Liberty MBB notes: Gordon turning heads at practice

Liberty’s men’s basketball roster features 11 freshmen and sophomores, so there’s bound to be a newcomer who will make an immediate impact for the Flames this season.

Pressed on the issue, both point guard Jesse Sanders and forward Tyler Baker offered the same answer -- Evan Gordon.

The freshman shooting guard, who is the younger brother of Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, has played so well during the first two weeks of practice that if the season started today, he would be in the starting lineup, LU coach Dale Layer said.

“He’s not too flashy,” Sanders said. “He’s solid. He’s a really good defender. His best quality right now is probably his on-ball defense.”

Plenty can change between now and the Nov. 13 opener in Fairfax against George Mason, but Layer said the current starting lineup would feature Gordon, Sanders, Baker, Kyle Ohman and David Minaya. Jeremy Anderson, Johnny Stephene and Carter McMasters would be the first players off the bench.

Offensive differences

Liberty will run a similar offensive system to last season, but there will be one noticeable change. The Flames will try to get a post touch on most possessions before working the ball back outside for a shot. Last year, the Flames used a five-guard lineup most nights and a lot of the outside shots came from penetration from the guards, who would kick outside to an open shooter.

Layer wants to involve the post players more in the offense this season, since he has a few big men at his disposal.

“He wants to get in the paint and kick out,” Sanders said. “This year, we’re still not a post-presence team. But we’ve got a little more size, so we want to try to get a little more balanced attack.”

Healthy Baker

The last time Baker was able to string together weeks upon weeks of healthy practices, he was still in high school in Albuquerque, N.M.

Baker, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been able to avoid the ankle and foot injuries that have marred his Liberty career, and he’s been on the floor for every practice so far.

“I’m really thankful to be able to play and not hit up the training room before and after practice,” Baker said. “I still wish I had those years back, but I’m thankful I get to play.”

Anderson getting closer

Anderson hasn’t played for the Flames since the end of the 2007-08 season, as a foot injury cost him the entire season last year. He’s not quite 100 percent yet, Layer said, but Anderson has been participating in four or five of the six practices each week.

Anderson was on the Big South’s all-freshman team two seasons ago and quickly became one of the conference’s most dangerous long-range shooters, hitting on 39.3 percent of his 3-point attempts.

“The stuff that people don’t see from the outside is that he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with in my life,” Sanders said. “He’s going to run every sprint and do every drill and know his scout every time. He’s kind of a coach’s dream. He’s always going to go harder and bring someone along with him.”

Stephene surgery

Stephene underwent arthroscopic surgery three weeks ago to remove some loose cartilage from his knee.

Layer said Stephene should be ready to resume practicing next week.

-- Chris Lang