[BJWilliams]

I don't...but Im ok with that, unlike you apparently.

[Purple Haize]

I don't...but Im ok with that, unlike you apparently.

What's wrong with asking? Geez you're touchy today.

[BJWilliams]

Check out The Chapel and youll see why...but anyway, its fine if they havent made an announcement about Coach Layer's contract status. It'll come when it comes and Im perfectly fine with not knowing at this point

[thepostman]

I have said it a million times but I will say it again. BJ if you are stressd and can't respond to normal questions then you should just not hit reply. I understand your stress so just another dose of friendly advice from a guy who went through very similar circumstances not so long ago

[JK37]

I have said it a million times but I will say it again. BJ if you are stressd and can't respond to normal questions then you should just not hit reply. I understand your stress so just another dose of friendly advice from a guy who went through very similar circumstances not so long ago

QFT

(Pardon the obvious pun)

[olldflame]

Too much of a big deal being made about ¨ ïn state¨recruiting. We had 2 players on last year´s team (Speaks and Burrus) from the Raleigh área. I´ve made the drive enough times to know that´s a lot closer to the burg than the 757. It´s also closer than most of NOVA and a large portion of the Western area of the state. There is really no benefit to the mere fact that a recruit is from VA. It´s how far away they are, and the fact is to get a real bump in support from folks who followed the kid in HS, anything much more than an hour away and it might as well be the moon.

[olldflame]

Let´s take a look at the progress which has been made in addressing the issues I laid out in my earlier post.

1) Looks like Layer has not only been retained, but extended 2 years per bballfan84 and his reliable sources.

2) Assistant coach hired. Omar Mance may not have been on our radar, but the more I look at his resume the more I see him as a great fit with what Layer is trying to do with the program.

3) With 10 days left in the Spring signing period, I guess we still could see more movement in the roster and possibly another signee, but I would say it is getting more unlikely with each passing day. Retic looks like an upgrade, and if Kemrite is as good as advertized, this class is already good enough to make us better.

4) We now have 2 coaches on staff who had the title ¨Recruiting Coordinator¨ in their previous jobs. Time to put that talent and experience to work, along with Layer and Joyce´s connections and put together a 6 or 7 man class this Fall that will be the foundation for the future of the program.

[Purple Haize]

I agree with a lot of what you say. However, I think there is a limit to how many players you can sign a year. I may be wrong.

[olldflame]

I agree with a lot of what you say. However, I think there is a limit to how many players you can sign a year. I may be wrong.

They did away with one year limits. Remember the ¨magnificent 7?¨

I think now it´s just a limit on how many you can sign over a 4 year period.

[panther1]

I dont agree with the summation of Liberty Nations outlook on the 13-14 ball season. Experience is what is needed? , No, Good and great players are needed NOW! Players are not loyal for a career anymore. All the great B-ball teams dont grad a class. Each season is the contest, not 4 term stints.

[olldflame]

I dont agree with the summation of Liberty Nations outlook on the 13-14 ball season. Experience is what is needed? , No, Good and great players are needed NOW! Players are not loyal for a career anymore. All the great B-ball teams dont grad a class. Each season is the contest, not 4 term stints.

What to you mean by a great basketball team? This is not Kentucky, nor is it the ACC or Big East. If players leave, there is not a line of blue chippers waiting to take their place. At our level, retaining players and allowing them to develop roles in the coaches syystem is a big advantage. Signing so many JUCO players was pretty much an act of desperation on Layer´s part last year. It seemed to work out for us late in the year, and prospects look better for next year, but I don´t believe it is the way to build a program at this level, and especially at LU.

[panther1]

olldflame, I guess you just defined the difference between GOOD and GREAT teams.

[olldflame]

olldflame, I guess you just defined the difference between GOOD and GREAT teams.

I´m having a hard time figuring out what your point is. When you say great teams don´t graduate a class, are you referring to the fact that the top programs in the country are consistently recruiting players who turn pro after a year or 2? We are so far away from that right now it´s delusional to discuss it. The best player we have signed in the last 15 years is now a 5th year senior at Duke and a borderline NBA prospect.

LU is a unique situation, and I am convinced that there are enough really good Christian players coming out of HS each year that we can recruit for both talent and retention, with an occasional JUCO player in the mix to meet a specific need. What we don´t need are a bunch of kids who maybe can play, but don´t really belong at LU. They are not only going to end up leaving anyway, but they likely won´t be able to play to their capabilities while they are here if they feel like a fish out of wáter.

[panther1]

I agree olldflame. Coaches have to plan for next year like it is a playoff game schedule. Recruiting for "A person to mature in 3 years is very,very risky. " Maybe our level of scholarshiped,Athletes needs to be pushed to the next notch. Coaches do have it hard recruiting for an "All Star season every year. Is this what it has come to?

[olldflame]

The late signing period has now come and gone, and it looks like the roster is set. I like the 2 additions, and of course we are all hoping for a 100% healthy Burrus, who can be a difference maker.

I think a lot of players finding themselves in Chad Donley´s situation would see the handwriting on the wall and transfer out. It looks like he really loves being a student at LU, and is willing to just do whatever he can to help the team, even if he doesn´t get to play much. That´s not all bad. You really can´t play 13 kids anyway.

Wesley Alcegaire is a bit of a mystery. Layer showed before with Asaad Woods that he has no problem bringing in a last minute recruit for 1 year and letting him go if he doesn´t show he can be a contributor down the road. Wesley´s situation seems very similar, with the key difference being that he was redshirted. The fact that he is still around makes me believe the coach sees potential in the young man.

[DB89]

Has LU ever had a player drafted into the NBA?

[Svandive]

The only ones I know of are Cliff Webber and Ezra Hill back in the 80's. I am not sure if any of them played much, if at all. I know that Julius Nwoso played for San Antonia but not sure if he was drafted. He was teammates with Dennis Rodman.

[flamehunter]

And that was back when there were what, 7 or 8 rounds in the draft, as opposed to 2 today.

[olldflame]

Cliff Webber was our only ¨real¨ draft choice, going in the 4th round to the Celtics. He never played in the NBA. Ezra Hill if I recall was the last player drafted back when there were a lot more rounds, and it was pretty much done as a lark by his father or uncle (can´t remember which) who was the GM of the team.

Julius was not drafted, but does have the distinction of being the only LU player to actually see action in a regular season NBA game. He was David Robinson´s backup for parts of 2 seasons in San Antonio.