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LOCATION: Lynchburg, VA
CONFERENCE: Big South
LAST SEASON: 4-23 (.148)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 0-10 (6th)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 2/3
NICKNAME: Flames
COLORS: Red, White & Blue
HOMECOURT: Vines Center (9,000)
COACH: Mel Hankinson (Indiana-Pa. '65)
record at school 4-23 (1 year)
career record 329-299 (22 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Otis Hughley (Livingston '87)
Chad Hankinson (West Virginia '94)
Ty Nichols (Cal State-San Marcos '95)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 12-17-23-11-4
RPI (last 5 years) 188-180-115-282-310
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference first round.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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It was about this time last year that Mel Hankinson warned Liberty fans not to have unrealistic expectations. He was embarking on his first year as Liberty's head coach, having just taken the job in June, and was bringing in nine new players. If that wasn't enough, he was implementing a brand new system. Maybe Hankinson knew what was coming. Maybe he knew it was going to take more than one year to get the program back on its feet. But a 4-23 season? "We were dealt a hand we had to play out, and we did with all the dignity we could muster," said Hankinson, who enters this season with only one player (6-7 junior forward Nathan Day) he didn't bring into the program. "Our focus last year was primarily on upgrading the talent level, and we never took our eyes off that focus."
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B BENCH/DEPTH C-
FRONTCOURT C+ INTANGIBLES C
After last season's disaster, getting into double figures in victories would be an accomplishment for the Flames. Their only victories last season came against East Stroudsburg, Tusculum, Elon and High Point. There are no grandiose visions again this season. It's probably still too early in the game, but nobody at Jerry Falwell's school wants to settle for less than a winning season. If everything comes together, coach Mel Hankinson isn't ruling out a run for the title. "We unquestionably have as good, if not the best, talent in the league," he said. "Now we have to see how that comes together." One thing's for sure. There should be a better understanding of Hankinson's system the second time around for returnees like Delawn Grandison, Jamaal Bennett, Nathan Day and Chris Caldwell. If the W-troop of transfers emerges Carl Williams, Beau Wallace, David Watson and Maurice Watkins Liberty could easily contend for an upper-echelon finish in the conference. |
Once again, Liberty will have more newcomers than returnees this season. There are 10 new names on the roster, including four junior college transfers and two more transfers from other Division I schools. Having a full year to recruit obviously came in handy. This year's incoming class has been ranked among the top 35 recruiting classes in the country by two publications. "We were able to strengthen ourselves at each position," Hankinson said. "It's unusual that you're able to recruit two players at each spot. We have excellent size, great quickness and outstanding athleticism. We go from an impossible situation to where it is possible for us to compete for the Big South Conference championship." In addition to the newcomers, the core of last season's team is back 6-1 sophomore guard Jamaal Bennett (9.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 54 assists, 37 three-pointers), 6-5 senior forward Delawn Grandison (16.0 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 51 steals) and Day (8.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 24 blocked shots). Also, 6-1 sophomore guard Chris Caldwell is returning after averaging 8.6 points and dishing out 51 assists last season in a reserve role. A few of the returnees will be switching positions. Bennett will move to the shooting-guard position, and the Flames will give Caldwell every opportunity to win the point-guard job. Both players were chosen to the Big South's All-Rookie team last season and both can score. Bennett erupted for 35 points in the first-round tournament loss to UNC Asheville. Caldwell scored in double figures in nine of his last 13 games. Between them, they made 63 three-point shots. The main cog in the Liberty offense will again be the 220-pound Grandison, who looks like an NFL tight end. The hulking Canadian was a second-team All-Big South selection last season and finished among the league's leaders in scoring, rebounding, steals and free throws made (109). "He just finds a way to score," said Chad Hankinson, Mel's son and a Liberty assistant coach. "He's probably not great at anything. He just scores. He's developed good post moves. He's not a great shooter, but he will make big shots." Grandison, who played out of position last season at power forward, will shift to the small-forward spot this season. Day, who started in 15 of the 27 games last season, will move from center to power forward. He is the Flames' resident warrior and a relentless defender. He also improved his jump shot over the summer. One of the things the Liberty staff is most encouraged about is the defensive potential of this team. Carl Williams, a transfer from West Virginia, looms as the best defender and the most dynamic athlete on the team. A 6-0 senior, Williams could play either shooting guard or small forward. Williams was a junior college transfer at West Virginia, but got caught up in the numbers game there. "He would have been one of the best, if not the best, defender in the Big East Conference had he stayed at West Virginia," Mel Hankinson said. Two junior college newcomers expected to contribute in the backcourt are 6-2 junior Beau Wallace of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and 6-1 junior Maurice Watkins of Florida Community College in Jacksonville. Wallace is more of a point guard who started every game last season and all but two his first season at junior college. Watkins was selected as one of the top junior college players in Florida after averaging 15.6 points and 5.5 rebounds last season. Maurice Montague, a 6-5 freshman from El Paso, Texas, split time among point guard, shooting guard and small forward in high school. As a senior at Andrews High School, he had three games with 30 or more points. Providing depth in the backcourt will be 5-9 sophomore Eric Johnson, a transfer from Tennessee-Martin. Johnson, a walk-on, will become eligible in December. Rob Attaway, a 6-5 freshman from Flower Mound, Texas, will back up Grandison at small forward. Attaway was the Christian Athlete of the Year in the state of Texas, as well as a National Merit Scholar finalist. He averaged 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds as a senior at Marcus High School. On the interior, the Flames will have four newcomers from which to choose. It would have been five, but heralded 6-9, 260-pound center Chip Richmond of Memphis, Tenn., didn't get through the NCAA clearinghouse and will attend Collin County (Texas) Community College. David Watson, a 6-9 junior center from Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist Junior College, has a chance to be a defensive specialist. The Liberty coaches thought he was the best junior college defensive center they saw last year. "He's ready to play right now, having played 60 games of college basketball," Chad Hankinson said. "His goal is to be the best defensive player in the Big South." Potential power forwards are 6-9 junior Kenneth Anaebonam of Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Anaebonam, originally from Nigeria, signed with Liberty in 1997 but detoured through Three Rivers. His forte is rebounding. Louvon Sneed is a 6-7 freshman from Jersey City, N.J. He played for Bob Hurley at talent-rich St. Anthony's High School. A 230-pound bruiser, Sneed is extremely versatile, but needs to improve his foot speed to be successful at the Division I level. "I think there's some intimidation there," Mel Hankinson said. Perhaps the best athlete of the freshmen is 6-7 Phillip Ward of Houston. He has a 38-inch vertical leap and was chosen Houston's Class 3A private school player of the year while starring for Houston Christian. If Ward improves his shooting, he could play small forward.
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