matt86

Congrats to Liberty, they proved last night to be the best team in the state. Liberty's quickness was the difference. Both these teams should be repeat (in Liberty's case) and 5-peat champs (BA) come March.

First things first, this will be an unbelievable game - arguably the state's two best teams. All I've heard about this game is Liberty's schedule, strength of opponents, etc. I'll use the argument that Liberty fans have made to argue against them. Last year Mitchell played a "national schedule" must like BA did last year and Liberty this year. As we all know, Liberty outplayed and outcoached the much more "individually talented" Mitchell team playing more as team. Next, we can all agree that BA was incredible last year with Brandan and Josh, but having watched BA a couple of times last year I would say that their "team concept" was basically Brandan and Josh (no one can argue with that, as Brandan and Josh scored over half their points each game), with everyone else playing supporting roles. This year's team is much like Liberty's team last year - no real superstar, just a bunch of guys playing for each other, playing better team basketball than last year. All that to say, opponents and strength of schedule pretty much mean nothing in this game because all of the players in this game will have played against unbelievable competition - and I would argue that these BA players have played better competition the past two years (Wayne Ellington, Gerald Henderson, Jamie Graham, Kemp and Chism, etc., and Brandan and Josh every day). Like someone said earlier, playing at Liberty isn't anything new to these guys, they've played in much more hostile environments. It will be a great game with two great teams.

People seem to forget that all omnipotent Liberty is playing the 4 time defending state champs. BA is no gimme like everyone is saying.

USJ @ Haywood - rescheduled for Monday night.

In this game, the stars will probably get theirs - Longs, Sain, Wright, Brown, but it will be the other guys that will be the factor - BA has Garrett, Stallings (lights out shooter), Kottas - very underrated pg, McHaney - soph backup post, Murphy and Besch. But, here's the deal, while we as fans are arguing - the coaches (Dexter and Lyle), know what's going on. Both have said time and again, it's about the final goal, the state championship. Neither team will face this quality of opponent in the post season. This only helps them to achieve their major goal - the gold ball. So while one team may beat another, it really serves no major purpose. But it sure will be fun to watch.

I forgot about Mitchell, but I would say that Haywood and White Station are down this year as well (while they are still good - they're not up to the usual standards of those schools). I agree the game could go either way, any outcome wouldn't surprise me - even BA winning by double digits. In a game like this, with as much talent and good coaching on both sides, anything can happen.

Thanks, really. That's what I'm talking about. I know the Long brothers are great, and so is Sain, who else do they have? Those are the three you really hear the most about.

What factors? I'm not saying that because I don't think they have any, I do think they have great players, I really want to know. Nebutyn? Won't discuss the game, only lob insults and arrogance, I would actually talk about how these teams match up, but all I hear is how great liberty is, so someone say why they are, like actual players, stats, etc.

Riiiiiight. So we've been reduced to name calling, typical. You can't engage in an a simple educated discussion, so you call me sensitive and a girl after I asked you a simple question. I see how it works. Backing it up with what? One state championship? Who has Liberty played outside of the Arby's and the City of the Palms that makes them so great? Camden? The one elite Tennessee team they played, they got beat. So, yeah, we will see Feb 5th. Have you even seen BA play this year? My guess is no, since the Jackson transit system doesn't leave Madison County. I have seen both BA and Liberty play this year, both are great teams, probably the best two in TN besides Raleigh-Egypt (who Liberty lost to), believe me, it won't be a blowout.

Agreed. It's one of the premier tournaments in the southeast every year.

The arby's is an invitational tournament. The only team that is in it every year is Science Hill. I don't think they've ever invited the same team two years in a row. Wright and Brown will be tough for the Crusaders to handle.

Do you have anything to make you think this? Or is this just another ignorant, arrogant post?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but they're doing a pretty good job right now without Wright and Bone (17-1 I think). You completely missed the point. The guys that ARE playing for BA right now - Kottas, Wright, Brown, Garrett, Stallings, etc., are the same guys that played in (and won) the City of the Palms, the Arbys (won this also), played Shelbyville (lost this one by 1), I'll keep going if you want me to, etc. etc (remember they also played against Wright and Bone every day in practice for 3 years). They've played against more talented teams than Liberty, so to say the players and coaches have no idea what they're in for against Liberty is incorrect. I'm not saying BA will win - I have no idea who will - it will be a great game. I do know that BA will not get blown out like everyone on here is saying. They will be the most prepared, best coached team Liberty has seen thus far.

Sorry I left one "we" out, last I checked I didn't think Coach T was being checked by such astute grammar scholars as yourself. If that's the only reply you have, I think I rest my case. While Liberty is a great team, I don't think that having one and half pretty good seasons counts them as Tennessee's greatest team, maybe West Tennessee's (not including Memphis).

So we're going to play the game of they played so and so and barely won, and we beat so and so by 30 so we'll automatically win. That's always a solid form of rhetoric. Why are even playing the game, it's obvious to everyone that Liberty is unbeatable, flawless, and has no weaknesses, they can't be beat, it's futile. Liberty is the God's gift to Tennessee basketball. There's a reason why the games are played.

Um, I think these kids have seen Liberty's style of play - this is the same team, minus Wright and Bone, that won the Arby's and City of Palms last year - my point is all these kids have played against these style teams and practiced against the freshman of the year in the ACC for a few years. They also just beat the #2 AAA team - Whites Creek which has a very similar style of play. So, please keep saying they'll get blown out, the eagles thrive in this kind of situation.

No one is saying he's Michael Jordan - he's far from it. But there was the comment thrown around that he was tired or fatigued, he may have been. But my point was not that he was locked down, but that BA made him work, and fatigue is not an excuse.

Great win by BA. I think WC will go far in the post season, they've got great guard play (Jamie is a great player), having the big kid back will help too. But I too agree with fan6 - great players find a way no matter the circumstances - anyone remember Michael Jordan in the 1997 NBA finals vs. Utah? Game 5 he scored 38 points while battling the flu and they won 90-88 - Scottie Pippen literally had to carry him off the floor at the end - so I think he may have been a bit fatigued. So I agree, while Jamie is a great talent - BA's defense had some to do with is "fatigue". Remeber what Vince Lombardi said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all".

I think it's early for both teams. Both, of course, are not nearly where they were last year. Shelbyville is athletic, but not as skilled as they were last year at the guards. I think they can compete for the top spot in their district and their region. Good luck to them, I hope they do well.

Brentwood Academy opened up their defense of 4 straight titles with a convincing 69-49 win over Shelbyville. Brandon Brown had 20, Brian Wright 16, John Garrett 13. Shelbyville was led by Michael France with 18, and Emmanuel Andrews with 11. Congratulations Coach Husband on your first win.

Congrats to Coach Flatt and the rest of the eagles. It's been a long time coming. Great game between two outstanding and classy teams. Now let's go get two more of the round gold balls this year. "Through strife and toil we will prevail, united we will be, we pledge our honor pround and strong......"

Brentwood Academy is also playing in it.

Thanks for stereotyping USJ - every single USJ fan, student, parent, and faculty member is like this and thinks like this.

Colt64 please don't ever post anything ever again about USJ whether it's for or against (certainly not for), this post was extremely distasteful, rude and disgusting. Everyone had pretty much let the USJ-Milan issue die, and for no reason you decided to be cute. Please don't ever do that again.

I'm not going to get even close to touching that one. You just lobbed a softball begging some USJ people to get on here and get it all started again.