A Sea Of Red

I watched some of the scrimmage today. Not everyone participated (T. Baker, Bannister and maybe a couple others). I'm guessing he was injured. Anyway, just a couple thoughts. The team played pretty intense. It was A team versus B team. Smith looked good, as did Jenkins and Ohman. The A team was pretty quick offensively and I think this team will be fun to watch. I enjoyed watching the coaches before the scrimmage started. McKay looks like he can still play. The coaches seem to relate really well to the team.

If anyone has any questions I will try and answer them. I believe Scar was at the scrimmage too. Probably 20 or 30 people in the vines.

bannister is injured as of now. how was our defense?

I don't put much stock at all in scrimmages, much less intrasquad scrimmages. i've seen teams look great in intrasquad scrimmages and i've seen teams do really well against much more talented teams in scrimmages and by the time the regular season rolls around they end up being average at best. i've also seen teams do pretty poor against much more talented team in scrimmages and then go on to be a pretty respectable team. so basically i'll reserve judgement on this team once they start playing some quality opponents in the regular season.

RMc was clearly not pleased with the "A squad" after the first part of the scrimmage, when they spotted the "scrubs" 15 points and lost by 14. He had them running between halves.

I thought Russ looked the best I've seen him. In the first half he went head up with Alex and at least held his own. He played with the A squad in the second half and they used a big lineup with him and Ace a lot.

Kyle Ohman can play. He is not just a one trick pony; he is a long 6'4" and athletic. He is also a better pure shooter than anyone who played last year.

BJ played a lot at the point, and looked good. I think that job is his if TeeJay is not healthy.

IMHO Richie and staff need some work on their PR skills. He advertized a public scrimmage and said he was excited about the fans getting to see the team for the first time. Then someone (yours truly) had the temerity to show up to said PUBLIC scrimmage wih a camera. You'd have thought it was "area 51!" I'm sitting about halfway up in the cushioned seats and not once, but twice, team representatives (manager and asst. coach to remain unnamed) walked all the way up to talk to me. The first time they (team manager) just asked if I was shooting video, and when I assured him it was stills, he said that was OK. About 10 minutes later the asst. coach comes up and says "the coach" wanted me to put the camera away. I would have been less put off if they had just said that in the first place. I wasn't going to make a big deal about it, but I have to say I'm disappointed that Richie wouldn't understand he has bigger fish to fry than worrying about some old geezer alum from the class of 79 taking a few still shots of a PUBLIC practice. At the very least they need to decide what their policy is going to be and stick with it.

thesportscritic wrote:bannister is injured as of now. how was our defense?

I thought the defense looked pretty intense. I only stayed for about 10 minutes of the scrimmage but that was my perception. They made a lot of steals but unfortunately they weren't making many shots.

olldflame wrote:IMHO Richie and staff need some work on their PR skills. He advertized a public scrimmage and said he was excited about the fans getting to see the team for the first time. Then someone (yours truly) had the temerity to show up to said PUBLIC scrimmage wih a camera. You'd have thought it was "area 51!" I'm sitting about halfway up in the cushioned seats and not once, but twice, team representatives (manager and asst. coach to remain unnamed) walked all the way up to talk to me. The first time they (team manager) just asked if I was shooting video, and when I assured him it was stills, he said that was OK. About 10 minutes later the asst. coach comes up and says "the coach" wanted me to put the camera away. I would have been less put off if they had just said that in the first place. I wasn't going to make a big deal about it, but I have to say I'm disappointed that Richie wouldn't understand he has bigger fish to fry than worrying about some old geezer alum from the class of 79 taking a few still shots of a PUBLIC practice. At the very least they need to decide what their policy is going to be and stick with it.

That's also an athletic department thing. Football practice is public, but to take pictures and video they like you to clear it first. It's just a cover your butt thing.

olldflame wrote:RMc was clearly not pleased with the "A squad" after the first part of the scrimmage, when they spotted the "scrubs" 15 points and lost by 14. He had them running between halves.

I thought Russ looked the best I've seen him. In the first half he went head up with Alex and at least held his own. He played with the A squad in the second half and they used a big lineup with him and Ace a lot.

Kyle Ohman can play. He is not just a one trick pony; he is a long 6'4" and athletic. He is also a better pure shooter than anyone who played last year.

BJ played a lot at the point, and looked good. I think that job is his if TeeJay is not healthy.

IMHO Richie and staff need some work on their PR skills. He advertized a public scrimmage and said he was excited about the fans getting to see the team for the first time. Then someone (yours truly) had the temerity to show up to said PUBLIC scrimmage wih a camera. You'd have thought it was "area 51!" I'm sitting about halfway up in the cushioned seats and not once, but twice, team representatives (manager and asst. coach to remain unnamed) walked all the way up to talk to me. The first time they (team manager) just asked if I was shooting video, and when I assured him it was stills, he said that was OK. About 10 minutes later the asst. coach comes up and says "the coach" wanted me to put the camera away. I would have been less put off if they had just said that in the first place. I wasn't going to make a big deal about it, but I have to say I'm disappointed that Richie wouldn't understand he has bigger fish to fry than worrying about some old geezer alum from the class of 79 taking a few still shots of a PUBLIC practice. At the very least they need to decide what their policy is going to be and stick with it.

well the reason why it's a big deal is because if you were a representative of another team and you were taking pictures of the scrimmage/practice (or at least being paid by a winthrop coach, for example, to take pictures), it would be an ncaa violation. basically, other coaches and schools aren't allowed to see scrimmages - rahter it be direct or indirect - other than what they participate in (if it's broadcasted on TV like midnight madness is for some schools, thats a different story) and none of the liberty basketball staff can know for sure rather you are taking pictures for yourself or for other schools. I'm sure RM just wanted to ensure you weren't taking pictures/video for another team.

PS - just because something is viewable to the public doesn't mean you have the right to take pictures and/or video...

oldflame wrote:He is also a better pure shooter than anyone who played last year.

we're talking about KO?

[quote="PAmedic"][quote="oldflame"]He is also a better pure shooter than anyone who played last year. [/quote]



we're talking about KO?[/quote]

We didn't exactly have a team full of shooters last year....one of our biggest weaknesses.

Yes.

Ohman was shooting well yesterday.

There appeared to several guys at the scrimmage who weren't on the roster. Anyone know who they were? There also a left handed guard who was shooting with McKay before the scrimmage started. He was knocking down a lot of threes. He is not on the roster either. Its a black guy about 6 feet tall. Maybe a little taller.

McKay had a high school recruit visiting from Gainesville, FL this weekend who was at the Flames Club luncheon: African American kid who was around 5'11" or less wearing a red hoodie, as I recall. It might have been him.

To anyone who was there:

Do you have a rough idea of who was on which team? I'd be interested to know, and I'm sure others would as well.

They mixed the teams up several times. I think this team is going to struggle a bit. They don't have all the pieces to compete IMHO early on. I think they have a chance to gel but they will need time to come together. Carter McMasters is a fun kid. I enjoyed my brief interaction with him. I watched his dad play at Tennessee Temple and I talked about the old days with him on Friday night and a little on Saturday. Great people and I am really glad they will be in the Liberty family.

oh boy. Not what I was hoping to hear. I knew Coach's first year would probably be rough, but...

SCAR- what, in your opinion, is the team's biggest weakness? A 5?

C'mon Richie- do your stuff.

Medic, I'm not the "Self proclaimed Liberty Basketball Expert" that SCAR is, but I'll still offer an opinion. Alex will be a strong presence inside (at either the 4 or the 5), but I'd say our biggest weakness will be finding someone to complement Alex inside at the other 4 or 5 spot (whichever position he is not playing). In other words, if Alex is the 4, Russ will likely be the 5; if Alex is the 5, Baker will likely be the 4, if he's healthy.

Good points Jim. I would also add that Tee Jay is the only "true" point guard in the program. J Holland is my man and I hope he does well but he can be pressured into turnovers at times. BJ is much better at the 2 than the 1 IMO but I think he can handle the 1. Alex looks great though. The little bit I saw of Russ, he looked pretty solid with some nice post moves but he is still not the aggressive player we all hoped he would be on a regular basis. Division 1 basketball is tough. It is not going to be easy to just go out there and win games. I am hoping they win every game of course and I know they will improve but I am not expecting a bs championship or anything. A lot can happen tho between now and March.

kel varson wrote:There appeared to several guys at the scrimmage who weren't on the roster. Anyone know who they were? There also a left handed guard who was shooting with McKay before the scrimmage started. He was knocking down a lot of threes. He is not on the roster either. Its a black guy about 6 feet tall. Maybe a little taller.

You were there for that too? I was wondering if McKay had any eligibilty left. He was shooting about 95% just going around the arch.

Here's to hoping that McKay stays around long enough for his sons to play for us in a few years, if they have a jumper like their Dad's (or Scar's, in his prime).

Cider Jim wrote:Here's to hoping that McKay stays around long enough for his sons to play for us in a few years, if they have a jumper like their Dad's (or Scar's, in his prime).

ETSU, clapclapclap, ETSU...

kel varson wrote:There appeared to several guys at the scrimmage who weren't on the roster. Anyone know who they were? There also a left handed guard who was shooting with McKay before the scrimmage started. He was knocking down a lot of threes. He is not on the roster either. Its a black guy about 6 feet tall. Maybe a little taller.

Johnny Stephene....he didn't make it through the Clearinghouse

hurricane fan wrote:

kel varson wrote:There appeared to several guys at the scrimmage who weren't on the roster. Anyone know who they were? There also a left handed guard who was shooting with McKay before the scrimmage started. He was knocking down a lot of threes. He is not on the roster either. Its a black guy about 6 feet tall. Maybe a little taller.

Johnny Stephene....he didn't make it through the Clearinghouse

Yeah, just saw his picture. I think that was him.

I hear there was an issue with academics but he'll be around next year for sure.