|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jan 23, 2005 8:39:03 GMT -5
Surely there is no way we could blow a home victory over arguably the worst team in Division I basketball. Riding a 4-game-win streak facing such a weak sister opponent on just a day's rest, if there was ever a time for us to come in unfocused it would be against the Keydets.
Hopefully we will use this as an opportunity to finally blow somebody out and not sleepwalk througha Monday evening at Vines.
Sorry for the negativity, but experience tells me these are the games we tend to have real trouble with in recent years.
|
|
|
|
Post by SCAR on Jan 23, 2005 10:17:30 GMT -5
The guys seem to be playing well right now. I think Asheville came in and gave us their best shot. Their sophmore guards played great. Collington, Rush and KJ Garland are good players. Bryan McCollough won the tournament as a Soph and was a big contributor. 7-1 CJ Walker has improved a lot. With the injuries and foul trouble Asheville built that lead but when it was crunch time and Liberty was able to put its best foot forward they came through down the stretch. That being said I think they will be fine tomorrow night. If they had a few days between then they might have a let down but there is no time to take VMI lightly, because the game will be starting before you know it. I am concerned about the nagging injuries of the back court...I will be watching this one as a fan because Big South TV is picking up this game and they are bringing in Matt Houge and Nate Ross (don't know him). I will be there though. Double header night. We will get to see the women go for 50 straight! What an amazing accomplishment.....GO EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by eddantes on Jan 23, 2005 14:46:30 GMT -5
VMI usually plays us tough, plus there's always that healthy number of keydet contingent that makes the trek down 501 south that will neutralize home field...
Anyone know how serious the injuries we have are? I'd almost prefer to give Blair a full day of rest to ensure that he's healthy against Badford.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jan 24, 2005 8:32:05 GMT -5
Let's send those little arrogant rich boys packing home in their Benzs back across those mountains. I had more unpleasant interactions with the students at that school than any other in my life (although Oklahoma is running a close second by this point). Perhaps as bas as they are right now, they won't be as quick to travel down to Lynchburg for another embarassment.
Wouldn't it be nice to head over to Radford riding a 5-game win streak? We cannot afford to lose this one and stay in the regular season hunt.
The only disappointment is that VMI still doesn't have a womens team (I can't believe their hasn't been a Title IX lawsuit up there as of yet) so we could beat them twice in one evening. We'll have to settle for the big 50 over BirSo.
Scar - Who carries this Big South TV? Is it just a package on that Raycom regional network over there? Or is it a regional syndication package? Just curious.
|
|
aLUmnus
Full Member
old school LU
Posts: 192
|
Post by aLUmnus on Jan 24, 2005 9:12:09 GMT -5
I wouldn't worry about this game, but I also wouldn't take VMI too lightly. They did beat Virginia Tech. I know Tech isn't that great, but it wasn't a game VMI was supposed to have a chance in.
|
|
|
|
Post by SCAR on Jan 24, 2005 10:42:36 GMT -5
VMI is not very good even though they beat Tech. That game was on Comcast and I Tivo'd it. I watched it a couple of times and they played way over their heads and still almost lost at the end. That was like their superbowl (GO EAGLES!!!!). Sorry but I am still euphoric over our victory yesterday. Anyway, BSTN (Big South Television Network) is carrying the game on certain affiliates around the Big South. It will be on the Liberty Channel and WDRL in Roanoke around here. It will be on in Birmingham, Charlotte etc, places where there are Big South member institutions. I will be there live but not working it as I mentioned in earlier posts. We should show up tonight but I am worried about Woodson's injuries. He could hardly walk after the game on Saturday. Blair's hammy doesn't seem too serious but I do think it affected his shooting the other night. We just can't look past these guys. They are still college ball players on scholarship and they will want to win just like us. We should be fine though.
|
|
|
|
Post by LUconn on Jan 24, 2005 11:08:21 GMT -5
I'm somewhat concerened with this injury of Woodson's. I say we rest him for this game as we should be able to take VMI without him. We're gonna need him for the upcoming stretch. This is the last game that isn't going to be a dog fight. The rest of our schedule is either against a tough team or a game against a mediocre team, yet we've played 2 days earlier. We need him later rather than now.
|
|
|
|
Post by V88 on Jan 24, 2005 11:18:55 GMT -5
Concerning Woodson's injury, I hope they sit him down to start the game tonight and go with Risher at point. Lets see how he does and use Woodson only if needed. That would give him more time to heal up because they are going to need him at Radford Saturday. Like most injuries it's not going to get better by him playing through it, but if they can rest him this week hopefully they can prevent further damage.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jan 24, 2005 13:12:36 GMT -5
Without the pressure on from earlier this season, perhaps now Risher will feel a little more comfortable. Certainly, even if Woody starts then he will have limited minutes unless tonight turns into a nightmare.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Jan 24, 2005 22:28:53 GMT -5
Listening to the game tonite on the 'net and must say its great to hear the sounds of LU B-ball LIVE (incl the evidently quite VOCAL fans) for the 1st time in nearly 15 years. We have a commanding lead at this time, up 15 w/ @ 10 min to play. Sounds like Dees is playing solidly (23 pts so far) and we're tough on the boards. GO LU!
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Jan 24, 2005 22:46:58 GMT -5
I evidently picked a great game to listen to tonite! Blair and Lightbourne have 19 as well, Robinson appears to own the boards, and we have a 15 pt lead w/ a little more than 3 min to go. From where you guys tell me this team was a month or so ago, this is a heck of a run we have going. Whatever it was that lit a fire you know where sure worked!
*NOTE* sounds like we need to work on the free throws fellas
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jan 24, 2005 23:01:07 GMT -5
It feels good to handle a team we should've handled. Leo has come to life at just the right time. We now get to ride a 5-game win streak into the backwood this weekend. Perhaps we are now poised to take command of the Big South. There's no time like the present.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Jan 24, 2005 23:21:37 GMT -5
didja get to hear the game sly?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jan 24, 2005 23:43:00 GMT -5
I caught the tail end of it via the WRVL feed. By that point it was well at hand.
|
|
|
|
Post by V88 on Jan 25, 2005 9:15:21 GMT -5
The combination of Blair, Dees and Lightbourne make it very difficult for defenses to contain all three. Not to take anything away from Blair and Dees (they are building off what we saw last season), but the difference maker in conference play is Leo. He looks like the player coach Dunton talked about before last season when Leo was coming off the injury. You add in Woodson's 9 points last night and his ability to make the quick pass and move the ball around and the Flames are in great shape. Also Woodson's injury did not appear to be a factor lastnight.
|
|
|
|
Post by LUconn on Jan 25, 2005 10:04:18 GMT -5
I watched the game on TV last night and what a disappointment in the commentators. The Big South took control of it and man did those guys suck. They had annoying hologram-like ads on the court, the score in the corner of the screen was impossible to read, and the 2 guys made some really dumb comments. After Leo made a nice move to the basket and layed it in one of them yelled "ride the light! Leo Lightbourne!" Scar, don't let them take your seat again. The only thing they did better was halftime. Instead of interviewing Falwell on his political thoughts, they interviewed Dunton and his thoughts on the season. That makes a whole lot more sense.
|
|
|
|
Post by WinthropEagleFan on Jan 25, 2005 11:04:49 GMT -5
Yeah, I watched it too (though I couldn't watch the first 12 minutes or so because the VT/FSU women's game that was on before it went into double OT). I think Matt Hogue is decent as a play-by-play guy (he knows the league pretty well being that he is Coastal's radio guy), but the color guy was annoying...And I agree about the scoreboard, it wasn't easy to read (5s, 6s, and 8s all looked the same)...They've been doing the hologram ads for a couple of years now on BSTV broadcasts...if that helps put the games on the air, that's fine with me, they don't bother me that much.
As for the game, Lightbourne really impressed me with his work on the glass, and as usual, Dees and Blair hit big shots when they needed too....and how bad is VMI struggling?
|
|
|
|
Post by WinthropEagleFan on Jan 25, 2005 12:20:30 GMT -5
Tonight's CSU/WU game is going to be on Fox Sports Net South (or whatever they are calling it this year) with Matt Hogue doing play-by-play and former Clemson and Auburn head coach Cliff Ellis as color guy...he has to be better than that guy from last night. Also, being a Fox game, the graphics and stuff should be better.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jan 25, 2005 14:36:22 GMT -5
Decisions on who gets the assignments for television broadcasts are often VERY political. Scar understands this much better than most. Its often of knowing just the right person at just the right time. And to be honest, being associated with Liberty doesn't help when dealing with the rest of the schools in the league.
I'm working a telecast of a college baseball game this weekend (yes, I said a college baseball game on February 1st ... I love Texas weather). It was also a deal where I was referred to the decision-makers.
As Scar can attest, doing television play-by-play really isn't that difficult in comparison to radio. The director and the video dictate what you say. But color is actually more of a challenge. When fans at home can see the action on the screen, you really have to try and bring a fresh perspective to the event. Very few analysts come off well on television without amuch experience in the genre. That's why when someone comes along with a new schtick, everybody else rushes to emulate them.
All that said, I'm guessing the BSTV network isn't paying these guys much. Usually, FSN uses guys they already have on payroll for other responsibilities to fill the on-air positions so they can save the money. Sometimes it really show wile other times they are fortunate to have versatile staf members.
|
|
|
|
Post by SCAR on Jan 25, 2005 18:48:36 GMT -5
I tried to Tivo the game from last night but they didn't show it on the Roanoke channel as promised. I am working on getting a copy of the tape though. I have heard Matt Hogue and I think he is a really good play by play guy. I met Nate Ross yesterday and he seemed like a nice guy. I was a fish out of water last night! I didn't know if I should sit on the bench in a suit, put on my old jersey with the short shorts, or sit in the stands with my face painted red and blue! I ended up sitting on the front row with my boys Jody Chapman and Matt Hildebrand. They both are still in good shape and still play. Let me just say that Ray and I were supposed to be on but the Big South brought in their own Talent. I was upset but what can you do. I think the Big South should hire me anyway. I have been trying for about 5 years now. Kyle Kallander is the commissioner and he knows me well and I have sent him tapes all the time. I don't want to take it personally or think their is a Liberty bias against me but I wish he would give me a chance. Lets start a letter writing campaign!  Of course I am kidding. I am glad LUConn likes us. Thanks for the support. Maybe Coach Ellis will be a little better on tonight's telecast. I won't be able to see it but I will get a copy later from the Big South. Sly Fox, excellent perspective on who gets jobs on TV. It is pretty political I think....The graphics do help pay for the games. As far as the score overlay, our equipment is not compatible with the Big South's graphics equipment so they had to rig up something to get it to work. I think the graphics may have been compressed or something which accounts for the lack of clarity. It was rough on us in the Vines too because the signal was a full 3 seconds later than live time. It gave me a head ache to watch on the screens. Sly did you guys know we have big screens in the Vines so people can watch replays and advertisements and stuff? It's pretty cool. WinthropEagleFan you have to be feeling pretty good right now about your Eagles. Say hello to Coach Marshall for me. He may not be well liked in Lynchburg but he seems like a pretty good guy to me personally. He is a great person to interview I know that. I think we should do more of that kind of stuff at halftime like the Big South does. That was a good idea LUConn. |
|
|
|
Post by eddantes on Jan 25, 2005 23:16:01 GMT -5
Yeah, you can thank me for those screens - they were being used in convocations exclusively before the 2003-04 season, but during a meeting with Dunton and some others prior to that year I said "we have the technology available, why not use it?" Light bulbs went on.
Yep.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Jan 25, 2005 23:30:31 GMT -5
Even the high school football stadiums down here have Jumbotrons, so I'm not that surprised we have the screens. I am surprised they are putting ads up there. That's some progressive thinking from our Athletic Department.
And there absolutely is a Liberty bias in the Big South. But hey, sooner or later they will have to recognize the real talent.
|
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Jan 26, 2005 8:01:23 GMT -5
I just may have make a pilgrammage to Lynchburg. Never got to see a game played in the Vines Ctr, it was just being built when I was there- we still played at Liberty Gym and there were NO jumbotrons ANYWHERE.
|
|
|
|
Post by SCAR on Jan 26, 2005 8:27:24 GMT -5
PAmedic,
you have to come down to a game. It is a real experience especially if you have not seen a game in the Vines. It is a great atmosphere. When Radford comes to town in Feb, it will be wild. Last season we won by 1 point and the students stormed the court because we clinched the regular season title. It was so cool. The students have really come out this year but the community is has not really come out in big numbers yet. I think High Point on Tuesday night will be packed. I can't wait to get back in there. But we have Radford first! Gotta get this one this weekend.
|
|
|
|
Post by eddantes on Jan 26, 2005 10:25:26 GMT -5
Oh, of course there's a bias. I mean, look at the way we get treated during the voting when awards comes around.
My senior year (Dunton's return), we were picked last - in fact, one publication said that anything better than eighth place for Dunton would be an accomplishment. Sure enough, we grabbed the second seed. Who got coach of the year? Winthrop (picked first, finished first but with a pedestrian 11 wins).
That year, Gabe Martin revitalized the team. Who got player of the Year? Torrey Butler from Coastal Carolina - whose team finished seventh. In fact, I e-mailed one of the Big SOuth guys and I asked why Butler got the nod - and he said that he led the conference in scoring. Yeah, by like 1 point over Gabe. And his team was in seventh. I did not receive a response.
And you guys know what happened with last year's tournament MVP trophy, right?
|
|
|
|
Post by gest2b on Jan 26, 2005 10:34:40 GMT -5
Interesting how in last season, Lundy pulled the same thing as Dunton's first year...and didn't he win coach of the year? Dunton become conf champs in 2 years, nuthin.
|
|
|
|
Post by LUconn on Jan 26, 2005 11:12:09 GMT -5
I actually think BSC's coach got the COY nod last year. I guess it was their way of saying sorry you can't be in the tourney even though you tied for 1st.
I emailed the Big South about the MVP award last year asking how that happened and they said it was a poor system they used. It had something to do with voting in each individual game. They said Danny had accumulated so many votes in the games before the championship that nobody could overcome him in the final game. The system was quickly changed for the women's tourney.
|
|
|
|
Post by SCAR on Jan 26, 2005 12:25:34 GMT -5
Just my opinion but voting in the Big South has a history of screwing LU over. Peter Aluma never won a regular season MVP. Dunton definitely deserved some recognition for the past couple of years and Gabe Martin has been runner up on the MVP voting 2 years straight. Throw in the Larry Blair MVP voting and it is amazing how we get overlooked. As far as the voting system, I have yet to meet anyone who actually cast a vote in last year's Tournament. I was on Press row and was never asked to vote. I don't know how Gathings could have gotten more votes than Larry in any of the games. Take a look at this: Gathings scored something like 15, 16 and 7 in his 3 games. Larry scored 11, 23, and 29. How could he get less votes than Danny Gathings? I don't know if you guys know this but Gathings came up to Liberty in April and in a ceremony during chapel, presented Blair with the Big South MVP trophy. It was on our website but the Big South did not talk about it at all nor do they honor it. Gathings is still listed in the record books. Once the NCAA gave Gathings an All American sportsmanship award, the Big South put the gesture on its website. Before that it was their dirty little secret. This is all public record for those of you that might be thinking I am ruining my chance at ever working for the Big South Television Network (Do I really have a chance?). So yes there is a Liberty bias I think.
|
|
Of course I am kidding. I am glad LUConn likes us. Thanks for the support. Maybe Coach Ellis will be a little better on tonight's telecast. I won't be able to see it but I will get a copy later from the Big South. Sly Fox, excellent perspective on who gets jobs on TV. It is pretty political I think....The graphics do help pay for the games. As far as the score overlay, our equipment is not compatible with the Big South's graphics equipment so they had to rig up something to get it to work. I think the graphics may have been compressed or something which accounts for the lack of clarity. It was rough on us in the Vines too because the signal was a full 3 seconds later than live time. It gave me a head ache to watch on the screens. Sly did you guys know we have big screens in the Vines so people can watch replays and advertisements and stuff? It's pretty cool. WinthropEagleFan you have to be feeling pretty good right now about your Eagles. Say hello to Coach Marshall for me. He may not be well liked in Lynchburg but he seems like a pretty good guy to me personally. He is a great person to interview I know that. I think we should do more of that kind of stuff at halftime like the Big South does. That was a good idea LUConn.