[FlamesHighontheTide]

So, lets look at the facts: 1. We have a roster of 11 and only 1 is a senior who is in his first season as a Flame. 2. Of the 11 only 5 played for LU last season. 3. We lost our top 3 scorers from last year to transferring out or being suspended. 4. We are young and a very green D1 basketball team. 5. We have a coach who knows what it takes to win here on the mountain, albeit he only has 2 years under his belt as the head coach of the flames. 6. There will be growing pains with this team but it will be an exciting season nonetheless due to a lack of expectations.

As you guys will get to know me you will find that I am always a glass half full kind of person. With that premise out of the way I think it is possible for our boys to finish. . .

15-16 with 8 big south wins.

Here is my bold prediction: We win 2 games in the big south tournament!

[R i]

Coach Troll,

The kool-aid is sweet around here, but in the mens basketball forum I'd dilute yours with a little water for this season.

[BJWilliams]

I think 15 wins is the ceiling here with the true number being closer to 10

[bballfan84]

this team is going to be bad...10 wins total 4 in big south

[SuperJon]

8-10 wins.

[Didlibertywin]

It will be a long season of "No" tweets from me.

Most of our wins will be against those non-D1 teams on our schedule. We may have one or two "holy crap" moments where we win a game. I think there's light at the end of the tunnel for our team with RM back.

[JakeP50]

This season will be full of losses but there is finally hope, the team will be more exciting to watch as well. There will actually be butts in seats for games this year.

[adam42381]

7 wins, 3 in conference

[olldflame]

Interview with Ritchie at BSC media day.

http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm ... 15&TeamID=

He comes across as being realistic in terms of the lack of experience and size, but very positive on things like effort and committment. You can tell he likes the intangibles. One quote that stood out to me was ¨I don´t put a ceiling on what this group can accomplish¨. He talked a lot about defense and how he learned at UVA the last few years that a team that plays tough D can go on the road and feel like they can win in any environment.

[SumItUp]

I agree that the expectations should be low, but I would not be shocked by Coach T's prediction. I like RMK's "no ceiling" assessment.

[LUnpretty11]

So, lets look at the facts: 1. We have a roster of 11 and only 1 is a senior who is in his first season as a Flame. 2. Of the 11 only 5 played for LU last season. 3. We lost our top 3 scorers from last year to transferring out or being suspended. 4. We are young and a very green D1 basketball team. 5. We have a coach who knows what it takes to win here on the mountain, albeit he only has 2 years under his belt as the head coach of the flames. 6. There will be growing pains with this team but it will be an exciting season nonetheless due to a lack of expectations.

As you guys will get to know me you will find that I am always a glass half full kind of person. With that premise out of the way I think it is possible for our boys to finish. . .

15-16 with 8 big south wins.

Here is my bold prediction: We win 2 games in the big south tournament!

Wow, I now realize what I sound like when I post 90% of the time.

Keep it up, we can't have too many people like me.

[FlameFan11]

If this team gets to double digit wins, in my opinion, it would be an excellent job by the players and staff. This year is definitely about building the foundation and learning the system that will return most of these guys and add more talent next season.

Since we are talking predictions, what do you guys, especially those who have seen practice or the scrimmage, feel the starting lineup will look like? Assuming everyone is healthy. Might have to put a pre-Dawson lineup and a post-Dawson lineup as he looks to be a starter when he is eligible.

[Cider Jim]

Since we are talking predictions, what do you guys, especially those who have seen practice or the scrimmage, feel the starting lineup will look like?

Since I've seen all of ONE scrimmage, here is Coach Cider's assessment:

1-Hansel
2-Fields
3-Reid
4-Ezra
5-Maxwell

[PAFlame]

Anywhere from 4 to 12 wins is possible for this squad. What I am excited about is that this is likely the last year we play any DIII/NAIA/Middle School teams.

[olldflame]

Anywhere from 4 to 12 wins is possible for this squad. What I am excited about is that this is likely the last year we play any DIII/NAIA/Middle School teams.

I can pretty much assure you that we are going to continue to play a couple of D2 or NAIA teams every year, just like almost every lower level D1 school. These games fulfill a purpose. As long as it isn´t more than a couple, I fail to see why people have such a problem with it. I agree that 4 is too many. I don´t know how many of those 4 McKay scheduled as opposed to DL, but for this year´s team it´s probably a good thing.

[olldflame]

Since we are talking predictions, what do you guys, especially those who have seen practice or the scrimmage, feel the starting lineup will look like?

Since I've seen all of ONE scrimmage, here is Coach Cider's assessment:

1-Hansel
2-Fields
3-Reid
4-Ezra
5-Maxwell

That´s a pretty small back court, but til Dawson can play it may be our best lineup, and having 2 true PGs on the floor could provide some matchup problems for opponents. Kemrite is going to play a lot, whether it is as a starter or 6th man.

[VAGolf]

First, there's no way we're winning any more than 15 games. If you're predicting anything more than 15, you're just simply a homer.

With that said, I don't think this season will be completely awful either. I see Liberty starting off 4-0 and maybe winning one game in Nashville. After that, I think they'll lose every game until mid-January or so. Late in the season, I see the team piecing things together and gaining some chemistry. So, look for a very lackluster team to start making a nice run in late January / early February and then get knocked out in the second round of the BSC tournament.

[flamesfilmguy]

We win Covenant, Summit, Central Penn. Then go winless in the month of december, Our first Big south victory will be Campbell at home Jan. 9th. Longwood at home and away , Presby at home and we lose every other game.
7-24. No tourney wins.

[Purple Haize]

We lose Longwood at their place

[Chris Lang]

Liberty has never won at Longwood. That won't change this year.

[FlamesHighontheTide]

For those of you who have seen practice or scrimmages, how have the freshman looked? Particularly, Atencia and Cabbil?

[Cider Jim]

In 30 years of watching LU basketball, I've never seen so many no look passes that were spot on than what Hansel did last Saturday in the LU scrimmage. As long as his teammates look for them, he will deliver perfect passes in the paint.

[Flame]

I heard there was a closed scrimmage with VMI at the Vines today. Does anyone know how it went?

[JK37]

RM told me while at UVA, everyone talked about their offensive efficiency. But, he said, they worked 70%+ of the time in practice on defense. Basic philosophy was this: run a simple but effective offense, drill the heck out of offensive fundamentals, and defend like bats out of hell.

One quote I'll never forget: "I'd rather have better ball player in February than be able to run 3 more sets."

Simple, yet effective. LOVE it!

[Cider Jim]

be able to run 3 more sets."

I've always wondered how many plays ole Hanky had in that playbook of his.