[LUconn]

RD is 77-100 with a winning conference record? What did the guy before him do? What kind of program did RD inherit? Did anything good come out of the previous era?

RD has never overachieved? Wow, I didn't know that there was so much controversy regarding the obvious overacheivement of the '04 season?


You can make an argument that RD won with Hank's leftovers? Maybe you can, but I can't:

Floor Leader: Woodson (Dunton walk-on)
Top Post Player: Martin (Dunton transfer from Binghamton)
Top Scoring Gaurds: Blair and Dees (Dunton's first recruiting class)
Honorable Mention: Lightbourne (Dunton JC transfer)

Sure, Sarchet had some nice post moves, Sneed was a wide body, and Mantlo was a scrapper, but let's not get carried away. They were all role players at best.





As far as the here and now is concerned:


Dunton has this program back on track

If back on track is 14-16 with zero quality non-conference wins, your track is real small.

While I am thinking of it, if RD was responsible for the 2004 team success, then why hasn't he replicated it in the last 3 years? I guess you can't use the "it takes time" excuse for that. Then again, some people will never let reality get in the way of having their minds already made up.

GO FLAMES!!!!!!!!!

Well that was a silly statement. You basically just took away all credit from RD because he hasn't won it twice. Who should we give the credit to for UMD's national championship? It certainly wasn't Gary Williams, I guess.

[Realist]

This debate has been lasting for a year.

I know some of you don't want my opinion but here it is.

I think Dunton is a pretty good recruiter, but not a good coach. I think he's more suited to an assistant job.

He's definitely brought talent in at a higher level than most of the Big South, no doubt about it, and you have to give him credit for it, not just say "that's the assistants." Well, if so, Dunton got good assistants that get good talent.

The problem is that I think his assests as a coach really end there. He seems to have trouble keeping guys around (transfers, ineligible, etc) to develop any cohesion. Look at this year's team, how they play, very good in an open court game because they have talent, but pretty bad on the road when it's not wide open. You can discount transfers, academic ineligibility to some degree on players just not working out (look at Josh Grant, Ivan Jenkins at WU) but when you have a ton of it happening, it's on the coach.

But here is where I really feel is the reason Dunton won't ever be truly successful. Players aren't motivated by him and don't buy into his coaching. How many reports have I heard around the league that players don't even listen to him----enough to know that it's not just rumor. Good coaches get the buy-in from players and Dunton doesn't. I think he's an average X's and O's guy, but an F in motivation and leadership.

Just my two cents.

[paradox]

Shaw & other haters:

Anyone who refuses to recognize the huge success of '04 and LU's successful road to recovery this year, will never be pleased with anything that this staff does, and will never give fair credit and just due, regardless.

The last time that I checked, there is still some basketball to be played, and the final chapter on this season has not been written yet.

[paradox]

This debate has been lasting for a year.

I know some of you don't want my opinion but here it is.

I think Dunton is a pretty good recruiter, but not a good coach. I think he's more suited to an assistant job.

He's definitely brought talent in at a higher level than most of the Big South, no doubt about it, and you have to give him credit for it, not just say "that's the assistants." Well, if so, Dunton got good assistants that get good talent.

The problem is that I think his assests as a coach really end there. He seems to have trouble keeping guys around (transfers, ineligible, etc) to develop any cohesion. Look at this year's team, how they play, very good in an open court game because they have talent, but pretty bad on the road when it's not wide open. You can discount transfers, academic ineligibility to some degree on players just not working out (look at Josh Grant, Ivan Jenkins at WU) but when you have a ton of it happening, it's on the coach.

But here is where I really feel is the reason Dunton won't ever be truly successful. Players aren't motivated by him and don't buy into his coaching. How many reports have I heard around the league that players don't even listen to him----enough to know that it's not just rumor. Good coaches get the buy-in from players and Dunton doesn't. I think he's an average X's and O's guy, but an F in motivation and leadership.

Just my two cents.

That's a nice two cents.

I'm sure a WU fan would prefer for RD to go away, especially since the last coach to win the Big South who is not named Gegg Marshall is actually named Randy Dunton. And if Marshall moves up and Dunton remains, which is likely, then Dunton becomes the last current coach to win the big one in the conference.

I can't wait.

But I'm not writing this year off yet either. And if LU or HPU pulls off the upset, then I guess that Marshall will be stuck at WU forever--good for WU, bad for Marshall

[jcmanson]

This debate has been lasting for a year.

I know some of you don't want my opinion but here it is.

I think Dunton is a pretty good recruiter, but not a good coach. I think he's more suited to an assistant job.

He's definitely brought talent in at a higher level than most of the Big South, no doubt about it, and you have to give him credit for it, not just say "that's the assistants." Well, if so, Dunton got good assistants that get good talent.

The problem is that I think his assests as a coach really end there. He seems to have trouble keeping guys around (transfers, ineligible, etc) to develop any cohesion. Look at this year's team, how they play, very good in an open court game because they have talent, but pretty bad on the road when it's not wide open. You can discount transfers, academic ineligibility to some degree on players just not working out (look at Josh Grant, Ivan Jenkins at WU) but when you have a ton of it happening, it's on the coach.

But here is where I really feel is the reason Dunton won't ever be truly successful. Players aren't motivated by him and don't buy into his coaching. How many reports have I heard around the league that players don't even listen to him----enough to know that it's not just rumor. Good coaches get the buy-in from players and Dunton doesn't. I think he's an average X's and O's guy, but an F in motivation and leadership.

Just my two cents.

That's a nice two cents.

I'm sure a WU fan would prefer for RD to go away, especially since the last coach to win the Big South who is not named Gegg Marshall is actually named Randy Dunton. And if Marshall moves up and Dunton remains, which is likely, then Dunton becomes the last current coach to win the big one in the conference.

I can't wait.

But I'm not writing this year off yet either. And if LU or HPU pulls off the upset, then I guess that Marshall will be stuck at WU forever--good for WU, bad for Marshall

...and bad for the rest of the Big South. Oh my...2 WU/Marshall compliments in a week!

[Realist]

This debate has been lasting for a year.

I know some of you don't want my opinion but here it is.

I think Dunton is a pretty good recruiter, but not a good coach. I think he's more suited to an assistant job.

He's definitely brought talent in at a higher level than most of the Big South, no doubt about it, and you have to give him credit for it, not just say "that's the assistants." Well, if so, Dunton got good assistants that get good talent.

The problem is that I think his assests as a coach really end there. He seems to have trouble keeping guys around (transfers, ineligible, etc) to develop any cohesion. Look at this year's team, how they play, very good in an open court game because they have talent, but pretty bad on the road when it's not wide open. You can discount transfers, academic ineligibility to some degree on players just not working out (look at Josh Grant, Ivan Jenkins at WU) but when you have a ton of it happening, it's on the coach.

But here is where I really feel is the reason Dunton won't ever be truly successful. Players aren't motivated by him and don't buy into his coaching. How many reports have I heard around the league that players don't even listen to him----enough to know that it's not just rumor. Good coaches get the buy-in from players and Dunton doesn't. I think he's an average X's and O's guy, but an F in motivation and leadership.

Just my two cents.

That's a nice two cents.

I'm sure a WU fan would prefer for RD to go away, especially since the last coach to win the Big South who is not named Gegg Marshall is actually named Randy Dunton. And if Marshall moves up and Dunton remains, which is likely, then Dunton becomes the last current coach to win the big one in the conference.

I can't wait.

But I'm not writing this year off yet either. And if LU or HPU pulls off the upset, then I guess that Marshall will be stuck at WU forever--good for WU, bad for Marshall

Para,

I'm just giving you an outsider's view, and trust me, I'm not the only one. I've watched a good many games as have other people I know that have no dog in the fight. Personally, I would like for LU to get another coach, I'm pretty confident no matter who comes in the league WU will always have a good shot to win in the near to intermediate future, and WU needs someone else to help raise the league profile.

If LU or HPU pull off the upset, I guess WU will be a 13 seed rather than a 11.

[paradox]

Realist:

You are certain of an at-large and not the NIT with a loss?

[Realist]

I don't think it's assured, but I think it's a good bet.

[LUconn]

[Realist]

Have you looked at the record and projections?

RPIforecast.com


It's also not hurting that they've become a media darling.

[Purple Haize]

Ok, since this has gone in a predictable direction:
Why does it seem that the same people are saying the following: We are in our "first steps" "We have had sub par talent" and than "Look at the talent we HAD"??? So if we HAD such good talent and won, than how did we get such bad talent and lose but yet not bad enough that we can't rebound and make the Final Four next year??(Ok, maybe the BSC Final Four) Just a curious fact.

REALIST: You may be on to something.

[LUconn]

you need to follow the progession of the thread. We're talking about Winthrop's tourney chances now.


WU's RPI is 64 as of Sunday. I can't imagine a loss to any BSC team being anything but a catastrophe for that number. The highest RPI ever given an at large is 74. That's not a lot of wiggle room.

[Purple Haize]

Dang it. I am always behind!!
To answer the question 99% Unless they play Liberty in the finals at which point it moves up to 100% because of the dreaded STRIP SHIRT conspiracy. No way the NCAA Referees let LU win again and strike a victory for the religous right!!!

Plus they had a nice spread in USA Today today

[paradox]

WU's recent win at Missouri State was very impressive, but I'm not convinced that it will be enough to lock an at-large, if WU falls in the tourney.

[jcmanson]

It would be interesting to see. I think they would be slightly out, but I would not be suprised to see them in. I would have to give the edge to a VCU or Old Dominion over Winthrop, and I don't even know if both of them will get in. I would give that a 50/50 chance. I know Winthrop did beat ODU, but they both have higher RPI's and come from a conference where they have had a team reach the Final Four.

[paradox]

Hopefully, WU falls, and this conversation takes on a new life

[jcmanson]

In that manner, say we were guaranteed to be in the championship game, would you rather have a chance to knock off Winthrop in that game or have them be upset already?

[LUconn]

upset. We can beat anybody in the conference, but to beat WU everything would have to go our way. I'd rather play CSU in the championship.

[SuperJon]

That's a nice two cents.

I'm sure a WU fan would prefer for RD to go away, especially since the last coach to win the Big South who is not named Gegg Marshall is actually named Randy Dunton. And if Marshall moves up and Dunton remains, which is likely, then Dunton becomes the last current coach to win the big one in the conference.

Did he really just say that or is it the Robitussin I just chugged?

[Chris Lang]

Regarding Winthrop, I wrote an item for a notebook today exploring some of the high profile misses of the last five years, including Davidson the year it ran the table in the SoCon and lost in the tourney semifinals and Butler the year it won 26 games and lost in the Horizon first round. Neither made it. Winthrop's out of conference RPI and SOS are much, much better than those two teams, though. Neither had what you would call a signature win. Winthrop has three excellent road wins, and as of now, zero bad losses. They're certainly going to be in the at-large conversation. Whether they're a lock or not is anyone's guess.

Winthrop should root for teams like Memphis to win CUSA, because no other team in that league has an at-large profile worthy of consideration. If Memphis loses, a team that shouldn't get in will. And so on. They'll know by the time those tournaments starts whether they need to worry about it or not.

[flameshaw]

That's a nice two cents.

I'm sure a WU fan would prefer for RD to go away, especially since the last coach to win the Big South who is not named Gegg Marshall is actually named Randy Dunton. And if Marshall moves up and Dunton remains, which is likely, then Dunton becomes the last current coach to win the big one in the conference.

Did he really just say that or is it the Robitussin I just chugged?

I think pair of sox was drinking something a whole lot stronger than you SJ. Hope it never gets to the streets.

Go Flames!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!