LIBERTY BLOG: Sanders out for ODU game

Bad news for the Flames heading into today's BracketBuster matchup with Old Dominion. Point guard Jesse Sanders turned his ankle in practice earlier this week and is out for today's game. He's in streetclothes wearing a protective walking boot, and he just limped past me here on press row and was walking very gingerly on the ankle.

Talked to assistant coach Brad Soucie, who said Austin Smith will take Sanders' spot in the starting lineup. Look for Seth Curry to run the point today, with Johnny Stephene providing help as well.

Sanders' role on this team is well documented. The Flames just haven't played well this year when Sanders has been on the bench for long stretches. But Liberty needs him healthy for next week's games against VMI and Radford, the top two teams in the Big South.

Some other quick hitters:

* Sportswriters are creatures of habit, and this 11 a.m. start is just brutal, especially considering I left at 6:15 a.m. for the drive over to Norfolk. I'm sure it's wreaking havoc on the players too, seeing as they're creatures of habit. In the Big South, there aren't a lot of afternoon tips, save for 1 p.m. starts at VMI and the occasional 2 or 4 p.m. tip at Coastal or UNC Asheville. For most 7 p.m. games, there's a late morning shootaround, a pre-game meal around 3, and warmups begin around 5:30. I'm sure the 7:30 a.m. pre-game meal was a shock to the system for both teams, though the CAA plays more noon games than the Big South does.

* Speaking of Seth Curry, for those watching on ESPNU today, there will be a Curry brothers lovefest at halftime. Got this e-mail from ESPN yesterday:

Order up some ESPNU BracketBusters college basketball with extra spice Saturday, Feb. 21, when the hottest brothers in hoops hit the court simultaneously — Seth Curry and Liberty against Old Dominion at 11 a.m. on ESPNU, and Stephen Curry and Davidson against No. 22 Butler at noon on ESPN and ESPN360.com.

ESPN will showcase the Curry family — including father and former NBA star Dell Curry – across multiple platforms Saturday leading up to and throughout the ESPNU BracketBusters games, starting with a Friday conversation on SportsCenter with Stephen. Then Saturday: Campus Connection pieces on ESPNU in which students from the brothers’ respective schools will interview the Currys (Stephen will discuss Seth’s season at Liberty while Seth analyzes Stephen’s season at Davidson); A halftime piece on ESPNU: “Famous Families in Sports,” showcasing the brothers and their father. On ESPN.com, Stephen A. Smith talks with Dell, Stephen and Seth; ESPN’s College GameDay Driven by State Farm will include highlights from Seth’s game and pre-game for Stephen. On Friday at 5 p.m., ESPN Classic airs the 1996 Toronto Raptors/Charlotte Hornets NBA game featuring Dell Curry.

* 30 minutes before tip time and this place is empty. I would expect a late-arriving crowd, considering the ridiculously early tip time.

* ODU is another team that will throw a lot of size at Liberty, but that hasn't fazed the Flames this season, save for Artsiom Parakhouski's rampage against Liberty in late January.

* ODU is holding opponents to 61.5 points per game. Liberty is scoring 76.2. The Monarchs have been strong against opposing 3-point shooters, holding teams to 33.8 percent from long range. If Liberty can't get going from long range, it's going to be a long night ... er afternoon ... er morning.

* Crucial XM jam of the morning: Bill Withers' "Use Me," which is featured in Season 1 of The Wire, the greatest show in the history of television.

That's it for now.