[jcmanson]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2976156

Liberty
"Transition year" is generally code for the mediocrity that comes in upheaval's wake

[LUconn]

this is a surprisingly detailed and factually correct article. Bravo to ESPN for getting someone who apparently knows the conference somewhat

[paradox]

If we would have kept Orupke and Brewington, we probally would have been the favorite.

I wouldn't write LU off just yet. There is a solid core in Bannister-Smith-Mclean. We need a few players to step up and add value to the two and the four positions. If that happens, then we'll contend for the title this year.

[flameshaw]

Would like to be more optomistic, but think it will take a couple of years to get over the effects of the most recent regime. Need a few players, especially a conference dominating big. Hopefully RMK will be able to make up some ground quickly.

[jcmanson]

I agree with flameshaw. For some reason, this season just doesn't seem to fit right with me. I think we will be middle pack. With the recruits listed so far, we still haven't figured out our BIG problem that has plagued us for several years. May take at least 2 years for McKay to get this thing going.

[Sly Fox]

I know Welliston takes some shots from time to time, but he does a solid job covering the mid majors for ESPN.

[kazport]

Does anyone find it unusual that in the article he doesn't mention any of our current players as he did for the other schools. Why emphasize once again who we lost and not make any comments on the players we do have. Its sounds like Poor Liberty.

[paradox]

I'm sure that it would appear sketchy at best to an outsider trying to evaluate our current talent. So, in effect, he took the easy way out and opted for mediocrity---can't say that I blame him.

However, those of us who follow the program know that there are quite a few factors in LU's favor heading into this season:

1. McKay and his staff are on a higher level, professionally--a clear upgrade.
2. ACC transfer, TJ Bannister is a huge upgrade at the point guard position.
3. Anthony Smith and Alex Mclean are both rising stars.
4. BJ Jenkins showed promise in his first season, and he's improved in the offseason.
5. If healthy, Ty Baker has the potential to take his game to a higher level.
6. Jeremy Anderson is a 6-4 shooting guard with strong perimeter skills.

If this group stays healthy and focused, they may surprise a few skeptics out there.

..

[LUconn]

I think you guys are asking for too much. In years past the article would have read something like: "The flames are gonna need big things from Dwight Brewington this year. Especially if Head Coach Randy Dutton wants to keep his job." They seem to be at least somewhat aware of the changes made in the past few months.

[paradox]

I think you guys are asking for too much. In years past the article would have read something like: "The flames are gonna need big things from Dwight Brewington this year. Especially if Head Coach Randy Dutton wants to keep his job." They seem to be at least somewhat aware of the changes made in the past few months.

I think that the article accuratley conveyed that our team's lack of chemistry was our demise. To be more specific: the failed Brewington at point gaurd experiment. We could have had a fabulous season last year had we stayed with BJ at the point and allowed him to grow into that position. Looking back and looking at where he's at now, I'm convinced that he would have been able to lead this team as our point guard. Brewington would have dominated at the four in our league. But let's face it, the guy came here because we promised him time in our backcourt, and more specifically at the point. Our most probable "team chemistry" line-up may have looked something like this: 1-Jenkins; 2-Blair; 3-Smith; 4-Brewington; 5-Mclean. Two things kept that from happening: we made a promise to Brewington that we couldn't keep; and we gave up too early on Jenkins as a point gaurd.


..

...

[TIMSCAR20]

I think you guys are asking for too much. In years past the article would have read something like: "The flames are gonna need big things from Dwight Brewington this year. Especially if Head Coach Randy Dutton wants to keep his job." They seem to be at least somewhat aware of the changes made in the past few months.

You are a funny guy man. So, so true too. I don't find anything wrong with this article. It was informative and it showed that the guy either has seen a big south game or two or he has taken 20 minutes to actually do some research. This is a long, long way from some of the previews you see other places.

[olldflame]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. A lot of this goes back to RD's long time fascination/obsession with having a big point guard. Even when he admitted defeat with the Brewington experiment, instead of playing BJ and/or Holland at the point, he went mostly with Hubbard.

I'm joining in the chorus of kudos for a Big South preview from a national media source which is not reflective of total ignorance. It may be a first!

[kazport]

My point is directly in response to the blurb on Liberty. he did not mention the upcoming players. We seem to always want to address the past and not the present. Which in my opinion is so unproductive. woulda coulda shoulda doesn't cut it.

[paradox]

Also, does LU have a clear and distinct coaching advantage over the other Big South schools. We have two head coaches from the Mountain West along with a top assistant from that conference. Having the former head coaches from New Mexico (McKay) and Colorado State (Layer) should be a coaching advantage comparable to or even beyond what Winthrop had during the Marshall years.



....

[Realist]

Also, does LU have a clear and distinct coaching advantage over the other Big South schools. We have two head coaches from the Mountain West along with a top assistant from that conference. Having the former head coaches from New Mexico (McKay) and Colorado State (Layer) should be a coaching advantage comparable to or even beyond what Winthrop had during the Marshall years.



....

How so? They weren't successful coaches.....and they are moving to a different recruiting ground where they don't have any pre-established contacts. Maybe they will be ok, but I'd say they are a huge question mark, rather than an advantage.

[kazport]

I am assuming that by successful you win wins and loses. YOu can't even compare Randy Dutton to these two coaches sorry but this has to be seen as a definite improvment by far.

[LUconn]

he's actually comparing these coaches to Marshall and his staff. And he's got a point.

[kazport]

Also, does LU have a clear and distinct coaching advantage over the other Big South schools. We have two head coaches from the Mountain West along with a top assistant from that conference. Having the former head coaches from New Mexico (McKay) and Colorado State (Layer) should be a coaching advantage comparable to or even beyond what Winthrop had during the Marshall years.



....

How so? They weren't successful coaches.....and they are moving to a different recruiting ground where they don't have any pre-established contacts. Maybe they will be ok, but I'd say they are a huge question mark, rather than an advantage.

McKay's first season was all about rebuilding - rare for a program with just three losing seasons in the previous 40 years. Due to circumstances before he arrived and injuries after he took over, McKay was in command of a squad that featured just eight scholarship players for most of the year. While the 10-18 record was tough to swallow, McKay enjoyed coaching a hard-working group that featured the nation's leading scorer in Ruben Douglas and a cast of underclassmen who showed up to play every game and improved as the season progressed.

New Mexico continued to show progress in McKay's second season, posting a 14-14 record and having very competitive showings against top competition.

The Lobos led late in the game against Texas Tech before falling in the final minute. UNM also put a scare into No. 6 Wake Forest on the road before falling by nine. New Mexico did scratch out a pair of big home wins over BYU and Utah, both teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

It was a breakout season for the University of New Mexico in 2004-05 as it won the Mountain West Conference Tournament to culminate a sparkling nine-game winning streak and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years. It was the first Big Dance for McKay, either as a player or coach.

New Mexico finished 26-7, the second-highest win total in school history and a 12-win improvement from the 2003-04 season. Only eventual national champion North Carolina and Texas A&M progressed by a greater margin that UNM did in 2004-05. It was also two more victories than the previous two seasons combined.

The No. 2 seed in the MWC Tournament in Denver, UNM ran past BYU, San Diego State and 15th-ranked Utah to claim the school's first conference tournament title since 1996.

Picked to finish fourth in the MWC preseason poll, UNM started the conference season at 1-3. However, the Lobos finished 10-4, placing second behind Utah. The 10 wins came on the heels of four straight losing records in conference play and were the most by a New Mexico team since 11 victories in the Western Athletic Conference in 1998.

[paradox]

How can you say that they were not successful? Both coaches have taken their teams into the NCAA's over the past few years. McKay, in particular, won a Mountain West championship in '05, and went deep into the NIT when he coached Colorado State. In addition, he was credited with turning two programs around in Portland State and Colorado State. Furthermore, both coaches have successfully prepared quality first-round talent for the NBA.

Personally, I think that thier backgrounds and experiences give us a huge recruiting advantage.

Mckay, at 42 is in his early prime with his biggest achievements ahead of him---right here at LU.

Also, let's not forget that when McKay left lobo-land, Greg Marshall applied for the job. So, if these guys are crossing paths in and out of jobs, then it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest that they may be on a similiar level coaching-wise-----which would be head and shoulders above the rest of the big south.
...

[kazport]

In his third year at Colorado State, Dale Layer has a 46-45 record and 19-14 last year with a surprise NCAA appearance. The Rams were playing great ball toward the end of last year beating UNLV in the Mountain West title game and nearly upsetting Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The play at the end of last year provided a glimpse of what Rams fans can expect in the future. It also got Dale Layer a contract extension.

[paradox]

Also, does LU have a clear and distinct coaching advantage over the other Big South schools. We have two head coaches from the Mountain West along with a top assistant from that conference. Having the former head coaches from New Mexico (McKay) and Colorado State (Layer) should be a coaching advantage comparable to or even beyond what Winthrop had during the Marshall years.



....

How so? They weren't successful coaches.....and they are moving to a different recruiting ground where they don't have any pre-established contacts. Maybe they will be ok, but I'd say they are a huge question mark, rather than an advantage.

How can you say that they were not successful? Both coaches have taken their teams into the NCAA's over the past few years. McKay, in particular, won a Mountain West championship in '05, and went deep into the NIT when he coached Colorado State. In addition, he was credited with turning two programs around in Portland State and Colorado State. Furthermore, both coaches have successfully prepared quality first-round talent for the NBA.

Personally, I think that thier backgrounds and experiences give us a huge recruiting advantage.

Mckay, at 42 is in his early prime with his biggest achievements ahead of him---right here at LU.

Also, let's not forget that when McKay left lobo-land, Greg Marshall applied for the job. So, if these guys are crossing paths in and out of jobs, then it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest that they may be on a similiar level coaching-wise-----which would be head and shoulders above the rest of the big south.




....

[Realist]

Also, does LU have a clear and distinct coaching advantage over the other Big South schools. We have two head coaches from the Mountain West along with a top assistant from that conference. Having the former head coaches from New Mexico (McKay) and Colorado State (Layer) should be a coaching advantage comparable to or even beyond what Winthrop had during the Marshall years.



....

How so? They weren't successful coaches.....and they are moving to a different recruiting ground where they don't have any pre-established contacts. Maybe they will be ok, but I'd say they are a huge question mark, rather than an advantage.

How can you say that they were not successful? Both coaches have taken their teams into the NCAA's over the past few years. McKay, in particular, won a Mountain West championship in '05, and went deep into the NIT when he coached Colorado State. In addition, he was credited with turning two programs around in Portland State and Colorado State. Furthermore, both coaches have successfully prepared quality first-round talent for the NBA.

Personally, I think that thier backgrounds and experiences give us a huge recruiting advantage.

Mckay, at 42 is in his early prime with his biggest achievements ahead of him---right here at LU.

Also, let's not forget that when McKay left lobo-land, Greg Marshall applied for the job. So, if these guys are crossing paths in and out of jobs, then it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest that they may be on a similiar level coaching-wise-----which would be head and shoulders above the rest of the big south.




....

Then why did they both wind up jobless? That's a very Kool-Aid version of their tenures.

I'm not saying they won't be quality, I'm just saying they are question marks.

[PAmedic]

Always good to hear from REALIST

carry on.

[paradox]

Realist:

Very few have survived this profession without being fired at some point. As Greg Marshall moves up the proverbial ladder, he too may become jobless at some point.

[kazport]

Realist:

Very few have survived this profession without being fired at some point. As Greg Marshall moves up the proverbial ladder, he too may become jobless at some point.

I all i can say is I am greatful they ended up here at Liberty. They have resumes`. And only time will tell. But you can't deny when RD got fired we didnt think we would be this lucky as to have two D1 coaches with tons of experience. And as of right now they have great chemistry and the respect of the team. They want to prove themselves also. They know that fans and the school expect them to move this team in a positive direction. I think we have the talent and I think we have the coaches to bring out the best.