[jcmanson]

What's your early look at our starting lineup and rotation?

I'll say:

1- Jesse, Chene
2- JCS, Tavares
3- Minaya
4- Burris, Baird
5- JVP, Sommy

Limited time for Gielo, Gliedman and Smith

[Cider Jim]

Where's Carter? ... oh, he's long gone to the Sunshine State.

[prototype]

What's your early look at our starting lineup and rotation?

I'll say:

1- Jesse, Chene
2- JCS, Tavares
3- Minaya
4- Burris, Baird
5- JVP, Sommy

Limited time for Gielo, Gliedman and Smith

\
WOW - I hope they prove me wrong - but that team doesn't seem very strong:( It's gong to be a long year...

[From the class of 09]

Yeah I'm not sure how we are going to score. Where are the points going to come from? So goes another yeah of rebuilding in men's bball.

[NotAJerry]

I'm guessing Gielo is getting real minutes by the end of the season, and if Smith is as good as ESPN rated him then he should give us an interesting look with a 6'9" frame getting time at the SF spot.

Maybe things work out well and we even get away with sticking a redshirt on Gielo for a year to stagger when the post players graduate.

[olldflame]

Obviously, losing both Evan and JB means some other players will need to play a bigger role than otherwise would have been expected. I think Burrus, JC Sanders and Minaya can do just that, and I like our recruiting class. Rebuilding is probably accurate, but not necessarily in the negative sense it is usually thought of. I believe we can contend in the BSC.

[jcmanson]

We know what we have in Jesse and Chene is a quality backup. No problem at the 1.

The combination of JCS and Tavares could be much better than Evan. We'll have to wait and see.

Minaya was our only true 3 last year, so no change there.

Obviously the biggest question mark is how do we replace JB's production. I think the big rotation of AB, JVP, Sommy and whoever else could do it collectively.

I think Sommy could have a real breakout year.

[Sly Fox]

I am actually much more confident in this year's lineup than I was heading into last season. Who knew JB would come in and excel like he did? I certainly didn't have that expectation. It could be a similar experience with Tavares. It is obviously way too early to tell. But any squad that has a senior of Jesse's caliber at the point has to concern everyone else in the league.

PS - Don't write off what we could see from Stephen Baird.

[R i]

Baird for Rookie of the year.

Manson, do you still hate Baird?

[jcmanson]

Baird for Rookie of the year.

Manson, do you still hate Baird?

No I don't hate him, never have. I just have a hard time believing he's going to live up to the "hype" surrounding him. I hope he does. I hope he finishes here as the best player to ever put on a Liberty uniform. But it's extremely difficult to come back after not playing 2 full seasons and 1 blown knee.

[ALAFlamesFan]

I like this years squad and am optimistic we will improve on last year's record. We certainly are deeper and have more talent. Looking forward to the season starting.

[LUconn]

I don't think it'll be too bad. It reminds me of what Winthrop has been doing for the last few years. Good and bad. Tough, physical, always in the game style defense, no athleticism, and difficulty putting the ball in the hole.

[TDDance234]

Minaya is the wild card. If he can score 14ppg this year, it will help pick up some of the slack.

[Sly Fox]

John Caleb is the biggest wild card to me outside of Tavares. If JC can be a regular double-digit scorer then we will be dangerous. I have no concerns about working the boards. We have plenty of guys who can get that done. It is all about scoring.

And it should be noted that on the Euro tour that Jesse had a much greater impact scoring than we have seen in the past. That could be a major factor in his senior season.

[jcmanson]

The only thing that matters is what all the Texas boys do

[Sly Fox]

Sadly I am more shallow than just that. It is how well the Texas homeschoolers play. But glad to see you coming around.

[From the class of 09]

If JC is our best 2 we could be in for a long year. His scoring was streaky (if the 3 ball wasn't fallin) last year and he never got completely over being a liability on defense (although he was much improved by years end). As for Jesse he could very well average a triple double but we will still need to find some more scoring.

Last years team had questions too going into the season and answered the call...at least until the post-season

I just feel bad for Jesse he's been a great player for LU but I can't help but think about what he might have done with a supporting cast that stuck around.

I would hate to see this team without Jesse.

[bballfan84]

I like this years squad and am optimistic we will improve on last year's record. We certainly are deeper and have more talent. Looking forward to the season starting.

Wow really..more talent AND deeper. I am not sure what team you are looking at. You lost your top two scorers last year and replaced one of them with with JC who can ONLY shoot the three and I guess Burris will replace JB who averaged almost a double double. I am not sure on your evalutations but that looks like two major downgrades. The problem with this board at times is that you guys hold grudges against players who you feel did Liberty wrong ex: Seth Curry and Evan Gordon. Most of the time you guys lose your objectiveness because feelings get hurt but there is no way this program is not hurt with Evan Gordon leaving. A bad attitude or not the guy could play.

[jcmanson]

I like this years squad and am optimistic we will improve on last year's record. We certainly are deeper and have more talent. Looking forward to the season starting.

Wow really..more talent AND deeper. I am not sure what team you are looking at. You lost your top two scorers last year and replaced one of them with with JC who can ONLY shoot the three and I guess Burris will replace JB who averaged almost a double double. I am not sure on your evalutations but that looks like two major downgrades. The problem with this board at times is that you guys hold grudges against players who you feel did Liberty wrong ex: Seth Curry and Evan Gordon. Most of the time you guys lose your objectiveness because feelings get hurt but there is no way this program is not hurt with Evan Gordon leaving. A bad attitude or not the guy could play.

We are deeper. There's no denying that. Talent from top to bottom of the roster, yes we are more talented.

And comparing the "grudge" we have over EG and SC is laughable, at best.

[bballfan84]

I like this years squad and am optimistic we will improve on last year's record. We certainly are deeper and have more talent. Looking forward to the season starting.

Wow really..more talent AND deeper. I am not sure what team you are looking at. You lost your top two scorers last year and replaced one of them with with JC who can ONLY shoot the three and I guess Burris will replace JB who averaged almost a double double. I am not sure on your evalutations but that looks like two major downgrades. The problem with this board at times is that you guys hold grudges against players who you feel did Liberty wrong ex: Seth Curry and Evan Gordon. Most of the time you guys lose your objectiveness because feelings get hurt but there is no way this program is not hurt with Evan Gordon leaving. A bad attitude or not the guy could play.

We are deeper. There's no denying that. Talent from top to bottom of the roster, yes we are more talented.

I guess we will have to wait and see how the record pans out

And comparing the "grudge" we have over EG and SC is laughable, at best.

[bballfan84]

oops.. looks like we will have to see how the record pans out

[From the class of 09]

Hopefully our 1-10 this year is better because our 1-5 isn't.

[LUconn]

Let's talk about Evan a little bit. Seth is a totally different devastation. Evan was a really good freshman and had a ton of potential. Last year he was a bit of a let down but was still the main scorer. I think we just thought he would be more. Sure losing him hurts. But no more than losing any other starting 2 guard, which most teams have to do every 2 years or so anyway. I still think he had a ton of potential but he got 30+ minutes a game and didn't put up enough points in that time for me to think that's gonna kill us this year. His stats are completely replaceable. Especially on a team that was barely scoring points as it was and still winning.

[bballfan84]

Let's talk about Evan a little bit. Seth is a totally different devastation. Evan was a really good freshman and had a ton of potential. Last year he was a bit of a let down but was still the main scorer. I think we just thought he would be more. Sure losing him hurts. But no more than losing any other starting 2 guard, which most teams have to do every 2 years or so anyway. I still think he had a ton of potential but he got 30+ minutes a game and didn't put up enough points in that time for me to think that's gonna kill us this year. His stats are completely replaceable. Especially on a team that was barely scoring points as it was and still winning.

Where is the scoring going to come from. Minaya is a #2 scorer. He is not the type of player who can be the main scorer and just get buckets. He is a complimentary player who benefitted from defenses focusing on Evan and JB.

[jcmanson]

We have to hope the scoring comes from JCS, Tavares and Jesse