A Sea Of Red

AS A NEW COMER TO FLAMEFAN AND A BIG FAN OF LIBERTY BASKETBALL I WAS WONDERING IF THE EXPERTS COULD BREAK DOWN THE FIVE STARTERS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON AND POST THEIR EVALUATION OF EACH PLAYER.

3........2..........1...........Pair a sox.

Kaz, this is just one man's opinion, but someone had to get the ball rolling, so here goes:

1--TJ Bannister: SR PG transfer from UVa (great things are expected from him)
2--TBD: candidates are Anderson, Jenkins, Holland, & Stephene (all undersclassmen)
3--Anthony Smith: supposed to be our best player next year
4--Tyler Baker and or Rell Porter
5--Alex McLean (backed up by Russ Monroe)

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 1&TeamID=6

Of course, another option is to move Russ to the 5 and let McLean play the 4. Players highlighted in orange are sure things to start at their positions.

I think we can be pretty sure who will start and get the lion's share of the minutes at 3 positions:

Point Guard: T.J. Bannister

Small Forward: Anthony Smith

Center: Alex McLean

Alex and Smitty are returning starters, and there is absolutely no reason to believe that will change. Both should receive pre-season all conference recognition. T.J. has ACC experience and by all reports will give us our best floor general from the point in many years.

At the power forward, I believe Rell Porter will be in the starting lineup as the season begins, and if he does his job will probably continue to start. This will in effect be an "honorary" starting position based on his status as a Senior captain and his intensity and hustle. I think Tyler Baker will get substantially more minutes than last year from the beginning, and probably will be playing more than Rell by mid-season. He just has so much more offensive talent. A possible wild card here is Russell Monroe. If RMc decides we are a better team with both him and Ace in the lineup, he could start at center with Alex at the 4.

We will be extremely young at the shooting guard. Unless Anderson or Stephene seperate themselves in preseason practice as clearly superior, I believe B.J. Jenkins will be in the starting lineup when the season opens just based on being the only one with any D1 experience. The competition for minutes will be fierce here.

Thanks to those who answered the question. To LUconn GET A GRIP. I didn't know that there were requirements for posting on Flamesfans.

LUconn wrote:

Thats Hilarious hahaha

1. TJ Bannister
2. Im gonna say BJ
3. Anthony Smith
4. Alex McLean
5. Russ

I know that 4/5 isnt what we are used to seeing, but Ace Loves the 4 and I think Russ is getting better everyday so It would be that way. However if Ace Does play the 5... then of Course The 6'9" all-star from New Mexico...TYYYYYLLEEEERRRRRR BAAAAAAKEERRRRRR at the 4

Welcome to flamefans kazport. Using all caps is the internet equivilent of shouting and is considered poor ettiquette on any discussion board I have ever been a part of. I thought LUConn had a very creative way of pointing this out.

I get it.

more importantly, who will be on the floor to FINISH games, not start games?

kazport wrote:Thanks to those who answered the question. To LUconn GET A GRIP. I didn't know that there were requirements for posting on Flamesfans.

You can get our requirements for posting on flamefans.com in the courtyard section.

shukcb04 wrote:more importantly, who will be on the floor to FINISH games, not start games?

Depends how much we are winning by or losing by

Cider Jim wrote:Kaz, this is just one man's opinion, but someone had to get the ball rolling, so here goes:

1--TJ Bannister: SR PG transfer from UVa (great things are expected from him)
2--TBD: candidates are Anderson, Jenkins, Holland, & Stephene (all undersclassmen)
3--Anthony Smith: supposed to be our best player next year
4--Tyler Baker and or Rell Porter
5--Alex McLean (backed up by Russ Monroe)

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 1&TeamID=6

Of course, another option is to move Russ to the 5 and let McLean play the 4. Players highlighted in orange are sure things to start at their positions.

It's early, but I think that Cider Jim covered most of it pretty well. However, I wouldn't expect to see Holland at the 2, and I do think that Stephene will see some time at the point.

There has been a lot of speculation as to where big Russ Monroe fits in, however, I believe that he will provide the most value as Alex's primary back-up in the post.

Also, if Ty Baker can stay healthy, he'll definetly contribute offensively.

I think that Cider Jim covered most of it pretty well

Thanks, Paradox, but I'm waiting for SCAR's and Lang's professional opinions on next year's team.

...good stuff..

olldflame wrote:I think we can be pretty sure who will start and get the lion's share of the minutes at 3 positions:

Point Guard: T.J. Bannister

Small Forward: Anthony Smith

Center: Alex McLean

Alex and Smitty are returning starters, and there is absolutely no reason to believe that will change. Both should receive pre-season all conference recognition. T.J. has ACC experience and by all reports will give us our best floor general from the point in many years.

At the power forward, I believe Rell Porter will be in the starting lineup as the season begins, and if he does his job will probably continue to start. This will in effect be an "honorary" starting position based on his status as a Senior captain and his intensity and hustle. I think Tyler Baker will get substantially more minutes than last year from the beginning, and probably will be playing more than Rell by mid-season. He just has so much more offensive talent. A possible wild card here is Russell Monroe. If RMc decides we are a better team with both him and Ace in the lineup, he could start at center with Alex at the 4.

We will be extremely young at the shooting guard. Unless Anderson or Stephene seperate themselves in preseason practice as clearly superior, I believe B.J. Jenkins will be in the starting lineup when the season opens just based on being the only one with any D1 experience. The competition for minutes will be fierce here.

The 2-gaurd situation is the most interesting by far. From what I've heard, no one player has an advantage over the others among the three: Anderson, Jenkins, and Stephene. It will be a wide open competition for playing time that should last all season long unless one player really steps up and separates himself early on.

It's going to be awfully hard for McKay to keep Baker on the bench if he is healthy and ready to go. He is a big-time scoring threat from the outside and we should expect to see some improvement with his inside game as well.

Lastly, Russ Monroe is a big body in the post, and McKay expects him to be a contributer next season. I guess the question is, to what extent and in what capacity?

TylerBakersGonnaBGreat wrote:

LUconn wrote:

Thats Hilarious hahaha

1. TJ Bannister
2. Im gonna say BJ
3. Anthony Smith
4. Alex McLean
5. Russ

I know that 4/5 isnt what we are used to seeing, but Ace Loves the 4 and I think Russ is getting better everyday so It would be that way. However if Ace Does play the 5... then of Course The 6'9" all-star from New Mexico...TYYYYYLLEEEERRRRRR BAAAAAAKEERRRRRR at the 4

Ace will play center

The wildcard in the bunch may be Johnny Stephene. In Stephene, McKay feels that he landed an overlooked talent. Is he right? We'll have to wait and see.

Stephene is intriguing because he is simultaneously a potential playmaker and a scorer. In addition, his left-handedness can provide many advantages on the hardwood. It will be interesting to see how polished this kid really is.

Cider Jim wrote:

I think that Cider Jim covered most of it pretty well

Thanks, Paradox, but I'm waiting for SCAR's and Lang's professional opinions on next year's team.

I'll give my thoughts in October.

Seriously, not trying to be flip or anything, but hoops is so, so far from my mind right now that I couldn't give a good opinion on things. I want to see some of these new players in practice, and I want to see how the returners react to McKay's coaching style.

That's a shame because that would mean that Cider and friends are going to have to wait at least three months until they can actually feel comfortable thinking it through and forming an opinion, Oh well

Chris Lang wrote:I'll give my thoughts in October.

Seriously, not trying to be flip or anything, but hoops is so, so far from my mind right now that I couldn't give a good opinion on things. I want to see some of these new players in practice, and I want to see how the returners react to McKay's coaching style.

my thoughts exactly. Can you tell we're not in Rock Hill?

according to those guys, the season is right around the corner. Wonder why, what could they be missing in their lives...

(WEF in 3, 2, 1...)

The wildcard in the bunch may be Johnny Stephene. In Stephene, McKay feels that he landed an overlooked talent.

Has anyone seen Stephene's pic on Facebook? The guy is built like a tank. Think of a shorter version of David Robinson in his prime, or the vintage physique of SCAR.

I'll give my thoughts in October...hoops is so, so far from my mind right now that I couldn't give a good opinion on things.

Or, if he gave us his opinion, he'd have to charge us 50 cents (the price of a paper).

Cider Jim wrote:Has anyone seen Stephene's pic on Facebook? The guy is built like a tank. Think of a shorter version of David Robinson in his prime, or the vintage physique of SCAR.

You are actually looking up recruits on facebook?

shukcb04 wrote:

Cider Jim wrote:Has anyone seen Stephene's pic on Facebook? The guy is built like a tank. Think of a shorter version of David Robinson in his prime, or the vintage physique of SCAR.

You are actually looking up recruits on facebook?

He probably saw Stephene on my facebook since we are friends and Jim is also my friend. I don't think Jim is stalking the players on Facebook. That would be a waste of time when there are so many other folks to stalk on facebook (I don't have the heart to bring up a certain 2 guard on the women's team that Medic used to be a big fan of lest I get smacked by Mrs Medic the next time I see her but said 2 guard is a friend of mine on facebook as well )

I don't really have a solid opinion of this team just yet. I have seen Stephene play 3 pick up games. really difficult to judge him on that good or bad. I believe in BJ Jenkins wholeheartedly though. He is a real game time player. I think RMK's style leads us to believe Anderson will contribute if he can shoot as well as he has been recruited to do. I still like Russ as my starting 5 if he continues to improve with Ace at the 4 but I know Ace will play the 5 a lot too. Baker is going to play more and I hope he stays healthy too. Ok, so I did have a few opinions

SCAR wrote: I still like Russ as my starting 5 if he continues to improve with Ace at the 4 but I know Ace will play the 5 a lot too. Baker is going to play more and I hope he stays healthy too. Ok, so I did have a few opinions

Scar agrees with me with Russ at the 5... woo hoo!! haha and he says Baker is gonna play more... woo hoo!