[ludlpstudent]

why does Wesley Alcegaire not play more? Is it because he is a reshirt freshman and Layer simply wants to play the upper classman more? In warms up he looks like the most athletic player on the team. Of course it is warm ups and looks can be deceiving.

[Kolzilla41]

This team is just not good. It's amazing with the amount of upper classmen how inconsistent they are.

[Purple Haize]

why does Wesley Alcegaire not play more? Is it because he is a reshirt freshman and Layer simply wants to play the upper classman more? In warms up he looks like the most athletic player on the team. Of course it is warm ups and looks can be deceiving.

That's the $64 question. If you'd like to try for Double Jeopardy, where the scores can really climb ask the same question about Retic.

As for breaking people down off the dribble there are more ways, and better ways, to beat a defense than using the dribble. Generally when one person tries to break down off the dribble leave 4 other people standing there watching. Now using a dribble to create better passing angles is great. But driving the lane, jumping in the air, double- triple- quadruple pumping then flinging the ball somewhere does not make a good passing angle.

[Purple Haize]

This team is just not good. It's amazing with the amount of upper classmen how inconsistent they are.

I've seen better consistency after 4 bran muffins, 2 cups of black coffee and a buffet of Somali cuisine

[MWarner]

Here's my question: Why not go with a small, offensively superior lineup?

Play Burrus at the 5-spot, Gielo as a stretch-4, and then have a 3 guard lineup with Sanders, Marshall and Retic.

Do you lose some rebounding and defense? Yeah. But take a look at last night. Radford didn't start anyone bigger than 6'7". You wouldn't have really suffered by going small.

Vander Pol and Coronado are each playing more than 16 minutes per game and neither average more than 5 points per game. And Vander Pol isn't even pulling down rebounds (3.9 per game).

Seems to me a smaller, more offensively skilled lineup would be the best chance this team has.

By the way, I'm new to the board and have really enjoyed the discussion I've seen so far.

[Sly Fox]

That concept has been bandied about the past year or so and certainly has some merit. We have seen it in stretches this season but not on a consistent basis.

Welcome to the board!

[jcmanson]

Welcome to the board!

[jcmanson]

Here's our game recap - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/libe ... sc-opener/

[Purple Haize]

Here's my question: Why not go with a small, offensively superior lineup?

Play Burrus at the 5-spot, Gielo as a stretch-4, and then have a 3 guard lineup with Sanders, Marshall and Retic.

Do you lose some rebounding and defense? Yeah. But take a look at last night. Radford didn't start anyone bigger than 6'7". You wouldn't have really suffered by going small.

Vander Pol and Coronado are each playing more than 16 minutes per game and neither average more than 5 points per game. And Vander Pol isn't even pulling down rebounds (3.9 per game).

Seems to me a smaller, more offensively skilled lineup would be the best chance this team has.

By the way, I'm new to the board and have really enjoyed the discussion I've seen so far.

Welcome to the board

While a high powered offense can win a few games it doesn't win consistently or championships. And that line up you suggest, while maybe the best offensive group we have, is by no stretch of the imagination an offensive juggernaut. You can't judge Coronado by points per game. He is what EVERY team needs. He knows his role and does it extremely well. And by doing that he makes everyone else more efficient. You do run into the problem of decreased team speed with Burress and Coronado in the game. The Best all around unit is Retic, Sanders Gielo Burruss and one of the other Bigs. Gives us better defense solid offense and our best chemistry

[flameshaw]

When does baseball start ??????

[Purple Haize]

When does baseball start ??????

I'll be seeing Pete Rose at the end of the month. Does that count?

[MWarner]

While a high powered offense can win a few games it doesn't win consistently or championships.

I don't totally agree with that. But the bigger question is: Does this team win consistently or look like a team that will win a conference championship? That's what you have to ask yourself. And if the traditional lineup isn't getting it done, you need to look at trying some new things.

The game is going away from big and slow and trending towards long and athletic. Think about it, how many dominant back to the basket post players are there in the game today? LU didn't run into one last night.

[Purple Haize]

While a high powered offense can win a few games it doesn't win consistently or championships.

I don't totally agree with that. But the bigger question is: Does this team win consistently or look like a team that will win a conference championship? That's what you have to ask yourself. And if the traditional lineup isn't getting it done, you need to look at trying some new things.

The game is going away from big and slow and trending towards long and athletic. Think about it, how many dominant back to the basket post players are there in the game today? LU didn't run into one last night.

Other than Burrus and Coronado we don't have back to the basket players. I would shake up the line up. But I would stay long and not go short. Nothing wrong with it but not really necessary. Look at the Pronceton game. When they needed a basket they just isolated and backed down Sanders and went from there. If you do go short you better be able to generate turnovers. Starting Sanders, Retic and Marshall doesn't really do that.

[Lburglifer]

There is alot to dislike about last night's performance...the margin for error offensively especially on the road seems to be decreasing by week. Early in the conference schedule to jump off the bridge...I would dare say that Radford and VMI have brought in some higher caliber recruits with lesser campuses and budgets. The league may not be strong...Radford was awful early.

[Purple Haize]

There is alot to dislike about last night's performance...the margin for error offensively especially on the road seems to be decreasing by week. Early in the conference schedule to jump off the bridge...I would dare say that Radford and VMI have brought in some higher caliber recruits with lesser campuses and budgets. The league may not be strong...Radford was awful early.

..and apparently we were awful the rest of the game

[panther1]

Coach Layer has not bought in to the Coach Gill way of fielding an athletic team. Experience is only a positive for an upper classman if you are better than the next recruit. The better player needs to play, period. It is called Division 1A sports. Fall football should be interesting!!??

[bballfan84]

the talent on this team is just not very good..who would you play over the upper classmen...i mean seriously there is no one..maybe give Wes and Retic more opportunities but i guarantee you they wont be stat stuffing..its just a lack of talent..end of story. we got lucky in the conference tourney last year PERIOD..i have been saying this for years..not enough talent..i dont think layer is a good recruiter..I have never seen the talent level lower on any other coaching staff at LU

[panther1]

I am not an expert on basketball and I can agree with you bballfan84. Maybe it is a problem similair to the Redskins, several Indians and no Chiefs.

[Chris Lang]

Closing thoughts:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... f6878.html

[Purple Haize]

Closing thoughts:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... f6878.html

I feel like Langs ghost writer
HERE:
1. There’s a whole lot of negative in this breakdown, so let’s start with a positive: The play of Liberty forward JR Coronado. He’s not very skilled offensively. He won’t score if he gets the ball more than six feet from the basket. But he knows this, and that’s what makes him steady for the Flames. Coronado understands his limitations and embraces his role, something Dale Layer preaches to his team on a daily basis. Coronado hit all three of his field-goal attempts, which all came near the basket, and went 2 for 2 from the free-throw line. He finished with eight points, seven rebounds, an assist and a turnover.

And HERE
6. I tweeted about Sanders kind of throwing wayward shots at the rim in the second half in hopes of drawing a foul, and it probably sounded snarky at the time. My point was more that Sanders starts to do that when nothing else is open, hoping to get to the line and score that way. When that happens, too many of his teammates are standing around and not looking for the ball.
......although I would add that's because he doesn't look for them until he is in trouble or he's just going to fling it up at the rim regardless. Take a look at where the open players are when he drives,then things will become clearer

First SCAR now this.

[Lburglifer]

Looks like Chris Lang's shooting percentage was 100% for the Radford game. Maybe Sanders is not watching the same limited offensive and defensive team the rest of us are.

[Purple Haize]

Looks like Chris Lang's shooting percentage was 100% for the Radford game. Maybe Sanders is not watching the same limited offensive and defensive team the rest of us are.

Chris Lang is over rated as an offensive threat!

[Chris Lang]

I'd be lucky to shoot 34 percent.

[flameshaw]

We are basically playing with the same players that stunk up the league last year, before everything fell in place for the tourney. Don't see that replicating itself this year. Same guys, just another year older, not any better.

[Purple Haize]

I'd be lucky to shoot 34 percent.

Keep practicing at the Rivermont Pizza Pop A Shot and it should improve