[jbock13]

So we are we thought we were...

[thepostman]

No. We are worse. I didn't think that was possible because my expectations were pretty low.

[Purple Haize]

No. We are worse. I didn't think that was possible because my expectations were pretty low.

You know I said that earlier right?

[Purple Haize]

11 more losses

[Kiwon]

Andrew Smith, LU's human highlight reel, has added a new weapon in his lethel arsenal - Invisibility.

Yes, he can disappear for long stretches and then suddenly reappear, get his dunk, and become invisible again. It's just an amazing talent he possesses.

26 minutes on the floor. 2 points.

[bluejacket]

Andrew Smith is our best athlete, but not our best basketball player. He was a work in progress since he came to Liberty, but I hoped that his potential would be realized. Unfortunately, it has not. In some ways, he has improved since freshman year, but in many others he has not improved or even declined.

[TheGovernor]

Im done attending games until layer is removed. Period.

Well that cuts attendance in half

[TheGovernor]

Serious Question: Am I the only person that feels like The team (Coaches, Players, Etc.) has given up? I just feel like they dont care. Not walking off the floor or anything, but just that a loss doesnt matter at all.

[Chris Lang]

Closing thoughts from the PC game:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... a533b.html

[thepostman]

No. We are worse. I didn't think that was possible because my expectations were pretty low.

You know I said that earlier right?

Read and acknowledged

[jcmanson]

Can you find 2 wins? No, seriously.

[Cider Jim]

According to Lang's Big South rankings in his December 30th article (linked below), Longwood and Presby were both expected to finish below us, but they both won conference games yesterday:

Presby over Liberty, 62-58
Longwood over Radford, 90-79 (2 OT)

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... 29814.html

Can you find 2 wins? No, seriously.

Has anyone besides me looked up what is the LU record for fewest Big South Conference wins in a season?

2 wins, Mel Hankinson (2001-2002)
3 wins, RD (2005-2006)

[Purple Haize]

No. We are worse. I didn't think that was possible because my expectations were pretty low.

You know I said that earlier right?

Read and acknowledged

I got your 'acknowledged' right here Paly cakes!

[Purple Haize]

11 more losses

I'm glad you can find 5 wins there, bc I don't.

I was counting down to 20 losses. Not saying we will get 5 wins

[Chris Lang]

My power rankings are a snapshot at where the league teams stand at a particular time, not necessarily a prediction of what will happen in the future.

[Purple Haize]

Serious Question: Am I the only person that feels like The team (Coaches, Players, Etc.) has given up? I just feel like they dont care. Not walking off the floor or anything, but just that a loss doesnt matter at all.

Despite Lang's observations I didn't sense an early lack of enthusiasm or effort at the beginning of the game until about the under 8 TO. What I sensed was no one knowing what their role is on the floor. Everyone wants to be on the perimeter because you won't see a post entry pass. Smith took a fade a way 3 pointer for crying out loud.
Unfortunately, what I see happening is the ME in TEAM syndrome that has plagued us for ever.

On a side note,I'm bet Lang is glad I don't have Twitter

[jcmanson]

At this point, the only 2 games left on the schedule that I would say LU has a 50% chance or better to win is home against Campbell and home against Longwood. I would expect to win those 2 and expect to lose all others.

Of course it's unlikely to go to script, but that would put us at 8-23 overall and 2-16 in the Big South entering the conference tournament.

[Chris Lang]

Serious Question: Am I the only person that feels like The team (Coaches, Players, Etc.) has given up? I just feel like they dont care. Not walking off the floor or anything, but just that a loss doesnt matter at all.

Despite Lang's observations I didn't sense an early lack of enthusiasm or effort at the beginning of the game until about the under 8 TO. What I sensed was no one knowing what their role is on the floor. Everyone wants to be on the perimeter because you won't see a post entry pass. Smith took a fade a way 3 pointer for crying out loud.
Unfortunately, what I see happening is the ME in TEAM syndrome that has plagued us for ever.

On a side note,I'm bet Lang is glad I don't have Twitter

My observations were more based on the energy relative to what PC was bringing early, and also, comments from both sides saying talking about the first 20 minutes of the game. I agree with your assessment of players not knowing roles. It's swing, swing, swing, one post entry, one kickout, swing, failed post entry, rushed shot on almost every possession.

I'd love for you to have a Twitter. I love a good argument. Bring it!

[Chippy]

Andrew Smith is our best athlete, but not our best basketball player. He was a work in progress since he came to Liberty, but I hoped that his potential would be realized. Unfortunately, it has not. In some ways, he has improved since freshman year, but in many others he has not improved or even declined.

He is not an offensive threat 5 feet from the basket. He has no jumpshot - his form is terrible. It's hard to believe that no one ever taught him to shoot a jumpshot. He gets easily frustrated because of this and then plays outside his skill level causing him to charge and/or turn over the ball which does not help the team. Nonetheless, his alley oop dunk was a thing of beauty last night.

I always wonder where the points are going to come from. Mueller has been either hesitant or inconsistent offensively, Johnson and Smith are not threats, Kemrite is not much of a threat but yesterday took the ball to the hoop more than I ever saw him but he can't make a foul shot to save his life and Retic is not out there to score. Andoh and Theo J are good role players but they also can be invisible for stretches of time. Maxwell has a good upside an hopefully Reid can develop an all around game and not just shoot 3's and hope for the best.

Having said that, it would be great to see them win the majority of their remaining games especially when Gielo returns but I am firmly behind the school developing Champions for Christ. I hope the boys are seeking that relationship and that the staff are nurturing that aspect of being a student athlete at this one of a kind university. I trust they are.

[PAFlame]

I'll reiterate that Andrew Smith hasn't showed any interest in being a senior leader. We might be slightly better off if he put the same amount of effort being a leader on this team as he does trying to make the top 10 of the night on ESPN.

[Purple Haize]

Serious Question: Am I the only person that feels like The team (Coaches, Players, Etc.) has given up? I just feel like they dont care. Not walking off the floor or anything, but just that a loss doesnt matter at all.

Despite Lang's observations I didn't sense an early lack of enthusiasm or effort at the beginning of the game until about the under 8 TO. What I sensed was no one knowing what their role is on the floor. Everyone wants to be on the perimeter because you won't see a post entry pass. Smith took a fade a way 3 pointer for crying out loud.
Unfortunately, what I see happening is the ME in TEAM syndrome that has plagued us for ever.

On a side note,I'm bet Lang is glad I don't have Twitter

My observations were more based on the energy relative to what PC was bringing early, and also, comments from both sides saying talking about the first 20 minutes of the game. I agree with your assessment of players not knowing roles. It's swing, swing, swing, one post entry, one kickout, swing, failed post entry, rushed shot on almost every possession.

I'd love for you to have a Twitter. I love a good argument. Bring it!

I have a Twitter account. I just don't know how to use it!
I really thought LU was enthusiastic and had energy and was in fact surprised by it. However, it did not match Presbyterian's

[PAmedic]

Having said that, it would be great to see them win the majority of their remaining games especially when Gielo returns but I am firmly behind the school developing Champions for Christ. I hope the boys are seeking that relationship and that the staff are nurturing that aspect of being a student athlete at this one of a kind university. I trust they are.

And herein lies the age old LU Athletics argument:

"its ok to suck because we're good people"

aka: "win or lose..."

I just dont think the two are mutually exclusive. then again, I don't follow hoops that closely so maybe its different from , oh- EVERY OTHER SPORT

see; Baseball, Football, T&F/X country, Swimming, Wrestling

(sorry if I put words in your mouth CHIPPY)

[Chippy]

Having said that, it would be great to see them win the majority of their remaining games especially when Gielo returns but I am firmly behind the school developing Champions for Christ. I hope the boys are seeking that relationship and that the staff are nurturing that aspect of being a student athlete at this one of a kind university. I trust they are.

And herein lies the age old LU Athletics argument:

"its ok to suck because we're good people"

aka: "win or lose..."

I just dont think the two are mutually exclusive. then again, I don't follow hoops that closely so maybe its different from , oh- EVERY OTHER SPORT

see; Baseball, Football, T&F/X country, Swimming, Wrestling

(sorry if I put words in your mouth CHIPPY)

NOI need to apologize The university really wants Champions for Christ and we all know that having excellence in sports brings attention to the university and it's mission, to glorify God through his son Jesus Christ. Most of our programs have acheived this excellence fairly consistently - field hockey, soccer, football, volleyball, track and field, WBB, baseball (and soon softball, and the like. The MBB is really holding us back since MBB and FB are the high profile programs. We do need to upgrade the program. I'm just saying that we cannot lose sight of the fact we are preparing our student athletes to be prepared for life and be productive members of the culture, as it is. Lastly, I believe the school does focus on eternity when it comes to all students and our student athletes when considering coaching decisions. It's amazing what one individual can do to change the culture. LU is doing just that.

I would imagine the AD and Chancellor are weighing all this very heavily and will do what is right for the university and its student athletes.

[Kiwon]

Andrew Smith is our best athlete, but not our best basketball player. He was a work in progress since he came to Liberty, but I hoped that his potential would be realized. Unfortunately, it has not. In some ways, he has improved since freshman year, but in many others he has not improved or even declined.

He is not an offensive threat 5 feet from the basket. He has no jumpshot - his form is terrible. It's hard to believe that no one ever taught him to shoot a jumpshot. He gets easily frustrated because of this and then plays outside his skill level causing him to charge and/or turn over the ball which does not help the team. Nonetheless, his alley oop dunk was a thing of beauty last night.

I always wonder where the points are going to come from. Mueller has been either hesitant or inconsistent offensively, Johnson and Smith are not threats, Kemrite is not much of a threat but yesterday took the ball to the hoop more than I ever saw him but he can't make a foul shot to save his life and Retic is not out there to score. Andoh and Theo J are good role players but they also can be invisible for stretches of time. Maxwell has a good upside an hopefully Reid can develop an all around game and not just shoot 3's and hope for the best.

Having said that, it would be great to see them win the majority of their remaining games especially when Gielo returns but I am firmly behind the school developing Champions for Christ. I hope the boys are seeking that relationship and that the staff are nurturing that aspect of being a student athlete at this one of a kind university. I trust they are.

+1. 100% agree, Chippy.

[kingaling42]

Losing at half to one of the worst D-1 teams in the country. Has our program officially reached rock bottom?

If you trust the RPI ratings at this early point- then yes..

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html