[Sly Fox]

Liberty - 65
UNCA - 77
Final

[Guest]

Rebuilding or not. Young, or not. This is embarrassing--and I was one of the coach's biggest supporters during the pre-conference schedule. Finishing near the bottom can happen, but finishing AT the bottom and not even making the Big South tournament is abyssmal.

Our expectations continue to drop for this team as the year continues. It used to be wait until the conference play begins, but to only have one D1 win so far this year is indeed embarassing. I am sure everyone is trying hard, but he results are just not there. It is almost like football season never ended. (Looking forward to football next year though, things are really looking up).

[Hold My Own]

Rebuilding or not. Young, or not. This is embarrassing--and I was one of the coach's biggest supporters during the pre-conference schedule. Finishing near the bottom can happen, but finishing AT the bottom and not even making the Big South tournament is abyssmal.

Our expectations continue to drop for this team as the year continues. It used to be wait until the conference play begins, but to only have one D1 win so far this year is indeed embarassing. I am sure everyone is trying hard, but he results are just not there. It is almost like football season never ended. (Looking forward to football next year though, things are really looking up).

Come on man, can you really say that the expectations drop as the years continue??? I'm going to do this one more time since i think your new to the board

Since D came

1 yr - finished the reg. season 2nd
2yr - won the big south for the 2nd time in our 35 year history
3rd - finished 2nd in the BS (with a bad showing in the tourny)

I'm not a Randy apologist but you cant possibly say that our "expectations" are getting lower and lower, this season is awful and I thought we'd finish 6th in the BS and we've got some work to do...but this didnt come unexpected

if these players are not going to play for wins they better start playing for a spot on the team next year...there are already some names being tossed around that will no be asked to come back

[fsn32]

Rebuilding or not. Young, or not. This is embarrassing--and I was one of the coach's biggest supporters during the pre-conference schedule. Finishing near the bottom can happen, but finishing AT the bottom and not even making the Big South tournament is abyssmal.

Our expectations continue to drop for this team as the year continues. It used to be wait until the conference play begins, but to only have one D1 win so far this year is indeed embarassing. I am sure everyone is trying hard, but he results are just not there. It is almost like football season never ended. (Looking forward to football next year though, things are really looking up).

Come on man, can you really say that the expectations drop as the years continue??? I'm going to do this one more time since i think your new to the board

Since D came

1 yr - finished the reg. season 2nd
2yr - won the big south for the 2nd time in our 35 year history
3rd - finished 2nd in the BS (with a bad showing in the tourny)

I'm not a Randy apologist but you cant possibly say that our "expectations" are getting lower and lower, this season is awful and I thought we'd finish 6th in the BS and we've got some work to do...but this didnt come unexpected

if these players are not going to play for wins they better start playing for a spot on the team next year...there are already some names being tossed around that will no be asked to come back

He said YEAR not YEARS... I don't think he was referring to anything beyond this year's performance. Just trying to be a peacemaker

[A.G.]

I never said anything about expectations, just expressing disappointment. This year is starting to remind me of an old saying regarding chicken salad. Hopefully, there won't be the defections after this year and Coach D can build on what he's teaching them. Continual player turnover will kill the program.

[LUconn]

Ok, now we may be the worst team in the leauge. I was pretty sure we were better than UNCA but apparently not. Oh well, I guess it's just not going to be our year. At this point you just have to take it one game at a time, as a fan and hope for the best in the tournament.

[Sly Fox]

From the Lynchburg fishwrap:

LU men post sixth straight defeat

From staff reports
Lynchburg News & Advance
January 26, 2006

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Liberty men's basketball team couldn't overcome a horrendous start, dropping its fifth straight Big South game 77-65 to UNC Asheville on Wednesday night.

The Flames (4-14, 1-5 Big South) scored 16 points in the first half, their second lowest point total in a first half this season.

They were 6-for-31 from the field (19.4 percent).

They caught fire in the second half, scoring 49 points and whittling away at what was once a 30-point lead.

Larry Blair scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half and helped Liberty trim the deficit to 13 with six minutes left, but by then it was too late.

"Tonight is a sign that we have a lot of holes in our team," Liberty head coach Randy Dunton said. "We gave a great effort in the second half, but we can't keep on putting ourselves in that position to have to make a second-half run to get back into a game.

"We certainly have talent on this team, but we need to play together as a team for a full 40 minutes to be able to win in this league."

The loss was Liberty's sixth straight overall.

Damien Hubbard had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Liberty, and Anthony Smith scored 12 points.

Joseph Barber and Oliver Holmes both scored 19 points for the Bulldogs (5-12, 3-4 Big South).

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

[PAmedic]

Second Half Blitz Not Enough As Bulldogs Down Flames

January 25, 2006 · Asheville, N.C.

It was a tail of two halves as Liberty scored its second-lowest point total in the first half and its third-highest in the second half, but the second half effort wasn’t effort as UNC Asheville downed Liberty, 77-65, Wednesday evening, at the Justice Center.

With the victory, UNC Asheville raises its record to 5-12 overall and 3-4 in Big South Conference action, while the loss drops Liberty’s overall record to 4-14 on the season and 1-5 in league play, including five-straight conference games.

UNC Asheville wasted little time in the game as the Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead after Michael Ellis converted on a pair of free throws just three minutes into the game. Liberty finally got on the scoreboard as Larry Blair (Jr., G, Charlotte, N.C.) scored on a fast break lay-up at the 16:54 mark. However, the Flames would score just one more basket over the next seven minutes of play as Oliver Holmes converted on two free throws to give the Bulldogs a 20-5 lead at the 10:23 mark.

Liberty finally started to get its offense going over the next six minutes of play as a lay-up by Blair with 4:09 left to play trimmed UNC Asheville’s lead to 10 points, 25-15, but the Bulldogs outscored Liberty 14-1 over the remainder of the half to take a 39-16 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Flames shot just 19.4 percent from the field in the opening half (6-of-31) en route to their second fewest points in a half this season (lowest was 15 points against Radford).

UNC Asheville continued to extend its advance over the first five minutes of the second half as a lay-up by Chad Mohn gave the Bulldogs what would be their largest lead of the game at 30 points, 49-19, with 15:21 left to play.

A lay-up by Eric Bigby (Jr., F, Meade, Md.) started a 14-4 run for the Flames as Liberty cut the lead back to 20 points, 53-33, after a Blair three-pointer at the 11:03 mark. The Flames continued to chip away at the lead over the next five minutes a Blair converted on 1-of-2 free throw attempts with 6:12 left to play to cut the lead to 13 points, 61-48.

The two teams traded baskets back and forth over the next several minutes and Liberty got within 11 points, 73-62, on a three-pointer by Blair with 57 seconds left, but the rally would come up short as Liberty’s 49 points in the second half wasn’t good enough to erase the first deficit.

“Tonight is a sign that we have a lot of holes in our team,” stated head coach Randy Dunton after the loss. “We gave a great effort in the second half, but we can’t keep on putting ourselves in that position to have to make a second-half run to get back into a game.”

“We certainly have talent on this team, but we need to play together as a team for a full 40 minutes to be able to win in this league. We are a young and inexperience team that is learning a lot through these difficult times.”

Blair posted his second-straight 20-point performance as the junior netted 29 points, including 23 in the second half, while Damien Hubbard (Jr., G/F, Boyce, Va.) recorded his third double-double of the year with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Smith (Fr., G, Plano, Texas) rounded out Liberty’s double-figurer scores with 12 points, while adding three assists and two steals.

UNC Asheville was paced by a pair of 19-point games by Joseph Barber and Oliver Holmes, while Ellis finished the game with 11 points.

Liberty will continue its three-game road swing on Saturday when they travel to Conway, S.C. to face Coastal Carolina, who is coming off an impressive seven-point victory over Winthrop, ending the Eagles 24-game home winning streak. The Coastal-Liberty game is set to tip-off at 4 p.m. in Kimbel Arena.

[PAmedic]

reminds me of a certain NFL team in my area who continually put themselves in huge holes in the first half and had to adjust their offense (what they had of it) to play "catch-up" the entire second half. Doesn't work over the long haul.

I hope we straighten this out- losing can be contagious

[Ed Dantes]

29 BIG SOUTH = 63.49 63.40 ( 30) TEAMS= 9
FINAL College Basketball 2001-2002 thru Monday, April 1, 2002 (Div I games only)
HOME ADVANTAGE= 4.31 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 30 | ELO CHESS | PREDICTOR
213 Radford = 69.64 14 16 68.83( 273) 0 0 | 0 0 | 67.75 244 | 71.11 187
227 Winthrop = 68.83 17 12 66.85( 304) 0 1 | 0 2 | 68.94 223 | 68.42 230
260 NC Asheville = 66.28 12 14 68.94( 270) 0 0 | 0 1 | 67.32 249 | 64.82 270
276 Elon = 63.68 11 16 68.20( 282) 0 0 | 0 1 | 64.56 270 | 62.35 285
277 Charleston Southern = 63.53 10 17 68.85( 272) 0 0 | 0 1 | 64.17 273 | 62.51 283
283 Birmingham-Southern = 62.62 11 14 65.10( 320) 0 0 | 0 0 | 63.30 277 | 61.55 295
300 High Point = 60.89 9 19 67.83( 289) 0 2 | 0 2 | 61.48 295 | 59.90 306
301 Coastal Carolina = 60.44 8 20 68.26( 281) 0 0 | 0 1 | 60.90 297 | 59.61 308
320 Liberty = 54.69 3 24 68.02( 287) 0 0 | 0 0 | 54.89 320 | 54.16 320

===========================================

26 BIG SOUTH = 67.67 68.05 ( 26) TEAMS= 9
College Basketball 2005-2006 Div I games only thru Wednesday, January 25, 2006
HOME ADVANTAGE= 3.78 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 30 | ELO_CHESS | PREDICTOR
66 Winthrop = 80.78 10 5 73.34( 175) 0 1 | 0 1 | 78.97 86 | 82.42 47
158 Birmingham-Southern = 73.12 11 5 68.76( 319) 0 0 | 0 0 | 74.27 144 | 71.43 173
199 Radford = 70.73 9 7 70.78( 284) 0 0 | 0 0 | 71.52 185 | 69.37 209
219 High Point = 69.71 8 7 69.97( 298) 0 0 | 0 0 | 70.43 208 | 68.42 227
261 Coastal Carolina = 66.28 5 9 71.74( 249) 0 0 | 0 1 | 67.81 248 | 63.90 286
269 NC Asheville = 65.96 4 11 75.47( 73) 0 0 | 0 1 | 68.12 243 | 62.59 303
283 Charleston Southern = 65.32 4 10 72.48( 212) 0 0 | 0 0 | 67.17 252 | 62.38 305
310 VMI = 61.86 4 10 69.56( 309) 0 0 | 0 2 | 62.83 304 | 60.14 317
323 Liberty = 58.73 1 14 73.20( 184) 0 0 | 0 0 | 58.61 316 | 58.30 325

Before Dunton came around, we were 320 in the nation. Four years later, we're 323. Way to go, guys.

Let's see...
Radford: 213 to 199.
Winthrop: 227 to 66 (way to go, guys).
Birm. South: 283 to 158.
High Point: 300 to 219.
Coastal Carolina: 301 to 261.
===
In the last four years, five teams have improved themselves. The top three teams this year are better than the best team four years ago.

Liberty hasn't. Sure, we've won a championship in that time, and I wouldn't trade that for anything... which is why I'm not angry just yet, and I won't be calling for anyone's head until March 2009. But something tells me that this isn't part of our five-year plan.

[jcmanson]

After last night's performance, I wonder if anyone on this team (except for Blair) wants to win. It seems like they are just playing a game, and not competing. We need someone to take control of this team so we will at least compete the rest of the season. I knew we were not going to be as good this year as the past 3, but this bad! Wow! I don't understand how we can perform so bad in the 1st half, but in the 2nd play so much better. Could it be pressure? I don't know. I'm at a loss for words.

[Chris Lang]

From what I can tell, it's not a lack of effort. I've seen teams quit before, and Liberty hasn't quit. The talent just isn't there. The problem with this team is quite simple. The Flames are one back-to-the-basket threat away from being decent. You've got three wings who are absolutely clogged up because there isn't a guy to get as much as a touch on the block. Why should anybody defend Porter or Monroe or Stewart on the block? No need to. They can't score down there. So it's easy to double Smith and Blair. You can only hope Armon Jones and Alex McClean can help next year. You can't run a decent offense without having post players.

[grm]

Might be in ICU, and even getting close to life support, but it wouldn't be wise to bury the players, the team, or the coach while they're still alive. Randy doesn't have a "magic wand" but he's not one to lie down and die. I'm still watching, waiting, and anticipating, with hope.

I've been informed before that these sites are for sports nuts (fanatics) to sound off, so that's all appropriate in these situations. No problem. I also know that coaches are brought in to win, and no problem with that either. Liberty will win, and has. This may not be the best year, but I will GUARANTEE that it will not be the worst year. Even that is not acceptable, ofd course, but I'm just throwing it out to answer the guys who are ready to "pull the plug."

[PAmedic]

DITTO

[jcmanson]

I am not ready to pull the plug. I have always been in strong support of Coach Dunton, and I still am. I believe that next year will be much better, but I am just afraid that from here on out some of these kids might quit if someone does not take the lead. I fully expect Larry and/or others to do this, but there is reason to believe that not all will follow.

[Hold My Own]

They wont quit b/c they know to much is on the line...b/c the names are already flying around about who's going to be asked to leave

[Hold My Own]

29 BIG SOUTH = 63.49 63.40 ( 30) TEAMS= 9
FINAL College Basketball 2001-2002 thru Monday, April 1, 2002 (Div I games only)
HOME ADVANTAGE= 4.31 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 30 | ELO CHESS | PREDICTOR
213 Radford = 69.64 14 16 68.83( 273) 0 0 | 0 0 | 67.75 244 | 71.11 187
227 Winthrop = 68.83 17 12 66.85( 304) 0 1 | 0 2 | 68.94 223 | 68.42 230
260 NC Asheville = 66.28 12 14 68.94( 270) 0 0 | 0 1 | 67.32 249 | 64.82 270
276 Elon = 63.68 11 16 68.20( 282) 0 0 | 0 1 | 64.56 270 | 62.35 285
277 Charleston Southern = 63.53 10 17 68.85( 272) 0 0 | 0 1 | 64.17 273 | 62.51 283
283 Birmingham-Southern = 62.62 11 14 65.10( 320) 0 0 | 0 0 | 63.30 277 | 61.55 295
300 High Point = 60.89 9 19 67.83( 289) 0 2 | 0 2 | 61.48 295 | 59.90 306
301 Coastal Carolina = 60.44 8 20 68.26( 281) 0 0 | 0 1 | 60.90 297 | 59.61 308
320 Liberty = 54.69 3 24 68.02( 287) 0 0 | 0 0 | 54.89 320 | 54.16 320

===========================================

26 BIG SOUTH = 67.67 68.05 ( 26) TEAMS= 9
College Basketball 2005-2006 Div I games only thru Wednesday, January 25, 2006
HOME ADVANTAGE= 3.78 RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 30 | ELO_CHESS | PREDICTOR
66 Winthrop = 80.78 10 5 73.34( 175) 0 1 | 0 1 | 78.97 86 | 82.42 47
158 Birmingham-Southern = 73.12 11 5 68.76( 319) 0 0 | 0 0 | 74.27 144 | 71.43 173
199 Radford = 70.73 9 7 70.78( 284) 0 0 | 0 0 | 71.52 185 | 69.37 209
219 High Point = 69.71 8 7 69.97( 298) 0 0 | 0 0 | 70.43 208 | 68.42 227
261 Coastal Carolina = 66.28 5 9 71.74( 249) 0 0 | 0 1 | 67.81 248 | 63.90 286
269 NC Asheville = 65.96 4 11 75.47( 73) 0 0 | 0 1 | 68.12 243 | 62.59 303
283 Charleston Southern = 65.32 4 10 72.48( 212) 0 0 | 0 0 | 67.17 252 | 62.38 305
310 VMI = 61.86 4 10 69.56( 309) 0 0 | 0 2 | 62.83 304 | 60.14 317
323 Liberty = 58.73 1 14 73.20( 184) 0 0 | 0 0 | 58.61 316 | 58.30 325

Before Dunton came around, we were 320 in the nation. Four years later, we're 323. Way to go, guys.

Let's see...
Radford: 213 to 199.
Winthrop: 227 to 66 (way to go, guys).
Birm. South: 283 to 158.
High Point: 300 to 219.
Coastal Carolina: 301 to 261.
===
In the last four years, five teams have improved themselves. The top three teams this year are better than the best team four years ago.

Liberty hasn't. Sure, we've won a championship in that time, and I wouldn't trade that for anything... which is why I'm not angry just yet, and I won't be calling for anyone's head until March 2009. But something tells me that this isn't part of our five-year plan.

All of those could be done with a strong start with a strong schedule except 1 and we all know who that is

This is where LU fans really kill me....I know it was said that "I'm not ready to pull the plug" but there are plenty out there what want to pull the plug and I cant even understand why there's even a plug in sight or conversation....the past speaks for itself, with the past 3 seasons this team has had we should allow that many losing seasons until a Plug to Pull or Chopping block is pulled out...BE LOYAL FANS or dont be a fan at all, LU would be better without fair weather fans...and dont give me this I'm a loyal fan but I'm just saying we need to make a change...b/c thats ignorant, a loyal fan is what MOST of us were when we were losing a billion football games in a row, still going to each and every game even if you were dragged to show support

I liked what you said Ed about March 2009 b/c that's the truth, and I'm really not saying this to anyone on this board, but there are people that I KNOW FOR A FACT read these boards but wont REGISTER and feel like a change should have been made even the year after we won the BS....not b/c of our success but b/c of who D is......Venting, thats all

[Sly Fox]

Breathe in .. breathe out.

When you are struggling you expect a few fans to jump off the bandwagon. But despite our struggles I feel these are simply growing pains. You hate to be wasting the efforts of Larry and a few others in defeats. But that's no reason to bail.