[kel varson]

WOW! what a negative start to the season. I haven't seen the team play but these are my concerns.

If we had any decent post play last year, we wouldn't have been nearly as bad. So Dunton goes out a recruits some big guys right? Well, that's what I thought. Russell doesn't play last night, and it appears McClean is the only decent post player we have. Are we back where we were last year. If Winters and Jones aren't going to play (I know one of them is injured), we going to be in big trouble again in the post. I don't care how good Blair is, if your team doesn't have balance inside and out, your going to be hurting. Maybe Tyler can play inside? As for Rell, it sounds like his offensive game is still a 2 on scale of 1-10. I absolutely love Rell's quickness, athleticism and hustle, but I've seen zero offensive skills.

[Purple Haize]

POST - FYI, rebounding is considered part of "defense". So if you can't rebound you are not a very good defensive team. If you can contest shots, stymie penetration, rotate on team help and force bad shots that is pretty good. But ifyou can not rebound that bad shot, it sort of negates everything else.
Wasn't at the game so can't really give first hand analysis. BUT in the grand scheme of things, if a D1 team is NCAA tournament caliber, a loss, even in an exhibition, to a DII school, no matter its ranking, shooul make one pause to see if they really ARE an NCAA tournament team.

[Stevev]

I hope that we don't have to wait till Brewington is eligible to put a descent team out there. We do have some games to play without him on the court. But I guess there is no reason to get too bent out of shape due to an exhibition loss to a div 2 team.

[Purple Haize]

Nov 4, 2006 7:30 p.m. Barton College (Exhibition)

Nov 11, 2006 5:00 p.m. Cedarville (Exhibition)

Nov 16, 2006 8:00 p.m. vs. Oklahoma

Nov 21, 2006 7:00 p.m. Cincinnati Christian

Nov 25, 2006 7:00 p.m. Houghton College

Nov 27, 2006 7:00 p.m. Southern Virginia

Dec 2, 2006 7:00 p.m. East Carolina

Dec 4, 2006 7:00 p.m. St. Francis (Pa.)

Dec 9, 2006 7:00 p.m. Longwood

Ok, so I am going to go out on a limb and say OU will eat our lunch. But outside of that we should beat everyone of these teams we play before Brew is eligible. AT WORST we should be 3 - 4 9Houghton, S. Va and Cincy Christian should be chip shots, maybe SCAR could get some time in those games) but can we really lose to Longwood (again) and E. Carolina and think we are a tournament team, with or with out Brew?

[mrmacphisto]

my take on the game...I think our defense was solid we just couldn't reboud the f'ing ball...

Yeah, and we couldn't keep them from scoring. Other than those two things, our defense was pretty solid.

What's funny is that every year, I hear someone with inside knowledge say (before the season starts) that the basketball program looks good this year. They talk about all the new recruits and seem to think that this is the turnaround year. Thing is, they're always wrong.

I think we have some good talent. The question is whether we can find a coach who will show them how to play NCAA basketball.

[TIMSCAR20]

I don't look at affiliation but the talent on the Floor. Barton looked like a decent big south team to me. They didn't look like a high school team like I suspect Ceaderville will next weekend. That said, no cause for alarm. But there is work to be done on the defensive end particually guarding the dribble and help side defense. Too many guys got beat with absolutely no help. The other 3 or 4 guys are locked in on their man and they don't even see the driver to even try to rotate over. I liked the 1-3-1 zone. RD hangs his hat on the man to man but it was nice to see that zone. The first time we did it Smitty got a steal and layup. I thought and still think we should try to play more zone at times but we definitely can pressure teams up court with this team. Very long armed and athletic. We are gonna be good in Transition. Alex McLean is what we thought he was (sorry Denny Green). He will help Liberty win games. He still needs help in the paint. Jones didn't play much and neither did Monroe. One or both of those guys will have to step in and play well. I thought Hubbard was good, Smitty was great and LB is just simply fun to watch. So smooth, under control and down right unstoppable at times. We scored 83 points. If we get to the high 70's low 80's on a given night we will win. RD will have them playing tight defense. This game was a measuring point to see where we are right now. This team will not be this bad on D when the season starts and more importantly in Feb and March. All-in all, I would have loved to see a win especially after we battled back so many times but it doesn't matter. We just need to continue to address areas for improvement and move on.

[Purple Haize]

SCAR - At this point in the season, I will agree that help side defense will not be as good as it should be in the latter parts of the season. HOWEVER, I may be scar'd (pun intended) by the "Our players don't know the whole play book yet, but when they do WATCH OUT" mentality from the last regime. I am a HUGE fan of zones, but if rebounding is a problem for your team, and it is with this one, a zone will only make it worse. Rebounding out of a zone is one of the most difficult things to teach. While I worship at the altar of Bob Knight et al. I really love the zone and to rebound well out of it, you have to sell out to it and practice. Now, practicing a zone will REALLY help with the HELP side defense, so if THAT is the major concern than it is a good idea. I just don't know which needs more "help".
Finally, while I agree that you should not judge a team by it's divisional affiliation, two facts remain. By definition D1 is HIGHER, ergo superior (in theory) to DII and thus ANY win by a DII should be an unwelcome harbinger for a D1 team. Secondly, judging by talent on the floor should also be a no brainer. LU recruits nationally, plays on TV and has a recent trip to the NCAA's on the resume. One would THINK, we could put better talent on the floor than ANY DII team. If not, why is that? Unless it is a graduation thing (St Joe's) which is definately not our situation.

[JDUB]

my take on the D- we were REALLY slow on our feet. we were getting beat one on one almost every time. granted, the help was horrible too, but they need to get faster on D. it seemed as if they were just dragging there feet. from what i saw, there is no way we'll be a tourney contender

[thepostman]

POST - FYI, rebounding is considered part of "defense". So if you can't rebound you are not a very good defensive team. If you can contest shots, stymie penetration, rotate on team help and force bad shots that is pretty good. But ifyou can not rebound that bad shot, it sort of negates everything else.

you're right, but that is what is frustrating, everything about their defensive play is solid except for rebounding the ball...It makes me so mad when they play solid defense, the shot clock is down to 2, they force a bad shot, then don't rebound the freaking ball

[Rocketfan]

i thought the team looked bad. they were down the whole time to a D2 team. i know its one of the best D2's, but still....
i agree, i think barber needs to review some resumes. i don't know anyone who likes dunton, players quit last year because he's a jerk, and he has only had one winning season. time to overhaul the bball team. our only hope is december.

Sorry freshman, i doubt you know many people then....and we know dickens is a hater so we shouldn't expect anything less from you. Your reporting might need some work too, since being a freshman i doubt you had access to many current players telling you that they quit on there coach( or your reporting like 9th hand information you think is accurate). It just not responsible, but your are freshman ill have to lower my expectations i guess. Or ill give you that same chance to gave Randy.

[jmdickens]

rocketfan, I am just honest. give the freshman a chance.....You seem to be the hater. You hate on those who disagree with the majority. Don't conform, think for yourself. Ask the players on the women's team what they think about the coach. ask the staff, ask current players about the coach. I dont hate, I envestigate and exacerbate the tit suckers by being different. Rocketfan, you are a prime example.

[jmdickens]

*investigate

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

Just my take on the game:
Alex played REALLY WELL, so well after the oop i told him he was my hero, he proceed to look at me and say 2 MORE ITS COMING
Tyler Baker should have played more (and not because im his fan)
I really don think just Holland deserved a T there... The other kid was just as much of a problem.
Rell didnt impress me too much
I was impressed overall by BJ first game, not bad
I thought Damien was doing really well, i dont know what his stats looked like but he was playing very hard.
LB... Well looked like the same ol LB, but he was hitting his shots
Smitty played REALLY well... yeah he fouled out when we needed him, but i would say 3 of his fouls werent really fouls, the ref's were TERRIBLE last night.
...and man i wish brew could play


On a side note, about the game, our "best manager" did his thing last night, worked hard...
The Coaches were dressed well, and Tom Crom was workin hard too haha
And it was good to see Scar in attendance last night

[jmdickens]

Baker was rebounding well. He should have played more, no reason to bench him unless he was tired

[pbow]

Did anyone else but me see Larry Frankiln walk out during the game last night???

[SuperJon]

That was the blue/white scrimmage I think.


TBGBG - the look you gave me after the game pretty much said everything.

[JDUB]

i thought the team looked bad. they were down the whole time to a D2 team. i know its one of the best D2's, but still....
i agree, i think barber needs to review some resumes. i don't know anyone who likes dunton, players quit last year because he's a jerk, and he has only had one winning season. time to overhaul the bball team. our only hope is december.

Sorry freshman, i doubt you know many people then....and we know dickens is a hater so we shouldn't expect anything less from you. Your reporting might need some work too, since being a freshman i doubt you had access to many current players telling you that they quit on there coach( or your reporting like 9th hand information you think is accurate). It just not responsible, but your are freshman ill have to lower my expectations i guess. Or ill give you that same chance to gave Randy.

i have talked to previous players, and i know people in the athletic department. granted, i may not know as many people as you, but i know enough to know that he isn't the student body's favorite person.

[SuperJon]

That's obvious to the entire student body. I don't know a single student that isn't part of the team that likes him.

[A.G.]

That's obvious to the entire student body. I don't know a single student that isn't part of the team that likes him.

What's the deal? Is the guy leaving? Kicked off the team?

[SuperJon]

We're talking about Dunton.

[Stevev]

Why would they kick Dunton off of the team this early in the year?

[A.G.]

We're talking about Dunton.

Oh, I thought you guys are talking about Franklin.

[SuperJon]

No, Dunton. There's more love for him on this board than the entire student body.

[A.G.]

No, Dunton. There's more love for him on this board than the entire student body.

I had no idea the students feel that way. A shame. Quality man who's team will do big thing this year. A winning team will win the students over.

[SuperJon]

Last night didn't help any.