the long term goals in mind.

I agree that what little I have seen from Drew Smith gives me reason to believe that he could be a quality player once he gets adjusted tot he college game.
User avatar
By bballfan84
Registration Days Posts
#374953
Unfortunately I think there is some cut bait on this years team and in return you can open up some more scholarships. JC and JVP I do not see a reason in continuing to play them or in the long term keeping them. Smith, Baird, and Gielo are your future. Ive seen Burris practice and he is about as lazy as it gets. To be honest these guys need a gut check.
By newnavy84
Registration Days Posts
#374966
As much as I hate to say it, I'm ready to start over. Keep your key players after this season, cut the fat and as sad as I am to say, bring in a new coach. It's the perfect off season to do it. Jesse deserved not losing another coach, but he'll be gone. Layer was a good decision after McKay and Curry Benedict Arnolded us (yes, I'll be bitter until Curry goes to Europe) and had a good run last season, but he doesn't have much now or coming in, so maybe it's time for a change. He's a good assistant and he'll find a job out there, he's a classy guy. If this FBS thing does pan out in the next couple seasons, we need to be ready on the hard court, women's bball has been there for years and will continue, but men's needs a big time coach.
User avatar
By bballfan84
Registration Days Posts
#374987
newnavy84 wrote:As much as I hate to say it, I'm ready to start over. Keep your key players after this season, cut the fat and as sad as I am to say, bring in a new coach. It's the perfect off season to do it. Jesse deserved not losing another coach, but he'll be gone. Layer was a good decision after McKay and Curry Benedict Arnolded us (yes, I'll be bitter until Curry goes to Europe) and had a good run last season, but he doesn't have much now or coming in, so maybe it's time for a change. He's a good assistant and he'll find a job out there, he's a classy guy. If this FBS thing does pan out in the next couple seasons, we need to be ready on the hard court, women's bball has been there for years and will continue, but men's needs a big time coach.
forgive my ignorance but if this FBS thing does work out what conference does that put the mens bball team in?....also we do have two really good JUCO players coming in
User avatar
By Sly Fox
Registration Days Posts
#374989
In all likelihood, we would be moving all sports at once. There could be some moving around to maneuver NCAA bylaws in order to hang onto auto bids for non-football sports. But if we move, we're going all in.
By TDDance234
Registration Days Posts
#375000
Right now, I'd go with:

Jesse
Speaks
Smith
Gielo
Burrus

JC
Chene
JVP
Baird

I agree that we will probably see JVP go the Russell route and disappear without being heard from again. It wouldn't surprise me to see Chene go somewhere else next year either, with Layer perhaps getting the axe.
User avatar
By jcmanson
Registration Days Posts
#375004
TDDance234 wrote:with Layer perhaps getting the axe.
wow, can't believe so many think he may get canned
User avatar
By Cider Jim
Registration Days Posts
#375010
TDDance234 wrote:Right now, I'd go with:

Jesse
Speaks
Smith
Gielo
Burrus
This, except have Gielo at the 3 and Smith at the 4. I really like the idea of Speaks at the 2 over JC.
By TDDance234
Registration Days Posts
#375018
jcmanson wrote:
TDDance234 wrote:with Layer perhaps getting the axe.
wow, can't believe so many think he may get canned
Count me in the keep him camp but it wouldn't surprise me, honestly. We've regressed quite a bit and there isn't really a light at the end of the tunnel.
User avatar
By BJWilliams
Registration Days Posts
#375020
TDDance234 wrote:
jcmanson wrote:
TDDance234 wrote:with Layer perhaps getting the axe.
wow, can't believe so many think he may get canned
Count me in the keep him camp but it wouldn't surprise me, honestly. We've regressed quite a bit and there isn't really a light at the end of the tunnel.
This pretty much encapsulizes where I am on this as well. . Id hate to see him fired but I have a feeling that he probably wont get a chance to work with only his own recruits (which he'd be able to after this year)
User avatar
By ToTheLeft
Registration Days Posts
#375071
Jesse/Chene
Dave/Ethan
Speaks/Smith
Antwan/Gielo
JVP/Antwan
User avatar
By Purple Haize
Registration Days Posts
#375080
Cider Jim wrote:
TDDance234 wrote:Right now, I'd go with:

Jesse
Speaks
Smith
Gielo
Burrus
This, except have Gielo at the 3 and Smith at the 4. I really like the idea of Speaks at the 2 over JC.
This heyday you should stick with Quiz Bowl. Study Geilo has a truck load of ability. I just hope is practice intensity or whatever it is that's keeping him off the court improves. There is often an adjustment period for international players. To me he is a nice bright spot on the horizon.
User avatar
By Cider Jim
Registration Days Posts
#375178
Purple Haize wrote:This heyday...
:dontgetit
User avatar
By Purple Haize
Registration Days Posts
#375184
Cider Jim wrote:
Purple Haize wrote:This heyday...
:dontgetit
Blame auto correct.
This is why.... :)
By Chippy
Registration Days Posts
#375216
Jesse
Tavares
Andrew
Geilo/Baird
Burrus/JVP

and the 2-3 zone will have the length to be more effective or 1-3-1 with Jesse running the baseline with his ability to get to the ball and rebound and have Tavares at the point ready for the breakaways with Geilo and Andrew on the wings . . . yeah, that's the ticket. Play Basketball Play Basketball Play Basketball
User avatar
By jbock13
Registration Days Posts
#375218
I'd give Layer at least one more year.
FIU

Armchair with the "garage" post :D

25/26 Season

The person who is emotionally or personally atta[…]

I hate you Merry Christmas :D :lol: May[…]

Wake Up, Dead Man

Paul is curiously missing from this film.