[El Scorcho]

I just caught this article tonight and was thinking that this is exactly the kind of thing we want to happen at LU. Oh to see an article written like this about Liberty...we can dream, right?

[PAmedic]

hey, they're no Winthrop

(sorry, that wasn't right: I await my beating at the hands of WEF/REALIST)

[Sly Fox]

I believe that this is certainly within our reach in the next few years in a number of sports. But mens hoops gives the biggest stage for us right now. If all goes well with our additions, who knows what could happen?

[TIMSCAR20]

I happen to keep in touch with coach Laranaga. I have been a fan and a promoter of all things GMU basketball for years since he arrived in Fairfax. He is a really good coach and a great example of how to run a program. Don't know how many of you besides A.G. saw PTI yesterday but he was on there talking about his decision to suspend Tony Skin and how he didn't even consider what it would do to his team's chance of making the NCAA's let alone winning a game. He saw behavior that was unacceptable and he dealt with it accordingly. He used to come on my little crappy cable show and actually come to the studio! Most guys would make us go remote (although the Ripken Brothers shocked us with a visit a couple of times). A real class act for sure. I just wish I had gone with my gut and picked them to beat MSU instead of having MSU in the elight 8! Oh well. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. (HMO did I set a record for the most names dropped in 1 post?).

[WinthropEagleFan]

hey, they're no Winthrop

(sorry, that wasn't right: I await my beating at the hands of WEF/REALIST)

No beating here...I can appreicate a well-timed jab as much as anyone.

And as a Winthrop fan, I look at George Mason and Bucknell and schools like that and see where WU can be if they're able to just get over that next hump (winning an NCAA tourney game)...I have no doubt in my mind now that WU is in the position to get it done, it's just a matter of scoring that extra basket here or there that they haven't seemed to be able to do in a few of their big games the last two years (ie. the Gonzaga, Bama, Tennessee games). Outside of playing in a BCS bowl, getting to this point of the NCAA tourney seems to bring the most wide-spread publicity in college athletics, so taking that next step would be huge for the program and the school (and I'm sure the conference would get a little bit of extra publicity as well).

[TIMSCAR20]

Well said WEF. You guys were so close. How about that Bank shot they hit with the shot clock running down in the second half? Not to mention the last second shot from the corner. Yes, playing close gets people to notice but it is HUGE when you win the game. Mason beating Carolina any time is news, let alone in the Sweet 16. Laranaga told his team that Billy Packer and Jim Nance are good announcers but they have clearly never seen us play. Them calling for GMU not to be in the tournament was foolish whether they won or lost in the 1st round. I do think Hofstra should have gotten in too. The CAA and MVC have a few teams that would do well in the ACC or Big Ten IMHO. I know we all like to think that the Majors are so so so much higher than the mid majors but it is just not true anymore. Another good Laranaga point was that if he got to play 17 or 18 home games like the majors do he would win 20-25 games a year too because GMU has won at 91% in the Patriot Center since he has been there. I don't follow the MVC as closely as the CAA but I would take ODU, UNCW, GMU and Hofstra over most of the ACC in a head to head match up especially if the games were on the CAA courts.

[bigsmooth]

SCAR, in regards to this comment but I would take ODU, UNCW, GMU and Hofstra over most of the ACC in a head to head match up especially if the games were on the CAA courts. which ACC teams?? you are comparing the top four teams in the CAA, so in theory compare those to the top four in the ACC. my money is on the ACC even on the CAA home floor. I have much respect for the mid-majors and love the fact that mason is making a good run, but if mason and carolina play a best of five, carolina wins. now if you want to comapre those top four in the CAA to the bottom four of the ACC or big east for that matter, that is a better arguement.

[ATrain]

Well, ODU did beat VT on their home floor, and I'd take those four over the likes of Clemson and mid-pack (provided its the CAA home-court advantage) and bottom-feeders from the ACC, SEC...whatever BCS conference you want to name.

[SuperJon]

GMU is all access on Sportscenter this week. Their coach is awesome.

[TIMSCAR20]

I agree with you SupaJ, Jim Laranaga is one of my favorite coaches in college ball today. GMU was very lucky to get him and I am glad he finally got them to win a tournament game. He had a couple of teams a few years ago that could have done some damage but they keep getting better and better....As far as the Top 4 CAA teams, I think they would do well and compete in the ACC. I wasn't saying top 4 vs Top 4. I was saying top 4 in 1 game vs any ACC team on the CAA floor, I'm taking the CAA team. That is why the big boys don't go on the road and play those games because they would lose. Duke would win 3 of 4 but the rest of the ACC would get beat up on those courts. You have to go to an ODU or GMU home game to understand how tough these teams are on their home court. Very high level of basketball for sure and with an ACC team coming into the building, it would be a sell out and a hugh home court advantage.

[bigsmooth]

SCAR, i know you have more knowledge of hoops than me but brotha i love how you rip on the ACC. i would take probably 7 of 12 ACC teams on a CAA floor. as to your comment that the big boys never go on the road, it is true, but ALL big conference teams do that. you are too funny to say the ACC would get beat up on a CAA floor. that is just insane. so i guess the big east would fare better?? the mid majors are a trendy pick right now and congrats to their success, but to say all ACC but duke would get beat up on a CAA floor is just plain crazy bro. i have been to games at mason and ODU, and the atmosphere was ok at best. BTW where did coach larranaga, hone his coaching skills before becoming a head coach?

[TIMSCAR20]

didn't mean to come off as an ACC basher but I used them as an example. I don't think the Big East would do any better nor the Big Ten. Those are tough places to play. So you would take 7 of the 12 at the CAA top 4 but I am saying I would take Duke, to win 3 or 4, Carolina (this season) 2 of 4 BC would win 2 of 4 and NC State might win 1 of 4. The rest would get beat up. FSU would actually do better than most because they have a really, really athletic team but, UVA, Clemson, VA Tech, Maryland, Miami, Wake Forest would get beat 3 of 4 on a 4 game sweep through the top CAA teams (again, this year). The top 4 btw are Hofstra, ODU, George Mason and UNC Wilmington. Gone are the days when the Power conferences just show up and win games on the road vs. the Better Mid major teams/conferences. I don't know the MVC that well but I would say that teams would probably struggle going on the road against their top 4 or 5 teams too. There are so many guys in the CAA that could play and do well in the ACC is all I am saying and collectively, they form a pretty good challenge to the Power conferences. Alex Loughton, Arnuld Dahi (ODU) Jai Lewis, Butler, Skinn (GMU) and others would do well in those leagues. There are too many quality players out there now. At one time all the big boys would snatch up the talent and that talent would stay there for 4 years. The gap is closed because the talent pool has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, the Power conferences lose players at a much higher rate than 20 years ago, and the summer leagues allow the mid major players to play against the big guys and they learn that they can play with them. I firmly believe that the reason our Men's team beat UVA in 98 is because our guys had played summer pick up games with them for 4 summers straight prior to that game.

[jcmanson]

If it's any credit to SCAR's case ODU made the final four of the NIT, and will now play in the big apple on perhaps their biggest stage ever. In the semis they face Michigan. I will be rooting for ODU to win as they will be going up against all "big boys" Michigan, Lousiville, and Cincinnati/South Carolina.

[TIMSCAR20]

ODU's seniors are gonna be missed though. I thought this would be the year they got to the sweet 16 but they ended up not finishing strong and playing in the NIT's. A tough 10 point win last night at Hofstra. Isaiah Hunter (Larry Blair's buddy btw) had a career high 29.

[bigsmooth]

congrats to ODU! i hoping they will show well in the NIT final four. im glad to see a team from the commonwealth do well!

[ATrain]

Can't believe no one has mentioned this yet...GMU is in the FINAL FOUR. Winthrop, which will have a hard time finding opponents, should probably consider George Mason.

[Hold My Own]

This is worth millions for the school...and I really am happy b/c it seems their coach is so chill

[SuperJon]

You just used your 600th post to say the word "chill" when describing a person. Congratulations on that.

[Hold My Own]

didnt even notice that...I guess I need to buy that Post Calender from PAmedic, which gives accurate dates for future posting milestones

[PAmedic]

its yours for a mere 500

(I accept PayPal)