[Sly Fox]

While we await word on who Coach McKay will be bringing along with him to town, I thought it'd be a good time to see where we stand right now. This is assuming we lose no one through attrition through the transition.

Leaving Program - Graduation (2):

SG Larry Blair
G/F Damien Hubbard

Larry obviously is a huge hit as the Big South's All-Time Leading Scorer. Damien was a good soldier who helped fill the gap at every position on the floor at one time or another.




Rising Seniors (5):

PG T.J. Bannister
SG Dwight Brewington
PF Alex McLean
PF Rell Porter
C Russell Monroe

Clearly this group is the key to the program's success in McKay's first year. TJ, Brew & Ace will be the most talented trio in the league next year. They alone should be enough to have us contending for the title against WU. Rell is a strong contributor and Russ gives us minutes.




Rising Juniors (4):

PG Justin Holland
SG Anthony Smith
SF Andrew Denton
SG Dominique Jones

Justin & Anthony will continue to be key components of our rotation playing significant minutes. Dominique's future is likely tied to whether or not his father remains on the staff. Then again, he could stay either way.





Rising Sophomores (4):

SG B.J. Jenkins
SG Kyle Ohman
SF Tyler Baker
PF Armon Jones

We all know Tyler's going to be great and Coach McKay probably is familiar with him being from Albuquerque. Both he & BJ showed flashes of brilliance this year and they should both get their opportunities as well again this neat season. But there are only so many minutes to go around. Armon needs to develop in his second season and Kyle needs to be ready if we get hit with the injury bug.






Redshirt Freshman (1):

PF Lamont Winters

With him missing all of last season due to injury, he's a bit of a question mark. Hopefully he can develop into a player to fill the void left by Ace after this next season. He had nice credentials coming out of high school.





Incoming Freshmen (2):

PF Nathan Campbell
C Orukpe Ehimen

The jury is still out on whether either of these signees will end up on the mountain. The Nigerian 7-footer probably is out of the picture unless Coach Okon is retained. Nate was a 5th Year Hargrave banger who we may still bring to campus. But we haven't heard a peep out of him through this process. I'm sure he was waiting to see who was hired.

_________________________________________________________________

So here is how I see our lineup looking next season barring any personnel changes:

PG:
T.J. Bannister
Justin Holland
Dominque Jones


SG:
Dwight Brewington
B.J. Jenkins
Kyle Ohman


SF:
Anthony Smith
Tyler Baker



PF:
Rell Porter
Lamont Winters
Armon Jones
Nate Campbell


Post:
Alex McLean
Russell Monroe
Orukpe Ehimen


_________________________________________________________________


Projected Starting Lineup:

PG - TJ Bannister
SG - Dwight Brewington
SF - Anthony Smith
PF - Rell Porter
C - Alex McLean

Having a true point guard with bigtime ACC experience should have a big impact on our production. Brew really excelled in the 6th man role as the season progressed. But with Larry gone, he has to be our first option scoringwise in the backcourt. Anthony & Rell bring a ton of game experience. Anthony can light it up when he feels it while Rell is indispensable on the boards and defensively. And Ace was a major find this past season.

________________________________________________________________

Bottom line is that the cupboard is far from bare as long as we don't lose too many key components. Frankly I'd be surprised if we lost more than a player or two outside of our Nigerian signee. Coach McKay's biggest recruiting job at LU will be making sure everyone sticks around to experience what he has in mind. If his personality is as strong as I hear from my NM friends, he should be able to sell everyone in the program on his vision.

[thepostman]

wow.....great post Sly....I say everything is right on as of now...it will be interesting to see how things come together when McKay starts work here

[olldflame]

The first thing that strikes me in looking at those depth charts is how very, very different McKay's task will be from that of Dunton or Hankinson when they started. There is certainly talent there to compete for a championship, but some things will need to fall together, and not all of them are within the coach's control.

1) TJ Bannister needs to be healthy and play the role of senior point guard/leader/distributor to near perfection. This would be an element which has been missing from LU teams for the last few years and would go a long way toward making up for the loss of LB.

2) One or more of the following: Armon, Lamont or Russell needs to step up and give us productivity inside to go with Alex. I believe, if he is healthy, Lamont may be the most likely (although I would LOVE to see Russell put it together and have a senior year in which he is able to contribute more on the court).

3) The top 3 returning players; Brew, Alex and Anthony along with Rell, Tyler, Justin and BJ all need to work like crazy in the off season and "step it up a notch". Brew will no doubt be the #1 option offensively, and as such we shouldn't expect him to shoot 65% from the field again. At the same time he needs to be careful not to adopt LB style shot selection. Alex and Anthony need to become more consistent, and I look for Anthony to take over a game or 2 as a prelude to the starring role he will need to take on as a senior. Alex won't be catching anyone by surprise this year, and it will be a challenge to duplicate his impressive numbers, but with his work ethic I believe he can and then some. Rell mainly needs to keep setting the tone for intensity and hustle, but if he could add just a bit more offense it would be great. BJ and Justin need to provide energy off the bench and Tyler needs to pick up where he left off in the VMI game and start making "gunna be" into "is".

I have only mentioned returning players, and I have a really good feeling about retaining these guys (possibly all of them). but something tells me that before the season tips off there will be 1 or more newcomers who will make the team even better. I count 2 scholarships left, which have been offered to Orupke and Campbell if they choose to come. Otherwise, I think coach McKay may have something else in the pipeline.

[jcmanson]

We definitely have enough talent already in place to make a run at the big south championship. Hopefully, McKay will bring in alot of energy to the fans and players that they will both take a step forward. We all know how tough it can be to play in the Vines when that thing is rocking!

[NJLibertyboy]

I think Russell showed signs of improvement last year. Whenever he was on the court, he showed aggression and I hadn't seen before. I think Ritchie can get him on track.

If your looking for something out of Armon, don't hold your breath.

Good post oldflame. I agree, I would love to see Russell put together an amazing year on the court, and finish off his LU Career strong.

[Sly Fox]

It is natural for their to be some attrition during these transition periods. So I fully expect we'll lose a player or two. Who that may be is anybody's guess.

Do I anticipate Coach McKay bringing several of his UNM signees here? Not at all. If it happens and they are committed to a Liberty-type environment then I say bring them on. But it just doesn't work they way under normal circumstances. Frankly I think it would be more likely that a current Lobo who feels his opportunity at PT is slipping away before graduation might consider a transfer for a final year or two if he was sold on Coach McKay personally.

But the point of my post was to show what Coach McKay will have to work with right away and where we will need to shore things up in the next year or two.

[olldflame]

Frankly I think it would be more likely that a current Lobo who feels his opportunity at PT is slipping away before graduation might consider a transfer for a final year or two if he was sold on Coach McKay personally.

Good point, and I think, in a sort of "butterfly effect" that could depend on whether Alford brings an influx of recruits and/or transfers with him from Iowa, which could lead a NM player or 2 to see the "handwriting on the wall".

[PAmedic]

not to be pessamistic here- but I don't get the feeling that the Nigerian ctr is coming.

and I wouldn't be shocked to see Brew-pub packing up either, though I hope not.

anyone know if the team has met w/ Coach McKay yet? (prob today if not yesterday)

[olldflame]

not to be pessamistic here- but I don't get the feeling that the Nigerian ctr is coming.

and I wouldn't be shocked to see Brew-pub packing up either, though I hope not.

anyone know if the team has met w/ Coach McKay yet? (prob today if not yesterday)

I don't think any of us are really counting on Orukpe medic.

Brew is another matter. I'm pretty sure he stays, especially if Alexis and/or Zack are on the staff. Even if he is not exactly ecstatic about the change, his D1 options are used up. We're it. He could transfer down to a D2 or NAIA school, but if he has aspirations to play at the next level, I can't see that. Here, he will be the #1 scoring option on a D1 team with a strong post player and an ACC caliber point guard. It's made to order for him to put up some big numbers and draw some attention from the pros (especially if we can make it to the dance). I guess his other option would be to play overseas. I don't see any way he is NBA-ready now.

[lobo1]

Don't expect players out of New Mexico. The current team met with Alford and after Alford's press conference, everyone said they are staying. The looked excited and had big grins on. That said, don't expect to see your team transfer when they meet McKay. The guys here loved him. He should be an excellent fit for Liberty.

[jcmanson]

RM stated that there would not be any players coming from NM. Hopefully, he will be able to retain all of our guys. If not, we will be alright anyways.

[TallyW]

Actually what he said was "This is being carried LIVE in Albeq...." (HE SMILES and then says) ... "So no... but I like what we've got here."

It's obvious he has some idea of players in his past or players he's recruited that would be a good fit here. ESPECIALLY if the faith issue hit home with some players that weren't drawn to the atmosphere of UNM... I'm not suggesting a wave but I wouldn't be shocked to see 1 or 2 players (recruits or otherwise) to come over for a shot to win the BSC right away.

[LUconn]

to come over for a shot to win the BSC right away.

so thats the expectation?

[TallyW]

Of course our expectation is to win the BSC... why else would we hire a new coach. If our expectation was to come up 2nd or 3rd every year we'd have kept who we had. What kind of question is that?

Besides I made that statement in reference to any potential players headed to the MWC... I'd say since they are the 8th best conference in the country right now and the BSC is the 29th... they'd likely be an upgrade and a type of player able to make an impact with the attitude of winning the BSC... Of course the expectations are to win. It could be next year but certainly within the next couple of years we'll be winning the BSC... and I'd suspect we'll be winning many to come.

[LUconn]

"right away" was the key phrase. Most coaches don't come in and istantaniously make their team the best in the conference.

[TallyW]

Most coaches don't drop 21 levels in the quality of competition and take over a team with the best back-court combination in the conference. Again, the goal is winning and I expect us to challenge "right away".

[Knucklehead]

...take over a team with the best back-court combination in the conference. .

Big Statement!

[jcmanson]

...take over a team with the best back-court combination in the conference. .

Big Statement!

Big statement, yes, but could very well be the truth. They still have to prove it on the court, but talent-wise, yes they are the best duo in the conference.

[LUconn]

Most coaches don't drop 21 levels in the quality of competition and take over a team with the best back-court combination in the conference. Again, the goal is winning and I expect us to challenge "right away".

True, but we lost something like 8 games in a row last year when we added in one of the best Forwards in the conference this past season. I'd imagine a whole new coaching staff would affect the team a little bit more. I'm not saying we're gonna suck, but it's certainly not going to be a smooth transition.

[TallyW]

I can't help but to laugh at that post. There are far too many variables to consider why we lost 8 in a row. You said it your self. That was tossing in 1 player who had sat out for over a year. He was joining a team who had started the season without him. This year the entire staff gets to be with these guys before the NCAA championship this weekend. That's a lot longer to make adjustments. In addition I believe the players will have a new respect for this coach. He's been where they want to go. No one is saying transition is 'smooth' but I certainly believe we can challenge for the title next season. In fact, I'm not the only one saying it... RMC himself spoke of national recruiting but then he said "The players we have are good enough." and "I like the foundation we have to work with." He made these comments right after saying that his expectation was to win the BSC and make some noise in the NCAA tourney. He thinks the tools are in place. In fact he even mentioned RD by name and credited him and his staff for the talent.

I believe we will have the best back court in our conference, we have a coach who (from reports on here at least) likes to run a guard-driven offense, we don't know if anyone else will be added to the team but regardless I'm confident that we have enough to challenge sooner AND later.

[givemethemic]

If you listen to this interview that we did a little while ago Coach gets into some of that stuff

http://www.thelightonline.com/media/154 ... erview.mp3

[TDDance234]

Brew had been practicing with the team for atleast half a year. While it was a little bit of an adjustment, shouldn't have been much.

[Hold My Own]

Let's just worry about their academics...it's easy for these guys to slack off when someone hasnt been looking over their shoulder

[SumItUp]

Some very positive things from the interview listed above. I'm really getting excited for this next season.

[Sly Fox]

Can anyone with access to the information find out if either of our signees have asked and been granted a release from their letter of intent? I'm assuming our Nigerian 7-footer probably has asked for it by now. But I haven't seen it stated with any certainty.