[ToTheLeft]

Liberty Flames
Liberty MBB picked 6th in Big South preseason poll

[flameshaw]

Sounds about right.

[LUconn]

I've never been less excited about basketball season. I've actually been dreading the next 3 years for about the last 2 years.

[TIMSCAR20]

LU actually got a 1st place vote too. It wasn't me. I did get to vote this year. I was down at the Media day today in Charlotte. It was fun to see all the coaches in one spot. It made me wish for a single venue Tournament again.

[JK37]

LU actually got a 1st place vote

Thank you, Chris Lang?

[BJWilliams]

Im pretty sure you arent allowed to vote for your own school...sound slike one person has a lot more faith in the team then the fan base does though...

[thepostman]

What has this team done to say otherwise BJ? I hope for the best, but somewhere from 4-6 sounds just about right to me. I hope they prove me wrong, but come on BJ...its not like we are terrible fans for thinking that

[olldflame]

There is a big difference between 6th and 4th, as in a first round home game. There is also a big difference between agreeing with them picking us 6th this season and "dreading the next 3 years". What's up with all that negativity Loukon?

No way we should be picked 1st, but IMHO there is reason for optimism this year and going forward.

BJ, I suspect Lang would dispute the concept that LU is "his team".

[jcmanson]

Are we playing basketball this year?

[LUconn]

I think you're confusing coaches polls and media polls BJ. It's a pretty huge difference.

[Chris Lang]

Im pretty sure you arent allowed to vote for your own school...sound slike one person has a lot more faith in the team then the fan base does though...

Uh, Liberty is not "my own school."

[Chris Lang]

And this poll is a mix of coaches and media members. I tried to find out who gave Liberty the vote, but never got an answer.

[BJWilliams]

I was basically saying that it wasnt out resident scribe who gave us the first place vote because I didnt think that writers and SIDs and what not could vote for the school they cover or work with. Sorry for being unclear

[Rocketfan]

And this poll is a mix of coaches and media members. I tried to find out who gave Liberty the vote, but never got an answer.

Just find out if anyone failed a drug test recently....

[Chris Lang]

NM

[flamehunter]

I was basically saying that it wasnt out resident scribe who gave us the first place vote because I didnt think that writers and SIDs and what not could vote for the school they cover or work with. Sorry for being unclear

So how would you explain a school ever being a unanimous pick for first? With your theory it would be impossible.

[Schfourteenteen]

I can vote for anyone I want. I don't work with Liberty. I cover Liberty for the Lynchburg newspaper.

No. BJ says you work for Liberty. BJ says you are prohibited from casting a #1 vote for your employer or your school, and Liberty is obviously both. But if you don't, BJ says you're a [expletive] hater and shouldn't be considered a fan of Liberty.

[Schfourteenteen]

Are you going to post your rankings on the blog?

[Chris Lang]

There's no rule prohibiting a coach or SID from voting for his/her own school.

[Chris Lang]

Are you going to post your rankings on the blog?

I voted the same as I ranked the teams in the preview I wrote for the Sporting News:

1. Coastal
2. UNCA
3. Winthrop
4. Liberty
5. Presbyterian
6. Charleston Southern
7. High Point
8. Radford
9. VMI
10. Gardner-Webb

Though the more I think about it, I might consider swapping CSU and Liberty. I think people are sleeping on the Bucs this year.

[BJWilliams]

Thanks for clarifying...despite Sch14's unbelievably bad attempt at sarcasm...

[olldflame]

I have no idea who CSU has coming in Chris, but I was at the game in Charleston last February, and we were the better team in spite of Burrus being in foul trouble all night. Sexton and Warren could not guard Evan Gordon that night, and I doubt that will change.

[Chris Lang]

They looked a lot better against everyone but Liberty, it seemed. Lost twice at Radford in tight games, beat Winthrop once. It's not as much as what they have coming in as the depth and experience they have coming back with Warren, Sexton, Martin and Mitchell.

Probably the unknown vs. known factor in my mind. I truly have no idea what to expect from your team until I see them play. The only known commodities are Jesse Sanders, Burrus, Gordon and Anderson. Really curious to see how these new guys mesh.

[olldflame]

CSU was definately tough at home last year, which made our win a very pleasant surprise. It might have been the best we played all year. Certainly was Carter's best game and probably Evan's.

We also played Radford tough twice (beat them at Dedmon) and while we got swept by WU, only the game at the Vines was not competitive. We actually had them right where we wanted them in Rock Hill early in the season and threw it away.

Guys, we had a winning record in conference last year with a very young team and a new coach who has a totally different style/system than his predicessor. I see no reason we can't improve on that.

[Cider Jim]

Lang, can you elaborate on what you wrote in today's paper about the Presby players who red shirted last year? It sounds like you were saying that Presby won't be eligible for the tournament again this year--so will the redshirted players from last year play this year anyway or will they sit out another year?

It sounds like the coach's strategy to give his seniors a tourney run just got flushed down the toilet.