[whmatthews]

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 74&TeamID=

Liberty Men's Hoops To Participate In 2007 Great Alaska Shootout

November 30, 2006
Lynchburg, Va.

Liberty is one of eight teams that will take part in the 2007 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout scheduled for Nov. 20-24 at Anchorage’s Sullivan Arena. In addition to Liberty, the eight-team field features host Alaska Anchorage, Butler, Gonzaga, Michigan, Texas Tech, Washington State and Western Kentucky.

This will be the Flames’ second appearance at the Great Alaska Shootout. In 2003 the Flames went 1-2 at the event, scoring a 65-48 victory against Canisius in the opening round before falling to No. 2 Duke, in the second round and Seton Hall in the third round.
“This Great Alaska Shootout field is certainly one of the strongest in recent years,” said head coach Randy Dunton. “The elite status of these programs will provide a fabulous experience for our team.”

“The positives from competing against these programs will be a catalyst for our team’s performance level,” added Dunton.

Dunton returns to Anchorage, where he began his coaching career in prolific fashion at the high school ranks, accumulating a career record of 127-36, good for a .779 winning percentage. He won a pair of state championships and his teams finished as state runner-up twice at Anchorage Christian between 1985-88. In 1989, Dunton led West Anchorage to the AAAA State Championship game with a 22-8 record before coming to Liberty as an assistant coach in 1990.

“It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to return to Anchorage and to have our Liberty University Flames be part of such a prestigious basketball event,” stated Dunton.

Information on the other seven participants

Butler, ranked 18th in the latest ESPN/USA Today Top-25 poll, is one of the hottest teams in the country with an 8-0 record and the NIT Tip-Off title already under its belt. Led by sixth-year head coach Todd Lickliter, the Indianapolis school is a perennial Horizon League and NCAA Tournament contender. The Bulldog men will be making their first-ever trip to the Shootout.

Gonzaga, currently ranked No. 21, is 6-1 so far with a win over North Carolina to its credit. The Bulldogs, of Spokane, Wash., have reached postseason play 12 of the last 13 years, including a current string of eight-straight NCAA berths. Led by rising coaching star Mark Few, Gonzaga has won six-straight West Coast Conference regular-season titles. The Bulldogs were the 2001 Shootout runners-up.

Michigan, under sixth-year head coach Tommy Amaker, is currently 7-1 in 2006-07 and hoping to improve on its postseason NIT berth of last season. The Wolverines, who finished third in the 1987 Shootout, have won 12 Big Ten Conference titles and were the NCAA champions in 1989.

Texas Tech, making its second Shootout appearance (1990) as well, is led by legendary coach Bob Knight. The Red Raiders are 6-2 so far this year, leaving Knight currently four wins shy of matching Dean Smith’s NCAA record of 879 career victories. Texas Tech plays in the Big 12 Conference.

Washington State has started 7-0 under new head coach Tony Bennett this season as the Cougars look to make strides in the always-tough Pacific-10 Conference. WSU will be making its first Shootout appearance since 1981.

Perennial Sun Belt Conference power Western Kentucky is 6-1 thus far in 2006-07 behind the play of Wooden Award candidate Courtney Lee, who will be a senior at the 2007 Shootout. The Hilltoppers, coached by fourth-year head man Darrin Horn, will be making their inaugural Shootout trip.

Host Alaska Anchorage will be looking for its 29th all-time victory in its own tournament when it tips off the 2007 event. Led by third-year head coach Rusty Osborne, the Division II Seawolves have won games in five straight Shootouts. UAA, which is 5-2 this season, plays in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

[pbow]

very tough competition

[lureal]

that is awesome. tj bannister will get tested early. maybe we can get the nationally televised game again.

[jmdickens]

TJ played in the ACC for 3 seasons....off the bench or not, you can't get that much more tested.

[Sly Fox]

I admit it was fun watching them on ESPN when they were up there the last time. National television can do wonders for the perception of 16- and 17-year-olds who might consider LU.

[jmdickens]

remember Dickie V raving about Mantelo???? He called him a first team all-hustle player. Big props to that team

[lureal]

can someone post the release from the university of alaska website?

[A.G.]

Dunton returns to Anchorage, where he began his coaching career in prolific fashion at the high school ranks, accumulating a career record of 127-36, good for a .779 winning percentage. He won a pair of state championships and his teams finished as state runner-up twice at Anchorage Christian between 1985-88. In 1989, Dunton led West Anchorage to the AAAA State Championship game with a 22-8 record before coming to Liberty as an assistant coach in 1990.

We can only hope.

[jcmanson]

Definitely is a good thing to get these kids out there. Hopefully we can get one of the national tv games. Either way it will be good competition for the guys.

[horrez]

That's great for you guys. The Great Alaska Shootout usually has a pretty good field and it looks like next year won't be any different. It will give you a chance to play (and hopefully beat) some good competition. It could really help your program.

[Brokeback Flamer]

Well, every tournament needs its teams that are easy wins for the others. I am thinking we fall in that category. Would love to see RD give Bob Knight the crack about a pressed shirt!!!

[Ed Dantes]

Dunton returns to Anchorage, ...

We can only hope.

I sense much anger in this one. Strike me down, and complete your journey to the dark side!

[A.G.]

Come on, Ed. We can only hope he's still around. Besides, I AM already in sync with the Dark Side.

[thepostman]

easy on the dunton talk guys come on....

It will be interesting to see how this team will stack up with those schools....but thats a whole year away...geez

[WinthropEagleFan]

I just saw that Washington State dropped out of the Great Alaska Shootout...not sure who their replacement is going to be.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/s ... ars22.html

[Sly Fox]

Thanks for the heads up, WEF.

[TDDance234]

A great opportunity for our guys. We'll be tested quickly.

[grm]

Maybe we won't be tested so quickly. I have a source in Alaska that says RMK is paying $55,000 to drop out of the tournament, saying that the LU team is not ready for such competition. I understand that it's a done deal, although LU is still listed on the Great Alaska Shootout web. I know they're not happy in Alaska about it, and that's perfectly understandable to me. I must kind of bite my tongue on this one, since one of JB's issues with RD was budget, and now, it looks like there is
55K available for something that shows poor judgment, in my opinion (probably some of the guarantee money that RD never got from JB). We played two good pretty good games at BYU, and also went against Florida..... days gone by.....

[El Scorcho]

There are already people saying that this would never have happened if Dr. Falwell was still here...

Let's get it clear here and now that this statement/excuse/reasoning/logic/crap is not going to fly on FlameFans. Criticize all you like, but it is much too early (and may always be) to say something like that as a part of the criticism. I won't have it.

[grm]

It's

[paradox]

Had LU attended this tournament, the airfare, lodging, and food would exceed 55K for the whole LU group including, players, coaches, trainers, managers, and media team. Therefore, this hardly qualifies as a budget issue and/or a Barber conspiracy. Furthermore, invoking the name of Jerry Falwell in this context is in poor taste.

[El Scorcho]

It's what was said, but whatever the rules are, I will always observe them, and I'm sorry for offending you. If that was taken as an insult or affront to either Jerry Jr. or Jonathan, please understand that it was not meant to be, for I have the highest respect for both of them.

No problem. I understand that you were just quoting someone else, but I'd rather just leave it unsaid. Thank you.

[grm]

It won't happen again, and I edited my post.

[grm]

Actually Paradox, you're wrong on this one. The team would receive 18 free round trip airfares, and some cash for expenses... perhaps around 10K, and there is a whole bunch of free media exposure that would have come with it.
Part of the agreement was also that UAA would come to the Vines for an exhibition game in November. That would have been a great game, but I would now be surprised if it happened.

Note: I'm afraid we're way away from my basic point, which has now been clouded by a quote from the outside that was meant to be a compliment, but which blew up in my face.

RD felt that with TJ, Alex, Anthony, Brew, Tyler, BJ, the 7 footer, the Guy from 3 rivers (these last two are now with Greg
and Brew is gone) we would give a very good account of ourselves. The year we won the BS (04) we played in the Shootout and in the Christmas Classic at Arizona, and the feeling by many is that they provided great preparation for the BS.

[paradox]

GRM:

Yea, you're right, everything is paid for this one and then some because of the TV package with ESPN. I totally forgot that some of the games in this tourney will be nationally televised.

This may be an early sign that we may be looking at a full-fledged rebuilding year this season, unfortunately. Unless McKay's plan is to avoid elite programs until a certain level of consistant winning is achieved. Perhaps he'll build toward that.