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

#509278
I agree and we know this staff will play the top guys regardless of listed position. It's nice to see our roster with more "players" and less "specialists." The game today is so much more about matchups and the guys we are adding will give Coach McKay a lot more flexibility. Last season, we didn't have many answers to tough matchups (i.e. a smaller, quicker Asheville and their 1-3-1 zone) and we were adjusting to the other team more than them having to adjust to us. I see that changing with this group of guys.
#509279
Purple Haize wrote:Let me just interject. Outside of Newton and maybe 1 or 2 others the players don't fit neatly into 'Numbers'. It's the way of basketball today. They are Players not Positions for the most part. You put 3 or 4 Players on the floor with 1 or 2 Specialists.
I had never heard the Specialist/Player terms used, but I like it. Clearly a true offensive post/rim protector would be a specialist, as would a true PG. Does a spot-up 3 point shooter get that designation as well?
#509280
olldflame wrote:
Purple Haize wrote:Let me just interject. Outside of Newton and maybe 1 or 2 others the players don't fit neatly into 'Numbers'. It's the way of basketball today. They are Players not Positions for the most part. You put 3 or 4 Players on the floor with 1 or 2 Specialists.
I had never heard the Specialist/Player terms used, but I like it. Clearly a true offensive post/rim protector would be a specialist, as would a true PG. Does a spot-up 3 point shooter get that designation as well?
Yes but in today's game you don't want more than 2 'Specialists' in the game at 1 time
#510390
Doesnt surprise me either...he commits to UVa or another P5 school and they are practically falling all over themselves to praise him and either keep him at 4 or bump him up to 5
#510391
olldflame wrote:So, Brendan commits to Liberty and within 2 weeks his ESPN rating goes from 4 stars to 3. Not surprised.
That's why stars unless 1 or 5 are meaningless
#510392
No such thing as one star. If the kid has a pulse he gets 2. 3 stars show you have gotten their attention. Some 4 star players are glorified 3s and some are borderline 5s. Big difference. A perfect example of how little they mean is John Fulkerson, the 6'9" kid we offered last summer and signed with UTK. He had 25 offers, including several from ACC and SEC schools, but he was still rated 2 stars til just before he signed with Barnes, when everyone dropped 3 on him. Elijah Cuffee, our 2017 commit, is generally regarded as a HM talent and has scored more points than any other player on the Big Shots circuit over the past 3 years. He is still rated 2 stars by all the services.
By olldflame
Registration Days Posts
#520040
Very quiet summer regarding Brendan since the announcement that he would be playing AAU ball with the Boo Williams organization I wonder if that may have been a mistake Could have been hard for him to get PT, or even reps with all the high profile prospects they have I do know they have good coaches, so hopefully he learned something

With him living just up the road in Roanoke, I thought it would have been awesome if he had joined Cuffee in transferring to LCA Live at home, play a higher level of competition and have a chance to bond with 2 future teammates Oh well, they didn't ask me
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By Dr. Sheh
Registration Days Posts
#520042
olldflame wrote:Very quiet summer regarding Brendan since the announcement that he would be playing AAU ball with the Boo Williams organization I wonder if that may have been a mistake Could have been hard for him to get PT, or even reps with all the high profile prospects they have I do know they have good coaches, so hopefully he learned something

With him living just up the road in Roanoke, I thought it would have been awesome if he had joined Cuffee in transferring to LCA Live at home, play a higher level of competition and have a chance to bond with 2 future teammates Oh well, they didn't ask me
I think Brendan's dad is the athletic director of Faith Christian - Roanoke High School, or at least there is some sort of family tie there which explains why he wouldn't move to LCA or another program. He's coming to Lynchburg Tuesday, November 15th for a game against New Covenant Schools if anyone wants to get a look. However, it's the same night LU plays VCU.
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By jinxy
Registration Days Posts
#520048
His play transitioned ok . It was difficult to sync up with their travel schedule . Plan is and always has been to redshirt him next year . He and cuffee spent the homecoming game together. I believe those 2 and barber have a good cohesion between them .

He's a great perfect fit for lu and really loves the school . Good job by the staff to get the commitment early .
By krh44
Registration Days Posts
#522732
Dr. Sheh wrote:
olldflame wrote:Very quiet summer regarding Brendan since the announcement that he would be playing AAU ball with the Boo Williams organization I wonder if that may have been a mistake Could have been hard for him to get PT, or even reps with all the high profile prospects they have I do know they have good coaches, so hopefully he learned something

With him living just up the road in Roanoke, I thought it would have been awesome if he had joined Cuffee in transferring to LCA Live at home, play a higher level of competition and have a chance to bond with 2 future teammates Oh well, they didn't ask me


I think Brendan's dad is the athletic director of Faith Christian - Roanoke High School, or at least there is some sort of family tie there which explains why he wouldn't move to LCA or another program. He's coming to Lynchburg Tuesday, November 15th for a game against New Covenant Schools if anyone wants to get a look. However, it's the same night LU plays VCU.
I went to some of the game last week at New Covenant. Seemed to run the court well for a kid with his size. Glad he is coming to Lynchburg next year.
By olldflame
Registration Days Posts
#523023
Brendan just broke the record for rebounds at the Tournament of Champions in IL, one of the more prestigous early season HS tourneys around He averaged 17 boards a game :shock: Keep in mind HS games are only 32 minutes Check out some of the NBA studs who have played in this tourney



Someone posted that his skill set consists of being tall If being tall gets results like that, I think it's something we can work with!
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By BJWilliams
Registration Days Posts
#523041
No need to get salty over it FF11...when youre dealing with a bigger team, you want to bring them out away from the basket. That way, it creates openings for athletic slashers to dribble drive and attack. This way, unless the defender is a speedy closer and can cleanly block the ball every time, you draw contact and as the fouls mount, that benefits the smaller team...At least that's how I look at it.
By FlameFan11
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#523043
I agree in theory with why you play a smaller lineup. Have you seen us creating openings for our athletic slashers? We don't have many athletic slashers on this roster. Have you seen us drawing fouls?

What we have seen is consistent inability to rebound at alarming rates. We also have very few second chances and are getting badly outscored with points in the paint. Does the lack of rebounding not concern you?
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By BJWilliams
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#523071
FlameFan11 wrote:I agree in theory with why you play a smaller lineup. Have you seen us creating openings for our athletic slashers? We don't have many athletic slashers on this roster. Have you seen us drawing fouls?

What we have seen is consistent inability to rebound at alarming rates. We also have very few second chances and are getting badly outscored with points in the paint. Does the lack of rebounding not concern you?
I was more speaking from the opponent's perspective as they game plan for us. That said, Id love to see us get him on the court too, but I also don't want him to end up a Russell Monroe v2.0 once he's here.
By Chippy
Registration Days Posts
#523073
BJWilliams wrote:
FlameFan11 wrote:I agree in theory with why you play a smaller lineup. Have you seen us creating openings for our athletic slashers? We don't have many athletic slashers on this roster. Have you seen us drawing fouls?

What we have seen is consistent inability to rebound at alarming rates. We also have very few second chances and are getting badly outscored with points in the paint. Does the lack of rebounding not concern you?
I was more speaking from the opponent's perspective as they game plan for us. That said, Id love to see us get him on the court too, but I also don't want him to end up a Russell Monroe v2.0 once he's here.
or Carter McMasters!
By TDDance234
Registration Days Posts
#523122
Brendan isn't going to be the solution to our rebounding problems. He might help some defensively if his footwork is quick enough to get him in help position. However, if I'm an opposing coach, I'm calling pick-and-rolls until he gets called back to the bench. I just don't think he's going to be quick enough to keep up with guys at the D1 level.
By FlameFan11
Posts
#523148
The last two seasons, RMK has primarily covered the pick and roll by hard hedging with the big and then recovering when the guard gets through. It requires great help side defense to cover the roll until the big recovers and the big has to sprint back to his man immediately after the guard is back on his man. Probably the most common coverage for pick and roll defense right now in college basketball. I feel we have done a good job defensively with it.
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