A Sea Of Red

The College of William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia


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Tony Shaver
10th Season as W&M Head Coach

W&M News release wrote:Tribe Charges Past Hampton in Season Opener, 69-51
Updated: Friday 11/09/2012

Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Opening at home for the first time since 2005, the William and Mary men's basketball team used an 18-2 run early in the second half in rolling to a 69-51 victory over Hampton to kickoff the 2012-13 campaign on Friday night. The Green and Gold's three-headed scoring monster of sophomore Marcus Thornton and juniors Tim Rusthoven and Brandon Britt propelled to the Tribe to its ninth home-opening win in head coach Tony Shaver's 10 seasons.

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The Flames Sports Network is really growing each season as we pick up more and more affiliates. Monday the game is on Liberty Channel, MASN, ESPN 3 and a many other affiliates that I'm too lazy to look up.

The team played a very good A10 team on Friday and with so many injuries it is difficult to get a gauge on how this team will be. However I did see some positives. I hope the injured guys get back soon, J.R. Coronado gets in playing shape and then the group starts to gel offensively.

Hope to see a ton of people in the Vines on Monday. They are doing a Fun Fest event outside of the Vines Center and Nic Pierce, Paul Nazigian and me will be broadcasting live on the radio starting at 6 PM.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programing.

Excuse me, do we know you? You do bare a striking resemblance to a guy who used to post regularly around here.

SCAR wrote: They are doing a Fun Fest event outside of the Vines Center and Nic Pierce, Paul Nazigian and me will be broadcasting live on the radio starting at 6 PM.

somebody has to make the "well, you've got the face for radio" joke and it may as well be me

PAmedic wrote:

SCAR wrote: They are doing a Fun Fest event outside of the Vines Center and Nic Pierce, Paul Nazigian and me will be broadcasting live on the radio starting at 6 PM.

somebody has to make the "well, you've got the face for radio" joke and it may as well be me

Pound for pound he's the best radio guy on the air

SCAR better stop by and say hello on Flamefans! I will be watching on MASN after I get off work. Go Flames!

Purple Haize wrote:

PAmedic wrote:

SCAR wrote: They are doing a Fun Fest event outside of the Vines Center and Nic Pierce, Paul Nazigian and me will be broadcasting live on the radio starting at 6 PM.

somebody has to make the "well, you've got the face for radio" joke and it may as well be me

Pound for pound he's the best radio guy on the air

Pound for pound, indeed.

Nice color ad in the local paper about the FREE game and Fan Fest tonight, but nothing else in the paper about the actual game.

VA Tech had a nice little "Men's Basketball Capsule" for their home game against Rhode Island, but nothing about the in-state matchup of LU vs. W&M.

Occupy Lang!

Does anyone know anything about W&M's team so we can know what to be on the lookout for tonight? I haven't been able to find out too much about them, but from what little I can tell they have quite a few guys that can do some damage.

Gentlemen I dropped several LBS over a year ago Sly between the new job and a near 2 year old daughter, my FF.com time has been cut. I still keep up though, I just haven't posted much.

ITS BALL NIGHT!!!!!!!

Does anyone have some information on these guys from W&M so we can know what to be looking for tonight? I haven’t been able to find out too much about them online, other than the fact that they have a few guys that we need to be on the lookout for.

SCAR wrote:Gentlemen I dropped several LBS over a year ago Sly between the new job and a near 2 year old daughter, my FF.com time has been cut. I still keep up though, I just haven't posted much.

ITS BALL NIGHT!!!!!!!

Having your gut hang over your belt does not mean you 'dropped weight'. Just sayin

McClanaFan wrote:Does anyone know anything about W&M's team so we can know what to be on the lookout for tonight? I haven't been able to find out too much about them, but from what little I can tell they have quite a few guys that can do some damage.

From W&M's Blue Ribbon Preview...

- Hyperkinetic sophomore Marcus Thornton (11.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg) brings a dimension to the Tribe that is fun for the family. The 6-3 Thornton is all over the floor and never met a shot he didn't like. He doesn't mind traffic and on more than one occasion tried to dunk the ball over centers. In fact, Thornton can get his own shot whenever he wants it, which is sometimes tough in the patterned William & Mary offensive scheme.

- "I thought we took decent advantage of his skills last year," Shaver said, "but we will open things offensively a little more with Marcus and Brandon Britt. They're both so athletic I want to open up a little bit, run a little bit more, which I love to do, and get some easy transition baskets." Shaver is referring to point guard Brandon Britt (9.0 ppg, 1.5 apg), a 6-1 bullet and the ideal running mate with Thornton. The ability of Britt, a junior, and Thornton to play off of each other is a key to the season. Britt took a step back his sophomore season but had good reason -- his father passed away shortly before the year began. The numbers were not good -- 29 more turnovers than assists for a point guard and a 22 of 91 mark from 3 (.242) -- but Britt was a CAA all-freshman team honoree two seasons ago and has obvious talent.

- Rusthoven, a junior, (10.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg) doubled his production numbers from two seasons ago, and that can only get better assuming good health. The 6-9 Rusthoven is reliable around the rim. He made 109 of 200 (.545) from the field last year after shooting .567 the previous year. Rusthoven scored in double figures in 10 of the Tribe's last 14 games, including a team-best 12 points and seven rebounds in the CAA tournament against Northeastern. He had three double doubles on the year.

- The alter ego of Britt is junior Julian Boatner (4.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg). The 6-2 Boatner, a marksman from deep (34 of 116, .293), also struggled last year. Shaver has chosen a different tack with Boatner. While most coaches would ask for greater diversity, Shaver sees 34 of Boatner's 44 field goals were threes and is going the opposite direction.

- Gaillard (5.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg in 2010-11) sat out last season with a knee injury, but he brings the team a new dynamic. The 6-8 junior is an athletic wing and gives Shaver versatility. Though not a rugged player, Gaillard can play baseline to wing. While he may not be the focus of the offense, Gaillard will make things easier on his teammates. Plus, Gaillard's versatility on defense is sorely needed.

- Senior Matt Rum (6.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) is a solid shooter and all around vital cog -- not because he does anything particularly well, but because he is weak at nothing. The 6-4 Rum led the team in 3-point shooting (38 of 102, .373) and his 1.4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio was the only one of the team in the positive realm. "He was our most consistent player last year," Shaver said. "He can defend you, and he's a shooter. His stability is very important."

- Terry Tarpey (FR) is 6-5 and plays with a toughness that makes coaches salivate. Shaver takes the praise one more step: "He's an extremely versatile player, very long, and shockingly athletic," Shaver said. "He will be one of our better defenders the day he walks in the door. He needs to develop consistency in his outside shot, but he can be a great player for us."

- Sean Sheldon (FR) moves very well on his 6-9 frame. Sheldon has a ways to go and has to adjust to the college game, but Shaver discounts nobody. "I love the motor on this kid," he said. "He plays at a fast pace, loves to play, he's a tough kid. I don't know completely where he fits in, but there's [room]."

Sorry about the double post guys....rookie mistake! Thanks for the update in the players!

I absolute love the bottom scoreboard on the screen. Kudos to FSN!

8-5 LU with 15:39 left in the 1'st.

Solid start. Moving the ball well, with a few mistakes that are likely due to so many new players in the rotation, and Jourdan looking pretty aggressive.

13-11 W&M with 11:43 left in the 1'st.

19-16 LU with 7:51 left in the 1'st.

I agree with you jbock, the crisp score strip at the bottom of the screen is a great improvement from last year. I know its a little thing but it makes the overall production appear much more professional.

W&M seems much more on our level, I like how we have been in attack mode

27-21 LU with 3:33 left in the 1'st.

Well anything was better than the goofy basketballs at the top But it's great!

If these guys can stay healthy then our chemistry should improve. We've definitely got some interesting pieces this year. Absolutely loving the aggressiveness and the defensive intensity.

38-23 LU at half.

FYI, just looked and Liberty vs. Georgetown will be broadcast on MASN and SNY (assuming its a Big East network game).

Look at what a little confidence is doing for the guys. That's a great finish to the half.