[Sly Fox]

Now that our first season of the Dale Layer Era is in the books, what are your thoughts?

Kyle & Tyler may not be back, but hopefully we'll have a much less eventful offseason than last spring.

[LUconn]

Well, I didn't want to lose this but I can't say that I'm sorry this season is over. We have some decent pieces to build on. Konan and Burress are gonna be a force in conference next year. Jesse is still pretty good and Evan looks like he'll be our guy. Hopefully these guys can develop into players that will play well for us OOC in a couple years. I'm not worried about losing Ohman.

[g-webb1994]

Good young core of players and a darn good coach in place....your future is bright.

[Sly Fox]

Thanks, 1994. We'll be watching the events this offseason in Boiling Springs very closely.

[SuperJon]

Tonight was a snapshot of our season. We got down, battled back and were on the verge of getting over the hump and simply didn't have enough to get over it. With all summer and fall to get better and work together, there's no reason to think we can't get over that hump next year. We had four games where we lost by five or less. We win the games we won this year and turn those close losses into wins and we're in the top 3.

We weathered the storm. This season was considered to be a rebuilding year. The amount that we lost from last year was incredible. We finished above .500 in conference and right around .500 for the year. We all said that those results would be a success for this year.

No one is transferring. Our coach isn't leaving. Everyone is coming back.

Next year could be pretty fun.

Two years should be really fun.

[jcmanson]

No one is transferring. Our coach isn't leaving. Everyone is coming back.

You 100% sure about that?

[TDDance234]

No one is transferring. Our coach isn't leaving. Everyone is coming back.

You 100% sure about that?

After the past few off-seasons, I don't think anyone can say without absolute uncertainity that our roster will remain the same.

[g-webb1994]

Thanks, 1994. We'll be watching the events this offseason in Boiling Springs very closely.

No problem Sly.....I have the utmost respect for Layer for what he did building the Queens program in Charlotte, and for him bringing Colorado State into Boiling Springs for no earthly reason whatsoever and leaving with an L....a class act. A whole lot better than that Ritchie whathisname you had last season, that's for sure.

As for good old Boiling Springs...like I pm'ed you, things are already swirling big time, hopefully in the right direction.

[TIMSCAR20]

No one is transferring. Our coach isn't leaving. Everyone is coming back.

You 100% sure about that?

Yes I don't know how anyone could possibly know that. This is the NCAA. Everyone wants to play and your window is small. If you feel that you may not get a chance to get on the court, you may leave.

I want to say that I am proud of Kyle Ohman and happy for him too. What a career. The most significant Walk on in school history arguably. Brian Woodson's ring in 2004 may put him at the top of the category but Kyle is up there. Played for 3 different coaches too which is not an easy way to stay consistent. I think the future is bright for Liberty. I like Coach Layer. I think Liberty will be able to bring in some really good players. Coach did an excellent job this year making them competitive after losing so much in Smith, Curry and others like Austin Smith. Austin Smith would have helped this team a lot this season.

Go Flames!

[olldflame]

I would be surprised if all of this years players are back, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[g-webb1994]

Just a question, but how much do you think the LU culture of a high moral Christian standard effects athletes transferring as opposed to playing time? I mean, if the Lord leads you to go to a school like LU, wouldn't staying be more important than PT?

Also, I agree with SCAR....A Smith would have really helped your squad this season, no doubt you would have had a game in the Vines tonight more than likely with him playing.

[Stevev]

I think that Baird and JC Sanders will make an immediate impact on next year's team and along with Burris, Konan, Sanders, and Gordan should be able to weed out some of the slackers. We should be okay next year. Coach Layer has had a year to evaluate what needs to be worked on and I think he will go out and work hard to fix what needs fixing to take us to a more competitive level.

As far as the question above that may be a reason for some to stay but other reasons would override that fact such as playing time, adaptablility to the coaches style of play, getting along with teammates on and off the coach. Maybe not the best answer but a good question regardless.

[ToTheLeft]

We finished above .500 in the Big South (even tho that meant tied for 5th, which meant 6th, just a weird year in the BSC).

We were a couple of plays away from beating GMU to open the year.

We have some young talent to build on.

I think, if you don't even add in JCS, using a starting lineup of returners and JVP, we have one of the 4 best teams next year.

Jesse (Who is really hitting his stride... if he keeps it up with being a scoring threat, he's that much better)
Evan (Same as above, if he can score and take care of the ball, he's a top BSC player)
Pat/Chris (I think either one, with a summer of work, could play this position...)
Antwan/Pat (A full summer of getting shots up, and working on being a real post defender, and not just using his size, and he could be a MONSTER, talking about Antwan)
JVP/Antwan (I think JVP will be our starting center next year, because from what I've seen and heard, he has a very high ceiling. However, it could also go the other way and have Chris, Antwan, Pat... either way)

We're going to be just fine, and I like where this is going. I don't think we have any problem at all replacing Kyle. He had some great moments for this team, he scored a ton of points, made a ton of hustle plays, and I wish him the best, but replacing Kyle Ohman is nothing like replacing Floyd, Curry, and Smith, or Bannister/McLean/Jenkins/Porter.

If JCS is a contributor right off the bat, we're a very dangerous team next year. If both he and JVP play at a high level, combined with what we have coming back, we're favorites to win the whole darn thing. That's a lot of ifs, tho.

Coastal loses a lot, but keeps some key players, too. I think they'll be in the hunt, but maybe not as dominant.

Radford loses a ton, doesn't keep all that much. They claim to have some transfers, but if they're more like Trifunovic and less like Art, then I'm not concerned.

Winthrop will be pretty good, but they always have the same problem, being able to score.

UNCA will continue to be what they are, a team that can beat, or lose to, anyone... Primm and Dickey are a lethal combo, losing Smith hurts, tho, but not that much...

HPU loses Cruz, keeps a lot, and will be good, but if they can't play away from Millis, they're not scary.

VMI will be tough to read until they hit the floor, but they should be better.

CSU will be no better or worse...

GW will probably be pretty poor, sorry 1994. Losing a ton from a team that's already not so solid? Doesn't bode well.

Presby... will be good. I'd venture to say they'll be a top 3 team for sure, maybe closer to 1 than 3. That's assuming a year off didn't make those guys rusty...

I'd say you could slot us in top 4 at this point...
---

Also, I doubt we get "all" our players back... but I think, if anyone leaves, it's none of the guys I listed in my little lineup up there...

[SuperJon]

When I say that no one is transferring, I'm talking about a significant player like we've had the past few years (Seth, Austin, BJ, Dees). There's no telling if someone will be cut, over recruited, or just decide not to play anymore. I don't think those are necessarily bad things.

[Flame Convert]

Lots of positives in regard to the future of the program.With the players that are returning 20 wins is a reachable goal next season.This is my first year living in the area after living in Charlottesville and following UVA since 1972.I feel better about the future being a Flame vs being a Cavalier.

[Cider Jim]

I feel better about the future being a Flame vs being a Cavalier.

+1

I've got to agree with Flame Convert on this one: things are looking up for next year, when our freshmen will be sophomores, our sophomores will be juniors, and we have a new crop of first-year student athletes from the Lone Star State.

[kingaling42]

It's going to take a little bit more than what some of you portray to replace your leading scorer, 2nd leading rebounder and 2nd best assist guy on your team- do you have folks to step in, sure, but how will that work- more importantly will someone else like a KO develop into that guy who isn't afraid to take the big shots.. Don't underestimate what you're losing in just 1 player.. chemistry & leadership can be fickle things...

Additionally, I'm not sure that it is all that great to have your point guard being your leading rebounder either- this is in no way a knock on Sanders, I think he's one of the best PG's in the conference.. It just magnifies that LU is lacking any real inside presence... Especially when you look closer & see that your 3 guards (KO, Sanders, Gordon) have almost 42% of the teams total rebounds this season.. just my 2 cents..

[SuperJon]

Kyle plays the 4 quite a bit on defense, and sometimes the 5 so labeling him a guard is just something to help prove your point. Jesse plays the 3 on defense quite a bit too, plus he's 6'3. It's easy to say, "Oh, it's not good your PG is your leading rebounder" when you just look at the stats. When you actually watch the game, you see Jesse plays much more than simply point guard.

You said that chemistry and leadership can be fickle things. I don't think you even come close to realizing the impact that statement makes in regards to the situation you're talking about.

[olldflame]

In the games Kyle missed this year, we went 3-2, including a win at Radford. We'll have more defined roles and be much more prepared to play without him next season.

He brought a lot to the table because of his versatility and toughness, but I'm not so sure he was a huge plus in the team chemistry area. Too much of a roller coaster ride for my taste.

[ToTheLeft]

It's going to take a little bit more than what some of you portray to replace your leading scorer, 2nd leading rebounder and 2nd best assist guy on your team- do you have folks to step in, sure, but how will that work- more importantly will someone else like a KO develop into that guy who isn't afraid to take the big shots.. Don't underestimate what you're losing in just 1 player.. chemistry & leadership can be fickle things...

Additionally, I'm not sure that it is all that great to have your point guard being your leading rebounder either- this is in no way a knock on Sanders, I think he's one of the best PG's in the conference.. It just magnifies that LU is lacking any real inside presence... Especially when you look closer & see that your 3 guards (KO, Sanders, Gordon) have almost 42% of the teams total rebounds this season.. just my 2 cents..

Other than your Dogs, the BSC only LOSES size this offseason, with Harris, Art, JLF, MacMillan, Mantoris, Cruz all leaving. If anything, our rebounding guards will do even better this next year, not to mention that we have size coming in, with JVP coming off of a redshirt, and Baird, if he plays, coming in as a frosh.

[jcmanson]

The season went about as expected. We won the games we were supposed to, with the exception of the win @ Radford. We lost the games we were supposed, with the exception of losing to UNCA at home. It was just disappointing to see us struggle so much at the beginning of the season, but it was great to see how these guys responded all year.

As for next season, WU is the early favorite to win the title. They only lose Beuchert and Robinson. Their fresh and sophs proved this year they can compete at the top level in conference.

After them it’s really tough to tell. If I had to pick right now I’d say PC would be 2nd. LU, CCU, UNCA, HPU all fighting for 3-6. VMI, RU, and CSU 7-9. G-W 10.

I think we are one piece away from being top 3. That piece could be JCS, Baird, JVP, or some other newcomer. Or it could be Burrus or Konan.

I could see our starting lineup being:
Jesse
Evan
Konan/Perez
Burrus
JVP/Carter

Or go small…
Jesse
Evan
JC
Konan
Burrus

I’m excited about JC. We know at the least we’re getting the same hustle, work ethic, leadership, rebounding, defense, etc. we have with Jesse. Add to that his scoring ability and he could be FOY.

[SuperJon]

I disagree about Winthrop being the front runner. With Coastal adding another South Carolina transfer to go with Neiman, Greenwood, and Gray, they've got to be the front runner. They're going to be good again.

[flamehunter]

I disagree about Winthrop being the front runner. With Coastal adding another South Carolina transfer to go with Neiman, Greenwood, and Gray, they've got to be the front runner. They're going to be good again.

Not to mention a proven winner coaching them.

[olldflame]

Winthrop has 2 senior starters on their team this year (Beuchert and Robinson) who are 24 years old. If you don't think guys with that kind of maturity have an advantage over 18 year old kids, you're mistaken. They do have some nice pieces coming back in Middleton, Morgan, Corbin and Jones, and Gamble has some up side.

I'm not as sold on Presby as some people are. Their redshirt strategy is risky IMHO. It's one thing for a skinny freshman who needs to mature and adjust to college life, but for established players like Coleman and Miller, I think a year without game competition could have some negative results. Practice just isn't the same. The playing time their young kids got this year should help them going forward though. They'll be better, but I'm not sure how much. Say all you want about how they were in a lot of games this year, bottom line is they lost almost all of them.

[TDDance234]

I'm not as sold on Presby as some people are. Their redshirt strategy is risky IMHO. It's one thing for a skinny freshman who needs to mature and adjust to college life, but for established players like Coleman and Miller, I think a year without game competition could have some negative results. Practice just isn't the same. The playing time their young kids got this year should help them going forward though. They'll be better, but I'm not sure how much. Say all you want about how they were in a lot of games this year, bottom line is they lost almost all of them.

I think there is going to be some rust and there might be some lumps in the first few weeks but Coleman is an all-conference type player. He averaged 15 and 9 in '08/'09 and with a year to work out the flaws in his game, he could be even better in '11.