[PAmedic]

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.

http://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtop ... 12&t=16308

(scroll halfway down- there's also a link to their site)

[Chris Lang]

They were supposed to be eligible for the 2011-12 Big South tournament, but because of some issues with their NCAA self study, the NCAA forced Presbyterian into another transition year. They won't be eligible for the tournament until 2012-13, when Coleman, Johnson and Miller will have already graduated. Tough break for those three and Nibert, who was doing the right thing by trying to get them one shot at playing for an NCAA berth.

[olldflame]

If Presby can hold it together and play up to the level they were expected to after this disaster, Nibert should be unanamous coach of the year. I can't imagine how these Seniors must have felt when they found out.

[jcmanson]

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.

Maybe because we're rebuilding. AGAIN. For the 3rd year in a row we have just as many/more newcomers than we have returners.

[olldflame]

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.

Maybe because we're rebuilding. AGAIN. For the 3rd year in a row we have just as many/more newcomers than we have returners.

Totally different than last year IMHO. I really don't think we lost that much other than Kyle, who was a bit of a mixed bag anyway. Konan and Perez had potential, but I honestly believe they would both have had a reduced role this year if they had returned (which probably played into their decision to leave.)

[WinthropEagleFan]

I also noticed in the article that the conference is sticking with an 18 game schedule next year, even with the addition of Campbell. I know a lot of coaches don't like 20-game conference schedules (the SoCon tried it a couple of years ago, and it really kills your non-conference scheduling flexibility)...but I hate unbalanced schedules. I love being able to play everyone home-and-away. And with the extra team on the schedule next season, that means one team in the league won't be coming to your place, and you'll avoid traveling to one opposing gym. I'm really curious how they'll determine the two teams that each school will only play once...

[ToTheLeft]

LU never goes to Winthrop and always hosts G-W or Campbell.

Sort the rest out as you wish.

[grm]

Where we're picked may have some significance, but there's still a great season ahead,
and where we are at the end of the schedule is obviously what counts. Let's enjoy the season.

Have I missed comment on a new "Voice of the Flames?"

Best regards to Mr. Edwards, who always showed up & gave it his very best, & travelled a whole bunch of miles over the years.

[R i]

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

Diddo.

[olldflame]

Where we're picked may have some significance, but there's still a great season ahead,
and where we are at the end of the schedule is obviously what counts. Let's enjoy the season.

Have I missed comment on a new "Voice of the Flames?"

Best regards to Mr. Edwards, who always showed up & gave it his very best, & travelled a whole bunch of miles over the years.

There is a good bit said about Alan York, the new "Voice of the Flames" in the football forum grm. While it isn't unanomous, overall, I think the reaction has been positive. Basketball is a very different sport to call, and IMHO more difficult, so we'll see. JE took some flack on here the last few years, but he also made some great calls, including the comeback against HP 2 years ago, which was classic.

I'm with you on this. No reason to look at this team as a half empty glass. There is a lot of potential, and I really don't see anyone in our conference who is that scary, (although we certainly looked bad against Coastal last year both times we played them.)

[SuperJon]

I think we can finish fourth and win a first round game. Anything less than that is disappointing in my mind and anything more than that is great.

[jcmanson]

I think we can finish fourth and win a first round game. Anything less than that is disappointing in my mind and anything more than that is great.

I think we've been saying this for 4-5 years now

[grm]

I preach plenty of negative stuff, because it's Bible (nothing positive about the Lake of Fire or rejecting the LORD Jesus Christ) but when it comes to the upcoming season, it's only disheartening
to be overly negative. I guess we all enjoy basketball, and there will be some great games coming our way very soon, with Liberty being the victor on many occasions. It will be fun!

Can I just say that there is a legitimate distinction between optimism and bravado?

[Chippy]

The last 4-5 years have been pretty unsettling. I think Coach Layer is a keeper. Depending on the JUCO (Chris Johnson) play, I believe we could surprise this year. Baird would have been a good addition but I think the projected staring lineup is very competitive and there are some good subs this year. Effort is better than when Coach McKay was here but execution can still present a problem. This is a more experienced team than last so execution should be better. Bring out the student body (see Football blogs) and we can win the home games and take our chances on the road.
It would be nice to have the boys and girls be the dominant force in the BS. Let's pray the boys get there soon

[olldflame]

Chris Johnson will not be playing for LU Chippy. No details, but I believe it was academic. His scholarship has been given to a late signee named Asaad Woods; a 6'4 swing player from Arizona.

[olldflame]

When I'm shown a reason to be positive, I will. Otherwise this is pretty much a zombie program. God help us if we moved everything to CAA.

So, what you are saying is that your "default position" is negative, and you only have a positive attitude toward anything if it proves its "worthiness"? Or does this only apply to your school's athletic teams? Better you than me. I wouldn't want to go through life that way.

[Chippy]

I knew one of the JUCOs was academically ineligible. Sounded like Johnson had an upside to his game. So if I can edit my earlier comments, I hope John Brown can be an immediate help. We definitely could use a scorer at the 3 position.

[SuperJon]

I think we can finish fourth and win a first round game. Anything less than that is disappointing in my mind and anything more than that is great.

I think we've been saying this for 4-5 years now

Who has? I definitely haven't.

Last year I was hoping for .500 and a respectable showing in the tournament. We got it.

This year I want top four and a semifinal appearance.

Next year I want top three and a finals appearance.

I've said that multiple times over the past year. I'm not about to change those now.

[TDDance234]

I'm with those finding it hard to get excited about this season...I just don't see how we're going to be competitive this season.

I like Layer and think if he's given the time, he can build a respectable program here. I just think it's going to be a very long and slow process.

[olldflame]

I'm with those finding it hard to get excited about this season...I just don't see how we're going to be competitive this season.

I like Layer and think if he's given the time, he can build a respectable program here. I just think it's going to be a very long and slow process.

What do you consider "competitive"?

We were 10-8 in the BSC last year. Sounds competitive to me. With so many young players returning, a decent recruiting class and another year under Layer, I really don't see us regressing.

Not being competitive means you are getting blown out on a regular basis. If what you mean is you don't see us challenging for a championship this year, I have no argument with that, although I don't consider it out of the realm of possibility. This is the Big South we are talking about. Saying you don't think we can be competitive is an insult to our coaches and players. With the exception of 05-06 we have been competetive in the BSC every year since the end of the Hanky era.

[TDDance234]

I'm with those finding it hard to get excited about this season...I just don't see how we're going to be competitive this season.

I like Layer and think if he's given the time, he can build a respectable program here. I just think it's going to be a very long and slow process.

What do you consider "competitive"?

We were 10-8 in the BSC last year. Sounds competitive to me. With so many young players returning, a decent recruiting class and another year under Layer, I really don't see us regressing.

Not being competitive means you are getting blown out on a regular basis. If what you mean is you don't see us challenging for a championship this year, I have no argument with that, although I don't consider it out of the realm of possibility. This is the Big South we are talking about. Saying you don't think we can be competitive is an insult to our coaches and players. With the exception of 05-06 we have been competetive in the BSC every year since the end of the Hanky era.

We're losing two of our top rotation guys (Ohman and Konan), arguably our highest rated recruit and potential starter (Baird), we're razor thin in the frontcourt, and yet again breaking in a completely rebuild rotation with a lot of freshman. We might win enough games to finish 5-6 in the Big South but that's about as much as we can reasonably expect.

I just don't see how we're any better than last year. I could actually see us going backwards.

[jcmanson]

One thing we do have is a good starting backcourt. Jesse and Evan are one of and arguably the best starting backcourt in the league. We'll see what kind of production we can get at the 3 and the 5. That will decide how "competitive" we are.

[kuntryboimike]

A little off topic, but start recruiting Liberty!!!!

[youtube]

[/youtube]

[LUconn]

There's one of those kids every couple of years. And then everybody else grows.

[Hold My Own]

THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!