Back in the Day

I decided to start a new feature on the blog. As often as I can, I plan to try and interview current or former coaches and athletes. I will of course try to ask questions that are slightly different from the run of the mill stuff you hear every day.

I thought it was only fitting to start with one of my favorite Liberty Flames basketball players back in the day. I was in school, and went to pretty much every game in the old Multi-Purpose Building (now the Schilling Center). There was a scrappy guard named Tim Scarborough that was always entertaining. Tim laced up the sneakers for LU from 1986 through 1990.

My plan was to give you a bunch of facts and stats on Tim before the interview portion, but Tim's answers were much more entertaining.

Knucklehead: So, I have to start with the first question every LU athlete gets asked at one time or another. Why LU?

Tim Scarborough: Well I wanted to play at a Christian School since I had been in a Christian education environment since 3rd grade. I also wanted to play division 1 and stay close to Philly so Liberty made the most since. Since they were moving to the division 1 level I figured I would get my chance. I wasn’t heavily recruited but I also had an opportunity to walk on at Michigan State. I think I made the right choice walking on at Liberty. I received a full ride after just 1 semester.

KH: What do you see as your greatest asset as a player?

TS: I was a very good stand still shooter actually. That is what caught coach Meyer’s eye in practice. I actually shot 44% from 3 my Junior year but I didn’t take enough to be ranked in the record books.

KH: What about your favorite moment in an LU Uniform?

TS: Well there is this dunk I did on ESPN that is now on YouTube that I haven’t stopped talking about since I did it all those years ago lol (http://tinyurl.com/b6s5c6), but my most memorable moment is my sophomore year when I really started getting significant playing time and I got a skip pass from a teammate and I shot a 3 that was all net. It sounds like a little thing but as soon as I shot it I could feel our crowd swelling with excitement and when it went in, wow what a rush!

KH: Name 1 thing playing college basketball did to impact you the most as a person.

TS: Gave me bad knees lol. No seriously I would say it made me understand what it is to really compete. It also taught me teamwork and it gave me confidence to do many other things in life because I was told coming out of HS that I wasn’t a division 1 player but I did it and that has always made me pursue things even when people think I can’t do it.

KH: What current LU player reminds you most of Tim Scarborough as a player?

TS: Actually James Spencer #4. He is a good person 1st of all but he is a guy that is good enough to play but for whatever reason didn’t have a lot of opportunities to play college ball. He is a walk-on like me and as a sophomore is getting more and more minutes each game and makes the most of them. He actually did my signature move the other night too. It was kind of eery because I don’t think he ever saw me play other than the dunk on youtube. Did I tell you about that? LOL.

KH: What was it like as a player in the Shilling center getting pelted with Toilet paper after the first basket of each game?

TS: Those were the days man. That was also a tradition at the old Palestra in Philly during the “Big 5” college basketball days with St Joes, Villanova, Temple, Penn and LaSalle. So when I came to Liberty and they did it, it made me feel right at home. I was sad when the NCAA banned that celebration during my sophomore year.

KH: Which is more enjoyable to you: Playing College Hoops or Being a College Hoops Color Commentator?

TS: Being a commentator. Although almost every night for the past year or so I seem to dream that I am playing basketball in some sort of setting that I have been in before like HS or college or sometimes I am a pro. It is kind of weird because when I am awake I really don’t miss playing anymore. Being on TV and calling college games is the most fun thing I have ever done and I hope that comes across to the audience when I am doing the games.

KH: I know you go around the country watching a ton of College Hoops. What arena is your favorite to watch a game in?

TS: I went to see former Liberty Head coach Jeff Meyer when he was on staff at Indiana and I can honestly say the atmosphere in Assembly Hall was incredible. That building is so much nicer in person than on TV. Plus former Liberty player Eric Gordon SR had his son Eric JR on the team and of course he was an All-American and a 1st round NBA draft pick. What a night though.

KH: Who is the best College Basketball player you have ever seen that never became a household name?

TS: My former teammate Bailey Alston. He was unstoppable. He averaged 25 ppg for his career and scored over 2000 points in just 3 seasons at Liberty. He and I had similar skills though. I was a better perimeter shooter and ball handler but boy he could get to the hoop on anyone.

KH: What is your favorite attribute of the current LU Flames Men's Basketball team?

TS: Their poise. With 7 freshmen they seem to never panic and are in every game. They give themselves a chance to win almost every game.

KH: Give me a quick preview of your next LU Men's Game?

TS: Winthrop is the defending big south champion but they are not your father’s Winthrop Eagles. Liberty dropped a close one down in Rock Hill back on Jan 3 which was actually their 1st division 1 win of the season. Liberty had their chances down the stretch too. I think the Flames will bounce back in this one and win going away.

Thanks Tim for the fun interview. Now I'm all jazzed up for that game with Winthrop this Saturday in the Vines.

(Buy the way: Scarborough amassed 616 points and 194 assists in just 87 games as a Flame.)

That's what is rolling around in the dome for now.