[SuperJon]

VMI dropped to 6th so we get them on Tuesday night.

[timhoughton]

should be a high scoring, exciting game to watch.

[SuperJon]

Time for another VMI 3 Pointers Missed sign.

[PAmedic]

I have to think this Run and Gun offense of the Keydets has worn them down.

they really dropped off at the end of the year- in fact, it could be said that the whole scheme was really a failure- as I don't think you can say it made a huge difference in their winning percentage.

then again, what do I know- I'm 5'5"

tourney time is always a different story- at least we're at home

[TIMSCAR20]

Medic, they won twice as many games this season as last. Also they were competitive with just about everyone they played, even when they played up. I do think they are running out of gas and I don't think they are overly talented or deep for that matter. They are dangerous though. It should be fun to call that track meet of a basketball game again on Tuesday.

[TIMSCAR20]

Let me just say that I was very much against this style of play but I applaude Duggar Baucom for having the guts to do it at this level. Who knows, maybe if they get a few more talented players, we might see them have more success with it.

[PAmedic]

you doing the game SCAR?

hoping to see ya

[timhoughton]

Judging by their record, it may not be that successful...but I would bet they gave every opposing coach nightmares when preparing to play them.

[TIMSCAR20]

Yep. I will be there. I am not coming into town until Tuesday and if we make it to the finals, it will either be in Rock Hill or Lynchburg and I will be there either way. If it is in Rock Hill we will probably spend the night in Charlotte on Friday night after work.

[timhoughton]

SCAR, what do you mean "if we make it to the final"? It is "WHEN WE MAKE IT TO THE FINAL".

[SuperJon]

It's "When we make it to the final and Jonathan is honored at halftime for Big South Fan of the Year."

Ok, I got no shot at winning, but the rest is possible.

[TIMSCAR20]

Ok Tim, WHEN WE GET TO THE FINALS! VMI is kinda dangerous though but I suspect we will be well prepared. I listened to Duggar Baucom's post game comments and he thinks his kids are running out of gas and that they are starting to miss a lot of shots they were hitting earlier in the year. I will have to talk with Jason Allison tonight or tomorrow I am sure to see what his thoughts are about this matchup. I haven't called a VMI/Liberty game since 2004 due to the big south stealing the game from us but now I get to do 2 in one season. Fun. I better get back on the treadmill so I can have enough breath to keep pace.

[mrich]

In honor of our recent rise to the 3 seed, I am taking down my sig. However, you guys know where I stand, especially GRM.

[Purple Haize]

Let me just say that I was very much against this style of play but I applaude Duggar Baucom for having the guts to do it at this level. Who knows, maybe if they get a few more talented players, we might see them have more success with it.

That is because you are fat and old!!! I LOVE this style and your OWN stats even proved that it CAN be successful and arguably HAS been successful this year. Give them another year to get the rythm down and it will be fun to watch (even more so than now).
Having said that, I do think we have their number.

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

SCAR, what do you mean "if we make it to the final"? It is "WHEN WE MAKE IT TO THE FINAL".

Atta BOY!!!! THATS WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR


GO FLAMES!

[Realist]

My thoughts on that system is that you are successful as your talent is. In that, if you have more talented athletes and players, it works, if you don't, it doesn't (with the exception here and there for on, off nights). VMI isn't very talented, so it hasn't worked that well (though it did make them better than last year). It would be interesting to see a UNC or Ohio St. run it with their athletes to see how it would fare.

[TIMSCAR20]

I agree with you Realist. However if you are UNC or Ohio St. you are talented enough to win without forcing the game to be ugly or up tempo. With their inside game, those 2 teams would not want to make it a track meet for 40 minutes. That would take away a major strength of theirs which is low post offense. Haize, I forgot to mention 1 key element on my last post. That is I am ok with this system now. I said that I didn't like it at first. I hope they do it again. I don't think they have to have the most talent, I just think they need to be deep enough. If they had another group coming off the bench like the 1st team or even close to the 1st team then it would have been even more successful IMO. They have borderline division 1 players on that team if I'm being honest (spoken in my best Simon Cowell voice) like Castleberry and Pflugner.

[Chris Lang]

VMI's style is definitely starting to wear on the players. The 3s aren't coming as easily, and they've never been able to defend well to begin with. VMI has to score at least 110 to beat anyone. If they're just a little cold (like they were in the early going Wednesday), it's going to be tough for them to win.

I agree with those who say this was the better matchup for LU. I don't think UNCA's all that good, but they do present some matchup problems and they play much better defense than VMI does. Liberty comes out ahead in just about every matchup against VMI. The Keydets can't defend Brewington at all. He's way too quick in the open floor. The way to slow Dwight down is to bog him down in a half-court game and take away his creases near the basket. VMI just doesn't do that very well. The system will work fine down the road for Duggar, I think. Give him some time to recruit and get a few key pieces in there. I agree with SCAR ... they've got some players who really aren't great DI players who see a lot of minutes. The first six (Reggie, Chavis, Travis, Murrer, Robinson, Lonon) are all very solid. But you can't play that system with just six players. The depth will come in time.

[Mo]

VMI's style is definitely starting to wear on the players. The 3s aren't coming as easily, and they've never been able to defend well to begin with. VMI has to score at least 110 to beat anyone. If they're just a little cold (like they were in the early going Wednesday), it's going to be tough for them to win.

I agree with those who say this was the better matchup for LU. I don't think UNCA's all that good, but they do present some matchup problems and they play much better defense than VMI does. Liberty comes out ahead in just about every matchup against VMI. The Keydets can't defend Brewington at all. He's way too quick in the open floor. The way to slow Dwight down is to bog him down in a half-court game and take away his creases near the basket. VMI just doesn't do that very well. The system will work fine down the road for Duggar, I think. Give him some time to recruit and get a few key pieces in there. I agree with SCAR ... they've got some players who really aren't great DI players who see a lot of minutes. The first six (Reggie, Chavis, Travis, Murrer, Robinson, Lonon) are all very solid. But you can't play that system with just six players. The depth will come in time.

Chris, I'd agree with your comments and add that although Duggar hastily installed this system due size contraints, we really don't have the pure shooters or trappers to run this system, either. We understand that recruits are in the pipeline, but I'm concerned that could mean we're still years away--it's not like any JUCO's want to transfer into the Ratline.

[LUconn]

does that mean he is sticking with and building a program with this style in mind? I thought it was more of a "this is our best shot with this team" kind of a thing.

[Realist]

He said earlier in the year that he was sticking to the system into the future.

[Chris Lang]

He's sticking to it. Among the things he needs is a deadeye shooter from the corner (he brought up Jeff Fryer from Loyola Marymount as an example) and a 6-10 kid who runs the floor well. Those are big holes right now. And depth. Much more depth.

[Mo]

He said earlier in the year that he was sticking to the system into the future.

Yes, it didn't take us long to get national press with this system, and the players love the chance to stack their stats. Duggar said he's had prospects calling him, and that's never happened at VMI.

[PAmedic]

very brave, IMHO.

interested to see how it works out for him.

[Mo]

very brave, IMHO.

interested to see how it works out for him.

Indeed, PA. Speed and finesse have rarely been a trademark of our athletic teams.