Replace Dunton

[Guest]

I found this by accident, but maybe i found some people who care about LU. As someone who is very close to the program, let me tell you that this season failures rely heavily on the wide shoulders of Randy Dunton. Has anyone noticed 6 players of his first two recruiting classes have packed their bags? Harry was not hurt...but encouraged to leave, and Monceaux..although not heavily relied on, just failed to return after finals. And if anyone knows low major college basketball, Dunton isnt really bringing in these recruits. His assistants do most of the work and have given him an athletic group of guys that should be competing and winning ball games...not losing by 40+. Last season success was a combination and some great seniors and solid leadership, that is all gone this year and you see how the team is. He is a unpersonable guy and does not know how to treat people. Trace his past, his players have not liked him before and it is happening again. Just watch along the sidelines next game...its noticable. These guys are obviously not motivated to play for him, we need someone who does.

Karcher..5 more years? Are you kidding me. Talk to the players...they all can not stand him either...This is a sad trend at LU..and a trend that almost makes me not even tell people where i am from.

[LUconn]

Hey, why don't you take a moment to register a name on this board. You can stay a while and discuss things with us.

I'll agree with you on the calibur of players that come here. They're athletic and decent players. Last year's team was definatly unreal. But all though that season, I thought to myself, Dunton does not manage this team very well. And now he's doing it with lesser calibur players. I don't know if I'd boot him just yet, but either way, he'll be here for many years to come. Do you and "Formerplayer" know eachother? He, apparently, is a former player.

[Guest 4 life]

I do not know who former player is, but have my guesses reading and agreeing with a lot of what he has said. There will be many changes after this season, and lets hope they make the right one which I think you know who i am referring to. If not it is gonna be a sad and long future for Liberty basketball. I hope these guys can come together like last years group and make another run in the Big South...no thanks to RD

[eddantes]

I'm not satisfied with Coach Dunton, but let's face it - in two years, the guy was at the helm of the worst program in the nation, and took them to the Big Dance.

While you can argue that it wasn't really his doing, that he had great seniors, take this into consideration - most of those seniors were his recruits, believe it or not. Gabe Martin - the team's best player - transferred to LU after going to a community college in Kansas. But before he was there, he went to Binghampton, with (then) assistant coach Randy Dunton. Other seniors? Ryan Mantlo (friends with Coach Davis - who Dunton brought it - I believe).

Some of the people that left the program...
Daniel Rose - Rose was injured before he even played a game. But the guy had so much respect for the program that he truthfully told them he was hurt before arriving at LU, so Liberty didn't have to use a scholarship.
Valentino Richardson - From the Bahamas, his brother died and he returned there, and didn't want to come back.
Norman Simmons - We didn't want Norman in the first place. He was the 3rd leading scorer at the school where Tracy McGrady once went, and we thought that by recruiting him we could get the 2nd leading scorer. In any event, in his one year, Simmons got into a fight with one of the players and additionally racked up a huge number of reprimands to the point where he was practically kicked out.
Jeremy Monceaux - Larry Blair's better, and will continue to be better for the rest of his career. Monceaux was the king in high school, playing under his father. But he injured his ACL and just isn't as good anymore. I do wish him the best of luck, though.
Harry Williams - Wasn't that good; Brian Woodson is better. Besides, he left with one semester of eligibility remaining.

CONCLUSION: (sorry for this being lengthy).
Dunton is getting blown out of games. Sure. But the reality of things is that he saved the program, and is thus entitled to a grace period of a few years. We should be thankful for what he's done.

[Sly Fox]

Guest --- First off, you have found a place where those of us who do care about the program come to postulate and vent. Go ahead and register (which can still be done anonymously) so we can keep track of which guest said what.

That said, your statements are not exactly surprising. I can tell you that Dunton sure seeemed popular as an assistant according to some of the players from back in the day. But its always much tougher to maintain good relationships with players as an HC than assistant. Sometimes, it doesn't matter as long as the players do what what is required (i.e. Texas Tech).

And you are absolutely correct that the talent is on campus to at least be competitive in every contest. Something is clearly wrong. But its tough to place the blame at any one person at this point. While the head coach is ultimately responsible for the team results, every athlete is responsible for their own actions. And with few exceptions, there hasn't been much for anyone to be proud of thus far this season. And no, I'm not playa-hatin'. I'm just stating facts that everyone is respoinsible for themselves to a certain extent. Perhaps Dunton is not the right man for the job ... I have no idea sitting 1200+ miles away in Texas. But there clearly is blame not just with him.

I see you working on who you would like to see step up as Dunton's replacement. I have a strong idea who you are referring to. My only question is whether ornot that person is ready for a DI head gig? Everybody needs a first job. Its just something to think about. Frankly, if I am correct in who you are referring to, I would love to see him at the helm. He's a good man who may flourish.

Ed --- I fully understabnd your allegiance to the man who turned around a program that was on life support when he arrived. That's the reason I think most of us alumni are willing to bite the bullet int he short term. But basketball is a fluid game ... you can fall as fast as you rise. Hopefully the team turns the corner now with league play about to begin. If not, it may be time to reassess the situation.

Isn't it great to have a place to discuss these ideas? It wasn't long ago my wife had to endure all my rants. She now loves this site since she doesn't have to hear about things she could care less about.

[LUconn]

I've always thought that the ideal scenario would be Dunton as the assistant and recruiter and somebody with gametime coaching skills at the head. I may be mistaken but I think that's how it was in '94 or whenever we made the tourney. This, obviously, can not happen since Dunton wouldn't take a lesser position. Now, onto Maryland. Maybe we can keep it within 30.

[Formerplayer]

Hello eveyone hope everybody had a Merry X-mas (especially Slyfox, and LUconn). There has ben plenty of action on the board since I last logged on, I really like that it seems like the board is growing.

I knew LU was near the bottom of the RPI and Sagarin but I didn't realize they were that low, wow. Someone made a comment about the program being on life support before Dunton arrived...... maybe but remember in 00-01 LU was Nathan Day lay-up away from playing in the Big South Championship game and like someone said success can turn into failure overnight. With that said I'm not calling this season a failure just yet we have played a tough schedule so far (losing to New Hampshire @ home is not acceptable) we will have to wait until and see. I don't think you fire a guy after a NCAA tourney appearance but if this year ends in disaster, and next season isn't much better then you can start to panic not yet though.
To be completely honest with you I didn't think should have been hired in the first place. He has done some shady things in the past. I will not go into to much detail because I don't want to reveal my identity just yet. He is a reason why Meyer left along with pressure from AD, Kim Grahm. That is a name that rings a bell Jeff Meyer, though I don't think he would ever consider returning.

My prediction on tonight's game MD-85 LU-59 I'm sorry for the long reply, but in a weird internet way I missed you guys. Hope all of you have a safe and happy New Year. Slyfoxx how is Willowridge, and Hightower doing this year, who's the team to beat in the Houston area?


A former player


Dunton is just a few bad losses in Big South play from returning the program back to the Mel Hankinson's dump.

[Sly Fox]

Hey Former Player ... Christmas was great down here in the Bayou City (for much of the area it was a White Christmas for the first time in like 60 years).

You are absolutely correct that the Flames have had some positive moments over the past decade prior to Mel and Dunton. When you play in a (sub) mid-major conference like the Big South, it doesn't take much to turn things around in a hurry with the right circumstances. That's what we are hoping for as we prepare for league play. Because our non-conference sched could not have gone more poorly. I agree that it is not time to panic yet ... but my finger is slowly inching its way toward the button.

As for anything Dunton may or may not have done in the past, its probably in everyone's best interests to not stir any of that up right now. Basketball recruiting can be a VERY ugly business. I've seen some of its unseemly underbelly. Its a fine line between staying within the letter of NCAA regulations and slipping to the other side. Sometimes it is simply a matter of perspective.

As for Dunton's involvement in the departure of JM, you would probably have more knowledge of that than I would. Jeff had a shockingly long tenure at LU leading the ascent from D2 to DI. I'm sure he was happy to see a change of scenery. I sincerely doubt that a return of Meyer will ever be in the cards for a number of reasons. Although I certainly wouldn't have issues with it happening.

The carnage at Maryland was worse than I anticipated at 112-68 even with the Terps allowing us to make it slightly less embarassing down the stretch (if losing by 44 can be any less humiliating).

As for Willowridge, things haven't gone their way. The explosive growth of FBISD has stolen their talent base. According to Jim Hicks' rating on rcssports.com (maybe you remember him from back in the day) the 'Ridge isn't ranked at all while Hightower is 16th. The new school Marshall is where the ballers are going these days down in the SW. Marshall is 5th. The clear team to beat is Kingwood which is currently 14th in USA Today's Super 25. Elsik & Bellaire are probably the other two public schools who can hang with Kingwood. Westbury Christian is the top private these days after Tang left Heritage Christian for an assistant gig at Baylor (where he has proven to be a phenomenal recruiter). Gerald Green at Gulfshores is the top senior in the nation and that charter school has become THE place to go for reclassification.