An article I'll pass along to some one I highly respect:
Posted on Wed, Feb. 04, 2004
Progress slow for Shocker freshman
Guard Adam Liberty isn't providing the scoring or ballhandling expected.
BY ADAM KNAPP
The Wichita Eagle
NORMAL, Ill. - In a season when opposing freshmen have emerged to burn Wichita State -- Nick Grant from Drake, Brooks McKowen from Northern Iowa, Ken Tutt and Caleb Green from Oral Roberts -- the Shockers' freshman class has been quiet.
Actually, only one freshman is playing for WSU. It's fair to say that the Shockers expected more from Adam Liberty.
"I think Adam's been content with taking a back seat on this team," Shocker coach Mark Turgeon. "He hasn't really tried to step up."
Before the season, Turgeon predicted Liberty would end his career as a 1,000-point scorer. Going into tonight's game at Illinois State, Liberty has 33 points.
And while it is true that scoring isn't supposed to be a priority for Liberty on a team of proven upperclassmen, he was supposed to be a good enough point guard to push Fridge Holman for a starting spot.
Instead, he's averaging 16.5 minutes, second-lowest among the Shockers in the nine-man rotation.
While Holman has missed the last three games with a calf injury, it's been Matt Clark who has moved over from shooting guard to start at the point.
In those three games, Liberty has come off the bench to miss all five of his shots, with three assists and five turnovers.
"I do think I should pick up my level of play since (Holman) got hurt," Liberty said. "And I've been trying to be more aggressive. I want to build the team up, but my confidence isn't there. I'm not hitting the shots I normally do."
Liberty is shooting 36.8 percent. He hasn't made a three-pointer in more than two months. He's averaging 1.7 points, and has scored more than four points once.
The lack of scoring could be overlooked if Liberty's passing and ballhandling were as good as advertised. But four teammates have more than Liberty's 32 assists, and he has 21 turnovers.
Turgeon does say Liberty's practices have been better lately, even if the games don't reflect it. Liberty said he's getting plenty of advice and encouragement from Holman, a senior whose 5.6 assists per game lead the Missouri Valley Conference.
"He just keeps telling me to be aggressive on the offensive end," Liberty said. "That's mostly it. He's positive all the time. I need to get my team involved more. I think I'm playing all right defensive-wise, but I need to pick up my offense."
Turgeon said he'd better, if he wants to play more. With an incoming signing class that includes guards Sean Ogirri and Matt Brauer, it's not a done deal that Liberty will inherit that starting point guard spot when Holman and Clark are gone next season.
"He's got the inside track because he's here now," Turgeon said. "But he's had all kinds of opportunities to show what he's made of this year.
"Adam's definitely talented, but he's not in high school anymore. I don't think he has to score a lot, but he needs to get shots for other players. He needs to stop turning the ball over. I just want him to play better."
