Flames Picked 4th in Big South Preseason Poll

[Sly Fox]

The Flames, who finished last year second in the Big South regular-season standing with an 11-5 mark, received 173 points in the annual preseason poll, while Winthrop was a unanimous favorite to repeat as conference champions after finishing last year with a 27-6 overall record and a 15-1 mark in conference play.

Following Winthrop in the preseason poll was Coastal Carolina in second with 201 points, UNC Asheville in third with 200 points, Liberty in fourth with 173 points, High Point in fifth with 159 points, Birmingham-Southern in sixth with 154 points, Radford in seventh with 115 points, Charleston Southern in eighth with 88 points and VMI in ninth place with 62 points.

Blair Named To Big South Preseason All-Conference Team

October 13, 2005 · Charlotte, N.C.

Liberty University men’s basketball player Larry Blair has been named to the Big South Preseason All-Conference team, while the Flames were selected fourth in the annual preseason poll as announced by the league as part of the 2005 Big South Basketball Media Day event held at the Westin Hotel on Thursday.

Blair (Jr., G, Charlotte, N.C.) joined four other players on the preseason all-conference squad as Winthrop’s Torrell Martin and James Shuler and Coastal Carolina’s Pele Paelay and Jack Leasure were also named to the team, while Martin was named the league’s preseason player of the Year.

Blair, a two-time Big South all-conference honoree, including last year’s first-team selection, led the team last year in eight different statistical categories, including field goals (168), field goal attempts (388), three-point field goals (48), three-point field goal percentage (35.3), steals (49) and points (464).

He finished the 2004-05 season ranked in eight of the 12 statistical categories that the Big South Conference ranks, including scoring (2nd), free throw percentage (5th), steals (5th), three-point field goal percentage (7th), defensive rebounds (8th), three-point field goals (8th), field goal percentage (12th) and rebounding (15th).

libertyflames.com/mbball/news.asp?news_id=2771

[Sly Fox]

The Big South finally has the releases up on its official site:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Winthrop University’s men’s basketball team has been chosen first in the Big South Conference’s annual preseason poll, as voted by the League’s Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors, and media panel. The announcement was made today at The Westin Hotel in downtown Charlotte as part of the 2005-06 Basketball Tip-Off Media Luncheon.

Winthrop was the unanimous selection among the 32 voters. The Eagles were the Conference’s regular-season and tournament champion last year following a League-best 27-6 overall record and 15-1 mark in Big South games. Coastal Carolina, the No. 8 seed in the 2005 Advance Auto Parts Men’s Basketball Championship tournament, finished second in the voting with 201 points, edging out UNC Asheville (200). Liberty was predicted to finish fourth (173), while High Point placed fifth in the voting (159). Birmingham-Southern was predicted sixth (154), followed by Radford (seventh), Charleston Southern (eighth) and VMI (ninth).

The men’s season, which features Winthrop, High Point and UNC Asheville in the February 18 Bracket Buster Saturday event, begins Thurs., Nov. 10 and culminates with the Advance Auto Parts Big South Basketball Championship the week of Feb. 28-March 4. ESPN2 will televise the championship game live at 12:00pm ET.

2005-06 Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll (combined votes)

Rk Team (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points
1. Winthrop (32) 288 - - - - - - - - 288
2. Coastal Carolina - 88 49 36 5 20 - 2 1 201
3. UNC Ashevile - 112 35 24 10 8 3 8 - 200
4. Liberty - 32 42 30 40 12 15 2 - 173
5. High Point - 8 70 24 25 12 12 6 2 159
6. Birmingham-Southern - 16 7 42 35 36 18 - - 154
7. Radford - - 14 24 20 16 24 14 3 115
8. Charleston Southern - - 7 6 25 8 15 18 9 88
9. VMI - - - 6 - 16 9 14 17 62

www.bigsouthsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4800&ATCLID=202930

Winthrop's Torrell Martin Voted Preseason Player of the Year
Release: 10/13/2005

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Winthrop University junior Torrell Martin (Columbia, S.C.) has been voted the Big South Conference Preseason Men’s Basketball Player of the Year by the League’s Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and media panel, it was announced today at the Conference’s 2005-06 Basketball Tip-Off Media Luncheon at The Westin Hotel in Charlotte.

Martin earned First-team All-Big South honors last season after averaging 13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 48.4 percent from the floor and a League-leading 43.3 percent from beyond the arc. He was named MVP of the Advance Auto Parts Big South Men’s Basketball Championship in helping the Eagles capture their fifth tournament crown in seven years, while averaging 16.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. Martin reached double-figures in 23 games, led Winthrop in scoring and rebounding, and tallied 22 points in the Eagles’ NCAA Tournament game against Gonzaga.

2005-06 Big South Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team

Torrell Martin, Winthrop, Jr., G, 6-5, 190, Columbia, S.C.
Pele Paelay, Coastal Carolina, Sr., G, 6-4, 190, Derwood, Md.
Larry Blair, Liberty, Jr., G, 6-1, 185, Charlotte, N.C.
James Shuler, Winthrop, Sr., G/F, 6-6, 205, Jonesville, Fla.
Jack Leasure, Coastal Carolina, So., G, 6-3, 185, Rochester, N.Y.

Martin received 19 first-place votes and finished with 136 points in the voting to earn a spot on the preseason All-Conference team. Coastal Carolina’s Pele Paelay, last year’s Big South Player of the Year, received 10 first-place votes and 109 points.

Paelay started 28 of 29 games last year and led the Big South in scoring with 16.8 points per game. He also ranked in the top 10 in rebounding (6th) and steals (1st), and was 11th in assists. Paelay scored in double-figures in 27 of 29 games and led the Chanticleers in scoring in 14 games and in rebounding 12 times.

Blair, who received one first-place vote and 83 total points, has earned All-Conference honors his first two years, including a First-team nod in 2004-05. He finished his sophomore season ranked in seven of the Big South’s 12 statistical categories, including second in scoring (16.6). Blair enters the season 99 points away from 1,000 in his career.

Shuler tallied a first-place vote and 58 points in the voting following a First-team All-Conference season in 2004-05. He averaged 12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 43.5 percent from the floor. Shuler also earned a spot on the All-Tournament team last season.

Leasure, the 2004-05 Big South Freshman of the Year, posted 18 points in the poll. He averaged 14.5 points a game last season, but increased the output to 15.8 in Big South games (fifth-best). Leasure led the Conference and ranked in the top 30 nationally with 2.93 three-pointers per game, and carries a streak of 21-straight games with a three-pointer into the season.

Torrell Martin

Martin is a baller, but I wouldn't trade Larry for him anyday. Its time for us to do what Winthrop did last year ... overcome low expectations to make seom major noise.

[Realist]

Are you serious? Martin brings much more to the table than Blair. He defends infinitely better, rebounds better, and can score all around better.

I didn't get to make it there today unfortunately.

[Sly Fox]

Let's just say that we both appreciate our own players. You can't blame us for giving Larry some love.

[Realist]

Larry's great, no doubt. In a jump shooting contest, he probably wins. All around I disagree.

And how about CCU getting picked second. Don't see how you can put them above UNCA.

[Sly Fox]

The voting was nearly a dead heat ... 201-200. Personally, I think after your Eagles you can toss the next five a jar and shake them up.

Personally I don't see us dropping as far as everyone else seems to think we will. There's no doubt that losing Dees' scoring hurts. But I don't see us sliding past third this season.

[PAmedic]

I can tell from speaking with him- Coach D is VERY VERY UP about this year. Looking forward to seeing things shake out. As has been pointed out before, we are a big enough school, with enought recruiting clout that we SHOULD be able to find 6 or 7 guys that can contend with ANYONE in the BSOUTH. To do less is really a failure; safe to say Coach would agree with that.

[Chris Lang]

Again, I didn't see the team last year, so I don't know, but apparently Dees' defense stunk. Randy's told me he loves the chemistry of this group, so I'm eager to see what they'll look like on the court.

*Shameless plug* Look for two stories in tomorrow's fish wrap on media day.

[SCAR]

I can't recall the last time there was a unanimous vote for 1st p[lace like that. I think the Liberty women have done it a few times but in Men's that is rare I believe. I will have to consult my BigSouth counterparts and ask them. Back in the early 90's Coastal was a hands down favorite many times but all 1st place votes? Not so sure they ever accomplished that but I could be wrong. Liberty is rarely picked to finish in the top of the Big South. When Aluma was here I think we used to get picked 2nd or 3rd. As far as Blair or Martin, there are definitely some areas Martin is better but I will take Blair! He is like a little brother to me. Truth be told I like Martin a lot and he is a great kid too. Can't go wrong with either player. I am interested to see if High Point has 19 Juco transfers this year like they have in the past. Asheville will be decent but I don't know if they will be great. I expect there will be a few impact new comers like Jack Leasure was for Coastal last year. Reggie Williams at VMI is a decent scorer but does not get a lot of credit due to his team's record. Paley Paley is a bit over rated in my opinion but he is pretty good too.

[Chris Lang]

SCAR, someone down here said no one has ever been picked unanimously, so Winthrop made a bit of history.

Enjoyed talking with Torrell Martin. Seemed like a bright, fun kid.

[SCAR]

Every time I talk with Torrell he is a lot of fun....I thought that Winthrop voting seemed like an anomoly but I didn't want to state it as fact. That is really a strong endorsement for how good Winthrop will be coming off of one of the best seasons in Big South history and having most of the team back...As far as Dees on Defense? He had his troubles I will say that. Gabe Martin was in front of him at the 3 and 4 the prior year and there wasn't a player in the league that he couldn't guard from 1 position to the 5. He was tough. David was no Gabe on the defensive end. Gabe should have gotten an MVP of the reg season his Jr or Sr. year. Lightbourne kind of picked up where he left off. We will see if Hubbard and Bigby will be that type of player for them this year.

[lustudentrep]

No one be suprised is Damien Hubbard is not only on the All-Conference team but up for MVP voting. This kid has size, he plays D, can shoot, can drive....and he does play defense. Very smart, athletic kid. He can play 1-4, and thats not just saying he can, he actually does. Damien is very smart and will be a HUGE impact to this years squad.

i was suprised Gathing's wasn't still recieving votes?

[Sly Fox]

We've made mention plenty of times of the animosity towards our school from many around our league ... both coaches and media. We never get our due in any polls or player of year voting. Gathings. Enough said.

[SCAR]

LUSTU that was funny about Gathings. The league loved him for some reason. Gabe Martin absolutely out played him every time they got together in my opinion. Gabe held Tyrone Walker to 0 points in a game vs Winthrop. Walker was a top scorer in the league. Held Gathing to 7 in the 45 point blowout when Gathings got Tournament MVP. The only thing that hurt Gabe was his senior year performance at VMI which unfortunately was a televised game and he played like he was on VMI. LUStudentrep remembers that I am sure. Enough about G-Mart, can't wait to see Damien in uniform. I am excited about his skills as well. 2 years ago it was Lightbourne we had high hopes for and he got hurt the first day of practice. Lets pray that all of these guys stay healthy for the most part this season especially early on when everyone is trying to make their mark on the team.