Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

#124 Liberty Flames

Big South

 2003-04: 18-15, 12-4, 2^nd  

2003-04 postseason: NCAA

By Joel Welser

The Flames prepared themselves well for the Big South season with a brutal non-conference schedule last year.  They played at Duke, Iowa State and Arizona.  They hosted Seton Hall and Miami (OH).  They were ready to dominate their conference regular season and tournament, and they did just that, going 12-4 and having a relatively easy time in the Big South Tournament.  The season culminated in a loss in the first round to top-seeded St. Joe’s.  A lot of seniors have graduated but coach Randy Dunton will have this team ready to play once again by the time March rolls around.

Who’s Out: Gabe Martin, Ryan Mantlo, Louvon Sneed, Glyn Turner and Jason Sarchet all saw decent minutes last year with the Flames.  Martin led the team with nearly 14 points per game and 7.4 rebounds. 

Who’s In: Three starters return and the other two starting jobs are up for grabs and some of the incoming players will compete for those vacancies.  Junior College transfer Rashad Robinson may prove to be the cream of this years crop.  Robinson is 6-8 and 250 pounds, which will help the depleted frontcourt of Liberty.  Forward Rell Porter was named first-team all-state in Texas his senior year of high school, scoring 25.4 points and grabbing 9.2 rebounds per game.  Russell Monroe will also add to the depth of the frontcourt.  The 6-10 center might not see too many minutes early in his career but is another big body to eat up some minutes.  Guards Joe Fulp and Evan Risher could see some minutes off the bench.

Who to Watch: Liberty’s top returning scorers were freshmen last year in Larry Blair and David Dees, but the key to the Flames this year will be the senior leadership.  Brian Woodson is a true point guard if there ever was one.  He’ll think pass first and second.  He only scored 5.4 points per game last year and that number shouldn’t get any higher this year.  He just doesn’t have an outside shot.  Woodson averaged 4.7 assists per game in 2003-2004 and will play that role again for his senior campaign.  He is 6-3 and has the ability to see over people to make the passes.  The only problem is that Woodson will take a few too many unnecessary chances while passing.  Last year he had 3.3 turnovers per game.  The assist to turnover ratio needs to be better if the Flames plan on winning the Big South.

Projected Conference Rank: It might take time with all the new faces for things to come around in Lynchburg.  High Point, Winthrop and Birmingham-Southern can give Liberty some trouble, but the Flames should be dancing again this year.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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