#227 R.P.I. Liberty @ #132 R.P.I. Virginia Tech:
Liberty is 2-o right now, although not for long, as this more accurately resembles the 11-21 squad of last season; at least to me. Liberty will have played 3 games in 5 nights by the time this one tips off, and despite having worked little ole D-1-double-something in-City rival Randolph College (69-45) and a more respectable win vs. authentically D-1 Delaware (61-55) …despite all of this, it is tough to envision this game, being, well, much of a game.
Liberty has some Association ‘esque fatigue in tow to go with not a lot of offense; and although the same could be said of offensively challenged Virginia Tech, it won’t take a whole helluva alotta points to extinguish these Flames. Not after 11 different people left last years squad for one reason or another.
Virginia Tech goes buzzing right along, the only question is …by just how much?
Liberty Backcourt: (returning starters=0)
Denmark native Peter Moller is an almost 21 year old freshman starting Guard in a third year body at 6’4” and 189 chiseled lbs. Moller is a pure defender and distributor on the Combo-G spot. He is said to be prone to scoring outbursts overseas from the outside and he was the M.v.p. of the Nordic Championship last year –whatever that means.
Also starting in the Flames backcourt is Joe Retic. Joe is an Owens Community College transfer from the Buckeye state. Joe is a defensive stopper by trade and the book in him says he can defend three positions having been an undersized S/F (Small-Forward) in high school. Joes leads Liberty with nearly 5 apg (assists per game) although the range on his jumper is said to be limited at this time.
Liberty Frontcourt: (starters back=1)
Poland native one #12, the 6’9” 220 lb. senior year P/F Tomasz Gielo is the sharpshooting stretch-Forward class of the Flames this campaign; and prolly the one Flame who could help light things up at the Tech practices. Tomasz -in addition to having a lady-killer first name, is team captain; to go with his will get carded until he turns 30 looks- is averaging19 points and 10 boards on 44% from beyond the arc.
Fellow starting 6’9” 220 lb. Power-Forward Andrew Smith is known as “the human highlight reel” as he and Dominique Wilkens -from whence the nickname was absconded- will dunk on you and they will dunk hard. Don’t believe me just ask the SportsCenter Top-10 plays where Smith and his 38” vertical routinely debuted last year. Good handles, improved pulmonary conditioning, and increased range on his J are part of the pre-season guide to #11’s senior year resume`, and do keep on eye on #11 in the open-court. This kid is a sleeper pick to win the ESPN dunk contest at the end of the year; even if he is off to a chilly start to this season from the floor.
After Smith and Mister Szczecin Poland however, things begin to thin over at Liberty and they begin to thin in a hurry. Ron Burgundy savvy San Deigo State transfer James Johnson starts upfront as well, this after having transferred from hooVa 4 years ago to begin with. This Johnson comes up with 8.5 ppg with 5.5 boards on 61% shooting; which does not suck. Nor does this Johonson’s size at 6’11” and 244 fifth year senor pounds. (READER’s Note: this does afford Liberty a mild size advantage upfront)
Liberty Bench: (depth=2)
Did know the way to San Jose (State), well, at least prior to transferring in from the same, one David Andoh of Montreal fame is chipping in with a second best 9.5 ppg and 6.5 boards with 1.5 swats off the bench; which ain’t bad 6’7” 220 lb. help if you can find it. Likewise anteing up from the pine is utility Guard A.c. Reid of Texas fame. If nothing else A.c. does enjoy play right away size at 6’5” and a slick looking 191 lbs. A.c. is known for his range and his on court demeanor which has the look and feel of a real live roughen indeed. 8 ppg, 3 boards and a couple of dimes as an 18 year old sub’ is not hurting anything; either.
There are as many as five other Flames who have seen spot minutes thus far this season; nothing remarkable to see here.
Loading ...Illation, conclusion (s) and OPT digits:
Coach Layer led the 2012-13 Liberty team to a surprise Big South championship and an NCAA bid with a negative or 15-20 record. Clearly one of the better Cinderella runs in recent NC2A made-for-TV history.
However, this current ’14-2015 construct is made up of “transfers, freshmen and a few familiar faces” according to my preview magazine. Try as they might, that’s typically not code for a successful season over in in-state Lynchburg Virginia. In the very same preview, coach Layer was quoted as calling this “…is a fresh start”. Well, yah; that’s one way to put it, be that way layered in innuendo, admission or worse. As another way to put it would be to say “…gone are virtually 50 points worth of starting scoring from last years club.” Or rather, the direct way to put it is to say that all these transfers and freshman need to flourish; and they need to flourish right away.
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Yes, I know it is too early to say this, however, this speaks to something as well | as after the opening week of D-1 play; guess whose coming to dinner ranked a parsimonious 4th best in defensive FG percentage allowed (27.7%)?
This is a stingy, stinging worker-bee Virginia Tech men’s basketball team men. Yes, I know, it may be short on pretty, it may be short on style points and it may even wind up being short on O –or scoring, period. Nevertheless, this is a Smith Barney or lunchpail crew that gets things done the “old fashioned way……….they earn it.”
Liberty on the other hand is a pretty defensive oriented program as well under coach Layer. So although our beloved Hokies will win, this one will be short on possession based highlights and it could very well be short on scoring overall.
As although Liberty is picked penultimate to last or last outright last via most pre-season wraps, this set of physically strong Flame’s seems to match-up better down-low vs. Virginia Tech than one would have expected.
(82% confidence interval)
Virginia Tech=71, Liberty=55
“LETS GO!”
“Hokies!”
bourbonstreet**