[Blessed1]

The money, resources, and the facilities are all there. It's just a matter of getting the right people in place. I'm not calling for anyone to be fired. I truly believe that we need taller guards and more team speed in order to be successful in basketball. If Liberty improve in those areas, they should be ok.

Then what are you saying

I don't disagree, but baring a trip to the NCAA tourney what has Layer done to keep the job?

Based on this year alone, if Liberty does not win the BSC tourney, Layer might not have much to stand on. He has a certain way of recruiting (JUCO transfers) that can be a pain. However, Liberty has had some issues with players staying a full 4-years anyways. At least with JUCO players, you'll get players with more experience for at least 2 years. However, you have to have the right players when doing this. (Think Kansas St.).

Our current backcourt is probably what, 5-9 and 5-11? Unless your guards are cat-quick to break the defense down with dribble penetration, you're in for a long season. Yes, Devon and JC Sanders can shoot, but they can be streaky. IMO, this is why I feel we need taller guards to do something of significance.

Liberty is a different school. Not everyone is kosher with the 'Liberty Way'. But regards of our beliefs, we could still bring in a guy like Seth Curry. I think we're the type of school that needs to focus trying to get players with talent that flew under everyone's radar. We also need players to stay and graduate. We've had issues with injuries and unexpected transfers. I don't care who the coach is. If you have those two issues every year, you're going to struggle.

[olldflame]

LU probably has less talent on the roster from starting 5 to the end of the bench than any team in D1 basketball.

Stuff like this is nonsense. Completely unmeasurable.

Agreed. Basketball talent is hard enough to define, let alone quantify. Way too many people look at one or 2 things (primarily leaping ability) and they think that if a player can´t do those things they don´t have talent. Not always the case. Talent can take a lot of different forms. What makes the statement totally ludicrus, is that even if we were to concede that the poster had some knowledge that qualified him to evaluate D1 talent, in order to make that statement he would have to have seen at least 25 or 30 of the worst D1 teams play. I´m gunna go out on a limb and say he hasn´t

[ballcoach15]

I have seen enough talent to know good talent when I see it. As a high school assistant coach for 12 years, I seen a lot of basketball players, both on my team, our opponents and when scouting.
I can distinguish between good D1 players and those a step below. I don't enjoy knocking LU talent, but I must be honest.

[BJWilliams]

Still that is a very limited sample size to consider and youre making a very broad assumption based on that limited sample

[Purple Haize]

According to RPI we are not last so there are some teams worse. There are even teams above us in the RPI that have less talent. We just need more Dogwood players!

[BJWilliams]

Now now PH...the only school there where we might find someone who can contribute is Altavista...not Gretna

[Purple Haize]

Now now PH...the only school there where we might find someone who can contribute is Altavista...not Gretna

Haha

Actually Nelson had a kid a few years back we should have jumped on. Dan River has had some kids but not sure they would have fit in the LU Way. AV just out works and out coaches everyone else.

[BJWilliams]

Its really a two way street when it comes to recruiting your non blue chip kids. If coaches arent sending film out to programs, then how are they going to know that a player may be worth a look? I mentioned this before but there was a kid from my high school down in Tidewater (Chesapeake to be precise) who I thought would be a fine fit here. All State player, 1000+ points for his career, state champs I believe his senior year. I sent a friendly note to our coach at the time, gave him info on how to contact the coach here so he could reach out to him about the player, and left it at that. He almost came here to play but there was a coaching change around that time and he never landed on the mountain.

Point of the story is that you can say til your blue in the face that a player should be recruited by this school or that school but you cant always leave it up to the college coach to make the first contact.

[ballcoach15]

The only Dogwood basketball players in recent years that could have played at LU were a couple from Dan River and one from Nelson County, that was previously mentioned. I can't recall any from Gretna or Altavista that could have played at LU.

(Now in football, that's another story)

[ballcoach15]

A college coach should know of the good players in area of his college, that may be potential recruits. There is no reason a player should fly under the radar within 2 hours, maybe 3 of the school.

Visit high schools, talk to coaches, beat the bush for players. I have seen it done.

[BJWilliams]

As I said ballcoach, its a two way street. High school coaches need to be helping their players get exposure just as much as college coaches need to give it to them by being aware of schools in their area as you have noted. If I was a high school basketball coach, and I had players that I think would be good fit for a program, Id make sure I had good film on them and submitted it to the coaches I want to know about him. If its not a violation of some sort, Id invite them to come to a game (whether the head coach or one of his assistants) and check him out. After that, its up to the college coach to evaluate team needs as well as his philosophy and that of the college/university he is coaching at and scholarship availability to determine if further recruiting is in order

[olldflame]

I can´t believe you are so hung up on this local talent thing ¨ballcoach¨. Everyone knows there isn´t that much here, you are making wild claims about us having the least talent in D1, yet you don´t get why we look elsewhere?

I believe our staff has done their due diligence in checking out local players, and I´m sure will offer when they find someone they believe will make us better.

[ballcoach15]

Truth be known there has not been a slew of D1 players that could help LU from local area in basketball.

LU basketball isn't at level now that Flames can out recruit other schools for basketball players that are in local area.

Football, well that's another story.

[FLAMEfromBAMA]

Honestly, it doesn't even look like our players enjoy the game. Yes, I understand with us having a bad season or being behind in a game it is hard to enjoy, but they hardly show any signs of enjoyment at all! When a big play is made (as rare as that is lately, but a few every game) I observe the players and there is no hype, no excitement, no enjoyment. They look like they are just going through the motions game after game, and regardless of how good a coach is at winning he should always have the ability to remind himself and his players of their love for the game. If Layer has gotten to the point in which he and his staff can't doing that, whatever his reason may be or however hard it may be, then I may finally be jumping on board with a possible coaching search, even with our improvement throughout the season record wise. Humans aren't robots, sports must be played with emotion and the players and the coach gotta enjoy it!

Considering my previous comment I was very happy to see this clip. Still not super confident Layer played a huge part in their enjoying it. (Not saying he didn't play a huge part in the win, and I do realize the win contributed to their enjoying it) Regardless of if he did or not I am greatly enjoying how we are finishing the season. IMO though my mind will not be changed about our coaching future unless we win our next two games!


http://twitter.yfrog.com/0e30656810olphcrafggpjuvsxsswz

[ballcoach15]

Layer is a good person, but he doesn't seem to have the personality needed in a head coach, nor is he a good recruiter

[forbidden]

The big problem I am seeing is that kids are not looking at LU as a 1st option its their last option or only option. I have read alot of the posts here and that is just my consensus. LU can't get top to mid level talent because of the "liberty way". So they go out and look for JUCO type kids that may last for two years and then that doesn't work either. What is a coach to do. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

To me, I think it is two fold, you need a coach that the kids can relate to and possibly want to come here, or you need some hellafied assistants that can recruit their butts off and get some kids that WANT to come here. I read a post a lil earlier about them offering what they think will make LU better, sometimes you need to find that Carmello type (Seth Curry) one year wonder that you can lure that then other kids would possibly want to follow. Apparently, there was also another post about the ones that got away, so that right there proves that some talent can be landed here on the mountain, but at the same time beggars can't really be choosers.

I may be wrong when I say this but isnt there only one recruit in next year's class, a 6'4 SG, if that is the case that is a HUGE problem, and he aint Jordan he his gonna need to have him a Scotty Pippen and Horace Grant to turn this thing around.

[olldflame]

There is only one player so far in next years recruiting class because since deciding to redshirt Burrus we only have one scholarship available. I fully expect 1 or 2 players on the current roster to either decide to transfer or not be renewed, which will open up room to bring in another player or 2. I would think a true PG and an athletic swing player would be priorities.

Don´t write off the player we signed in November, Ryan Kemrite either. He has played against 5 star recruit Justin Jackson multiple times in HS, and has outscored him every time.

[Cider Jim]

I would think a true PG and an athletic swing player would be priorities.

Olldflame, are you planning for the distant future or thinking we should move Marshall to the shooting guard next year? If the latter is the case, what do you do with John Caleb if Marshall is playing the 2 next year?

[olldflame]

I would think a true PG and an athletic swing player would be priorities.

Olldflame, are you planning for the distant future or thinking we should move Marshall to the shooting guard next year? If the latter is the case, what do you do with John Caleb if Marshall is playing the 2 next year?

More for the future, but if there is a clone of Saah Nimley out there, I think he might help us right away.

In my totally inexpert opinion JC has been playing the point on the offensive end for a couple of months. Marshall wasn´t really recruited as a PG. WE signed the Andrews kid for that, but he never made it to the burg. Marshall tried, but he didn´t look comfortable in the role, and it fell on Cabe. Unless we can sign someone really good, I expect the guard roles next year to be much the same.

[ballah09]

i expect one-two players to be gone next year. as Old alluded to.

team isn't bad. they are one PG and athletic wing away from being really good.

[BJWilliams]

Looking at the men's roster as its constituted, the most likely candidates for that are Taylor and Alcegaire as everyone else (although I guess Donley is a possibility as well) has been a significant contributor this year save Burrus who is under a medical redshirt.

[Chippy]

(The sound of crickets)

[BJWilliams]

I've followed Liberty basketball since graduating in 1996. It's difficult for me to understand why Liberty can't be more successful in basketball. 7-8 good players is all is takes to have a good competitive team. In my opinion there is no reason why a decent coach couldn't attract quality kids and players to Liberty. Football is much more difficult due to the number of quality kids it takes. If things don't change quickly and I'm Barber I would think a mid-season change may need to be made to show you're serious about winning. This seasons is embarrassing.

Whatcha got to say now?

[thepostman]

seriously BJ? just stop

[BJWilliams]

Building on Chippy so blame him...