[Chris Lang]

I'm not bashing the team at all. Russell was not a serviceable Division I player last season. He wasn't physical enough to hang with any post players. That's not bashing, that's truth. All I'm saying is that I'm not going to be convinced Russell has gotten any better until he shows it on the court in meaningful games.

[SuperJon]

I'm a hater and fair-weather fan because I want to see the team win? That statement is just dumb. I love how I'm a fair weather fan when I've been to every football game except SSU, every soccer game when I wasn't working, and how I sank around $150 to promote football and basketball this summer. I'm definitely a fair weather fan.

[SuperJon]

To people here, unless you're praising everything that someone does then you're hating on them or bashing them.

[LUconn]

It's because he's a 3/4 tweener stuck in a 5's body. I want to see him play with somebody else at the 5. That's not his game. He doesn't have any post moves. He is a font shooting tall guy. I think his height can be better used for us getting the opposing team's center out of rebounding position by taking some mid-range jumpers if we insist on him playing center.

Unfortunatly for him, on the defensive side, he's got 4 inches on everybody and still can't rebound.

[Chris Lang]

I agree with you LUconn. He doesn't have the defensive skills to defend fives. He shoots it well from mid-range and gets up and down the floor well for a guy his size. Just because he's 6-11, that doesn't mean he HAS to be a five. Unfortunately, Liberty has little choice of where to play him. There really isn't a true five on the roster. (No, McClean doesn't count). Rell isn't even a true four, but he makes up for his lack of size with his unrelenting effort.

The good thing in the Big South is that there's only one "true" five in the league who is any good, and that's Bradshaw at Winthrop.

[jcmanson]

SJ, you didn't say anything about wanting the team to win. You were complaining that the bball team is getting new stuff when baseball or softball wasn't. I didn't see anything about you wanting them to win.

Also, you saying that they get new crap every year and was horrible is not accurate either because you've only been here for one basketball season. How do you know how they have been in the past. The 3 years before you came here, they finished in the top 2 each year, and won the tournament once. Don't tell me they are horrible every year. Yes, they were pretty bad last year, but the team and coach deserves at least one more year to prove themselves. AT LEAST.

[LUconn]

alright, I'll clear this up right now

99%-of-all-universities-nation-wide's scale of importance:

1. Football Team
2. Men's Basketball Team
3. All other sports

I suppose a few schools including Liberty could throw the WBB team at #3 and bump 3 to 4. This is why the basketball team gets new uniforms. and the baseball, softball and whocaresball are wearing their stuff from 1985.

[SuperJon]

I just picked baseball and softball out of a hat. I could've said any sport.

If I didn't want the team to win, would I be posting on here?

How do I know how they did before last year? I read on here and read other places about it. Just like I know about LU's 9-2 year where they didn't make the playoffs and I was in 6th grade.

If LU doesn't finish in the top 2, maybe 3 this year, Dunton's gone. I'll leave it at that because I know this is a very, VERY pro-Dunton board.

[LUconn]

If LU doesn't finish in the top 2, maybe 3 this year, Dunton's gone. I'll leave it at that because I know this is a very, VERY pro-Dunton board.

hahahahhahahaha, you're joking right?

It doesn't matter if you're pro or anti dunton. The fact is that we gave Karcher a 5 year extension after blowing chunks for many many years. We kept Mel around for 4 years too long (I think he was only here for 4), and that was after finishing dead last in the NCAA. All 300+ teams. If you think Dunton is going anywhere before at least 4 more years short of a scandal, you don't know this school.

[LUconn]

Out of curiousity, what has Dunton done to earn your disdain? Finish 2nd to last, last year? I can't think of one other thing he's failed at. Well I guess we did bow out of the tourney a little early 2 years ago.

[Sly Fox]

SJ is new to LU so cut him some slack in regard to school history. Suffice it to say that as the school continues to grow and with the football program getting on track, there will be more expected out of the mens hoops program. Personally I think Coach D is the man to get it done. But I don't think we'll ever allow another Mel situation to linger like we did.

[thesportscritic]

you'll see a brand new russel. he's gotten better..

Not to be rude, but I'll believe that when I see it, and only then.

i definitely have to side with Chris on Russell Monroe

[jcmanson]

I'm right with you LUconn, I don't know what's wrong with all these LU supporters that are against him. I've yet to hear a valid argument. I keep hearing he runs players off, he yells too much, he's the worst coach, blah blah blah. Bring me some proven facts.

[SuperJon]

I had a whole thing typed out about how I've learned of the history of LU since I've got here.

The reason I say he's gone is because we replaced football and the AD. We want to win. We've turned the corner in football. The administration is not going to allow basketball to not be good. They're making too much money off the Flames Club in football for interest to completely dip during basketball season.

[PAmedic]

I agree with the theory that LU athletics will no longer ride a tired, dying or dead horse for several seasons.

That having been said, I don't believe Coach D has reached that point at ALL. Again, from having met the man personally, I was impressed with his drive and desire- not that those are the ONLY 2 qualifications needed- winning certainly trumps both!- but that may be a major difference between him and previous regimes in other sports.

*BTW- you can tell its a slllloooowwwww football week when EVERY MBB thread devolves into a Dunton-bash-fest

[SuperJon]

Ok, 2-3 may be high but if we don't finish in the top half of the league I think he'll be on some seriously thin ice.

Like I've said multiple times in other threads, I have no problem with him personally. I've never said I have a problem with him as a coach. I haven't paid close enough attention to the team to know whether or not he's a good coach. I was trying to get settled at the end of the season last year.

I just get the feeling that with the new administration, and the new emphasis on basketball and football, if he doesn't finish in the top half of the league, they're going to do something to get the excitement level back up. It's all about the Benjamins.

[LUconn]

I keep hearing he runs players off, he yells too much

yeah, what a jerk. he won't put up with players not playing defense. What a harsh monster.

[jcmanson]

OK, I agree with you there SJ. If we don't finish in the top half of the league this year then it is definitely time to LOOK into getting another coach, but I can guarantee you that (unless Blair is out for the entire conference season) we will finish in the top half of the league.

[SuperJon]

I sure hope you're right. I really really really hope you're right.

[jmdickens]

My problems with Dunton are not personal, it's just on the facts that he cannot win. I want to win, I hope DUNTON and LIBERTY win every game; however, I will not praise him for not even having a .500 winning percentage

[jcmanson]

My problems with Dunton are not personal, it's just on the facts that he cannot win. I want to win, I hope DUNTON and LIBERTY win every game; however, I will not praise him for not even having a .500 winning percentage

What facts are you looking at? He has won every year he's been year except for last year. The final record has not been above .500 except for the championship year, and that's because of the tough schedule. We were just one game under the other two years surrounding that year.

I'm tired of hearing this lame excuse. He's had one year where he hasn't won. ONE.

Look at his records in the conference 8-6, 12-4, 11-5, 3-13. One bad out of 4.

[jmdickens]

2002-2003 overall record: 14-15 (conference: 9-9) RPI rank: 258
2003-2004 overall record: 16-15 (conference: 11-4) RPI rank: 176
2004-2005 overall record: 12-15 (conference: 11-5) RPI rank: 219
2005-2006 overall record: 4-23 (conference: 3-13) RPI rank: 316

Note***the records reflect wins and losses against NCAA divison 1 teams only.....

Our WEAK conference gives us the majority of our wins. Thanks jcmanson for your failed attempt to prove me wrong

[jmdickens]

excuse me 12-4 in 2003-3004

[LUconn]

2002-2003 overall record: 14-15 (conference: 9-9) RPI rank: 258
2003-2004 overall record: 16-15 (conference: 11-4) RPI rank: 176
2004-2005 overall record: 12-15 (conference: 11-5) RPI rank: 219
2005-2006 overall record: 4-23 (conference: 3-13) RPI rank: 316

Note***the records reflect wins and losses against NCAA divison 1 teams only.....

Our WEAK conference gives us the majority of our wins. Thanks jcmanson for your failed attempt to prove me wrong

I'm starting to question your overall cbb knowledge. Do you know how it works?

[jmdickens]

enlighten me!!! I know more than you think..