|
Post by PAmedic on Oct 6, 2005 19:02:29 GMT -5
SMOOTHIE giving up the IDs now- between you and SCAR, remind me not to share any secrets! I was trying to be clever w/ the "overseer" comment! Unsuccessfully, I might add.
And now that CHRIS brought it up- I gotta admit, I do NOT understand this "bracket buster" thing. There was a big deal made about it over on Winthrop's board and I didn't want to admit it but I was completely lost. Someone please explain.
|
|
|
Post by Chris Lang on Oct 6, 2005 19:08:39 GMT -5
Medic, The Bracket Buster started as a smallish event pitting some of the top mid-majors against each other in an NCAA preview sort of setting in late February. Then it grew from 20ish teams to 40, then it grew to 60, now it's at 100. The teams are preselected so conference can adjust their schedules and find times to put in all of the league games. Only 11 of the 50 games will be televised. If you have to go on the road, like High Point and UNCA will have to, then the team you play must repay the trip the next year. So if UNCA has to go to, say, Nevada, then the Wolf Pack has to play in Asheville next year. They won't pair the games until late January, so they can try to set up the best matchups possible. If Winthrop's half as good as I think they'll be, they should get a quality game against a first-place team from the MAC or MVC or someone of that ilk. Hope that helps.
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Oct 6, 2005 19:14:43 GMT -5
ohhhhhhkayyyy- so these are REGULAR season games, not part of the official tourney, and you don't really control your own destiny- you are selected or invited to participate.
If that's the case, do you know in advance- far enough to cancel other games that would extend the season, or are these dates "built in" to the schedule.
(I may still be confused and missing the point)
|
|
|
Post by guest on Oct 6, 2005 19:24:29 GMT -5
Not saying it is not hard to schedule, but we are actually playing 3 Non- D1's this year.
As Follows:
Nov. 14 - Glenville St. - NCAA Div II WVIAC (West Virginia Inter. Athletic Conference)
* Scheduled as Exhibition Game
Nov. 21 Cincinatti Christian NCCAA Div. II (Christian NCAA) *Small school of around 1,000. PG of my High School and a fellow AAU teammate play there. Played Nicholls St (D1) Last season...lost 101-45
Dec. 2 - Lynchburg College NCAA Div III Member of ODAC (Old Dominion Athletic Conf.)
* Probabaly just not very good
|
|
|
Post by Chris Lang on Oct 6, 2005 19:47:16 GMT -5
Guest, no one plays exhibition games against DI schools. Not Duke. Not Illinois. Not Liberty.
They used to be played against international or traveling squads, but NCAA legislation has phased those out, so everyone plays DIIs.
Medic, The Bracket Buster games are regular-season games. The teams that are participating already know they are playing, so the schedules have been adjusted accordingly.
|
|
|
Post by coachdunton on Oct 6, 2005 21:58:46 GMT -5
Gentlemen-Things are as competitive on the Firehouse as they are in practice. In regards to the schedule...the past two years I put a brutual non-conference challenge in front of the guys to prepare them for the conference run and to be honest the losses were hard to overcome within team dynamics. I also wanted to challenge our administration with what characterizes a mid-major program(Miami-OH, Old Dominion, Ark St, Chattanooga) and our program's necessities to advance. Much has been accomplished structurally in terms of facilities and staffing. Foundations must proceed the actual structure. Scheduling opportunities for this team to gain confidence was the priority due to the youth. Even then road games are never easy...that is why Syacruse bugdets 500,000.00 to buy 10 home games. And John Thompson's Georgetown teams always played non's so do other top fifty programs. Scheduling is the second toughest issue next to recruiting for programs at our level. Let me make it clear that all of us make personal choices about how we are going to spend our time and energy. It's up to each of us to choose and walk the unique path that Providence opens and in the process to design a road map to performance excellence. Clarity is a big issue in our overloaded information and free access to opinion world. Our program is about growth and victory. The game of basketball honors toughness, discipline and intelligence. Our staff and team must allow that clarity to offer a road map as well as the freedom to go after what we most desire. Clarity also provides a built-in filter to reduce the distractions that would interfere with doing what needs to get done. We should all expect curves in the road ahead. Ambitions and desires are given to shifts and changes. Hitting an occasional wall happens in all walks of life so we make adjustments and additions. Crying over spilled milk or allowing the past to hold the future hostage is not what is going to get us over the hump. Continue to let me know who is on team to build something of significant(we will all figure out those whose goal is to tear down) and let the passion reign as we by God's grace penetrate the athletic culture with some Flames heat.
Budgets:examples of juice Liberty Volleyball: 1 head coach, 1part-time asst, no courtesy car Winthrop Volleyball: 1head coach, 2 full-time asst, 1 director of ops, contract & car Coastal: 48 million arena approved there is a stronger commitment to athletics as a marketing tool within the conference and that is good for the league.
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Oct 6, 2005 22:16:47 GMT -5
Medic, The Bracket Buster games are regular-season games. The teams that are participating already know they are playing, so the schedules have been adjusted accordingly. thank you sir. final question: does the outcome of these games affect the post season at all, other than seeding? IE: if you lose one, you are eliminated? I guess I was thrown off by the name- indicated these somehow affected the bracketing for the tourney.
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Oct 6, 2005 22:17:27 GMT -5
That summary was very well-articulated and directly on target. Sometimes we all get caught up in focusing ont he negative. Its tough not to this fall.
I guess not having to underwarite a I-AA football program allows Winthrop to jack up the other sports. That would explain their success.
|
|
|
Post by Chris Lang on Oct 6, 2005 22:19:57 GMT -5
Medic, the way the thing is scheduled now, it's tough for those games to hurt. The highest-ranked mid-majors will play each other, so it's more or less an opportunity to play against an RPI top 100 club late in the season and pick up a win. Losing to a RPI top 100 won't kill you.
Say Winthrop is 18-5 around this time, and they draw Creighton who is 20-3. It's a great game for TV pitting the top mid-majors in the country against each other, and it's an opportunity for one of these teams to pick up a quality non-conference win late in the year.
They're trying to give the nation a glimpse of potential NCAA tournament "bracket busters," hence the name.
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Oct 6, 2005 22:20:42 GMT -5
Re: the Winthrop thing- yeah, they do a nice job, esp w/ MBB. But for me, it would be somehow lacking. I guess I just feel that Football, even if you have a losing team, is the sort of "flagship" program for not only a university, but the NCAA as a whole.
Other than MBB, you basically have a ton of "other" sports about which many Americans couldn't care less- NOT THAT IT'S RIGHT, just life.
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Oct 6, 2005 22:21:49 GMT -5
And thanks again, CHRIS. I finally get the whole thing. Take the rest of the day off and double your salary!
|
|
|
Post by SCAR on Oct 7, 2005 8:39:05 GMT -5
Medic, Smoothie did out my man but I didn't really out anyone. At least not on the board and btw the person who I outed as you say has a personal relationship with the person I told. Come on man I can keep a secret :-). Like the time in Demoss when you....see you thought I was going to tell (just kidding Medic)....I can attest to the fact that scheduling is one of the hardest things to do at this level. During the time I was coaching in the mid 90's that still was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Oct 7, 2005 10:07:57 GMT -5
Just bustin your stones bro. Oh, forgot to tell you and SMOOTHIE thanks for the tip about the restaurant up Wards Road there, great steak and I watched the USC game. Mrs. PAmedic-2-B didn't mind too much either (whew!) well, she didn't complain anyway! (The PAmedic likes his food)
WOW- I hijacked this thread nicely.
|
|
|
Post by bigsmooth on Oct 10, 2005 18:52:37 GMT -5
im a little confused medic! who did i out? you guys have lost me! i apologize if i did!
|
|
GOAT
Junior Member
Posts: 55
|
Post by GOAT on Oct 12, 2005 9:35:49 GMT -5
Coach D, when are you bringing the team back down to Texas? The best players you have ever had came out of Texas so you need to continue to make an annual pilgrimage down here. Especially since my man from Plano East is going to be a stud for you.
|
|
|
Post by elicoolbreeze on Oct 12, 2005 10:53:03 GMT -5
Coach Dunton,
It was mentioned that Recruiting and Scheduling are the toughest components of being a Division I coach. Can you us what it is you enjoy the most about coaching at this level?
|
|
|
Post by coach dunton on Oct 14, 2005 15:00:39 GMT -5
The building of a program excites me and I have a strong passion/will to see it accomplished. LU has had some good teams but much work lay dormant needing energized attention to advance the community program model. There is the opportunity to establish a season ticket base that actually pays and strengthen the revenue channels of marketing. Recruiting has many positives and requires tremendous fleixibility, persistence and prayer. Seeing the young grow in an authenic way in their commitment to live out Christian faith not just experientially. Evan Risher in the last month has accepted God's call on his life to preach and the core of the team is involved with a bible study as well as regular campus church so progress is seen in that area. No one is claiming perfection if the critics are ambushing. As we start practice tonight I believe our structure as a program is the strongest in its history. Now on the floor I could use Peter Aluma but we are moving in the right direction to create an approach that should give real concrete suport in the areas of academics, strength & conditioning year round, individual skill progressions, community relations,recruiting and spiritual growth. Your encouragement and involvement are truly valued. Much can be accomplished if we can create a strong enough coalition to break through the battles of tradition, resistance and false expectations. Together we must build unity and pride it is imperative those of you who really desire to see our program succeed national rise above the voices that strive for division. Psalms 133, "How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It's like costly anointing oil...it's like the dew on Mt. Hermon...Yes, that where God commands the blessing!!..."
|
|
|
Post by coachdunton on Oct 14, 2005 15:07:47 GMT -5
sorry i forgot to log in
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Oct 14, 2005 15:11:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the update, Coach. That is fantastic news about Evan. We need more quality Texans on the team like him in the future. Since it is timely, what was the buzz at Media Days? I know its one of th few times you get to hang out with the other coaches in the league without the pressure directly on you.
|
|
|
Post by flamesfan710 on Oct 15, 2005 7:47:15 GMT -5
What Id like to know is if we are going back to the 3-guard system or are we going with 2 guards since we have so many big men
|
|
|
Post by coachdunton on Oct 16, 2005 10:06:14 GMT -5
Sly-Not much news in the coaches meeting worth discussing. John Guthrie has taken over as the officials coordinator for the Big South. John does the SEC, Ohio Valley and Atlantic Sun conferences as well. On the upside for the Flames John fired three veteran officials that I believe needed some accountability to performance. So the ACC officials will now have no duel membership with the Big South. Flamesfan710-Through three practices it looks like Damien at 6'6" will be on the perimeter though he has good size his ballhandling and skills still put us in a three guard look. I hope we can feature our perimeters this year like Illinois did with their perimeters last season. The guys gave great effort for the first three practices. Rell Porter is much improved.
|
|
|
Post by Sly Fox on Oct 16, 2005 10:09:42 GMT -5
Coach - You've mentioned Russell a few times. Can you tell us about his progress since arriving on campus? I'd love to hear where you think his strengths on the floor will be this season.
|
|
|
Post by youcantsaythat on Oct 16, 2005 10:31:55 GMT -5
Coach-Do you see Russell developing into the type of interior player that you can run the offense through (inside-out) or will he be primarily a rebounder/shot blocker type?
|
|
|
Post by coachdunton on Oct 16, 2005 19:51:29 GMT -5
Russell Monroe is 6'10+" 245lbs with a 7'4+" wingspan. His strength is greatly improved over freshman year. Russell needs playing time to gain the experience level to have the confidence of his abilities. He has a tremendous shooting touch and is capable of making big high post face up 17' shots. His persistence is refreshing, work ethic superior and character rarely match so I believe he will develop into an impact. His inexperience some- times causes him to get passive because alot of complexities can be coming from all angles. I am stressing confidence as our main objective with this young team and the ability to get Russell to 10pt/6reb numbers will go along way towards the Flames being a real contender. I do believe that when the experience comes (which I hope is before January) Russell will be a go to player and I have already given him the green light on face up shots 17' and in. He is a joy to coach and should be a big piece to future successes. Thanks for the inquiries on the big fella.
|
|
grm
Full Member
Posts: 158
|
Post by grm on Oct 17, 2005 6:22:20 GMT -5
Sure is great to have this kind of presence and this level of discussion. Thanks to all.
|
|
|
Post by elicoolbreeze on Oct 17, 2005 21:48:19 GMT -5
Coach Dunton,
You previously had mentioned the possibility of redshirting Tyler Baker due to an injury. What is his current status healthwise and are you going to redshirt him? Losing Tyler Baker's services must be a concern for this year, since we are starting thin with only an 11 man roster. Could you explain why we are starting the season with only 11 players? I am assuming that your hands were tied in regards to scholarships or you are holding them back for next year.
|
|
|
Post by coachdunton on Oct 18, 2005 2:39:15 GMT -5
Elicoolbreeze-Tyler Baker ... will be evaluated over the next two weeks- it was super to have him in practice yesterday. He has a skill package to be a real contributor. The factors determining 11 scholarships revolve around Elijah Miller's dimissal late in the summer and Rashad Robinson's decision to not stay after returning to campus in September. We were unable to secure another impact post player after Miller's departure and I felt like Russell, Jeremy Eck and Rashad would give us enough substance in the post. The timing of Rashad's decision hurt our ability to find a prospect and get through the admission process. The frustration is we could have sign a 20 yr old 6'9" 250lbs German junior national team player in late August, his game appeared to be alot like Rashad's ...big body played below the rim. The reality of committing two post scholarships and having no talent on the roster for this season does leave us thin. As we look forward priority one is to sign two mid major post players for the Flames. As for this year no excuse making is the answer rather as Parcells states, " Don't talk to me about the pain just show me the baby."
[EDIT - I tightened up some things dancing along the edge of HIPPA law]
|
|
|
Post by PAmedic on Oct 18, 2005 12:29:47 GMT -5
...no excuse making is the answer rather as Parcells states, " Don't talk to me about the pain just show me the baby." That sums it up! Great quote- maybe that should be posted in the FB Ops center as well.
|
|
|
Post by PittLU on Oct 19, 2005 13:54:42 GMT -5
Coach, could you briefly explain how the men's program goes through the recruting process? How do you indentify prospects? How do you determine who to have visit or to go visit? From previous discussion on this board (not necessarily pertaining to basketball) it sounded as if much of the recruiting is done by athletes who contact Liberty first.
I am sure you have coaches who are in charge of a region, but with the vast amounts of talent out there, it must be extremely taxing to be able to narrow down the field. You also have the Christianity aspect unique to Division I sports. Recruiting for Liberty must be one of the most unique situations for any head/assistant coaches in college sports. It would be really cool to hear your perspective on the opportunity.
|
|
|
Post by coachdunton on Oct 19, 2005 20:18:06 GMT -5
LUPITT thanks for the question and your interest in Lberty basketball. Recruiting is the lifeline of any program, therefore it must be given financial commitment, structure and human resource. Each day must consist of a shower, shave and recruiting(PAmedic might use a different phase). It is a twelve month process and with today youth you can always count on the unhappy transferring. The four full time staff members typically see 2,500 to 3,000 prospects play during the July recuiting period. We also subscribe to six or seven scouting services that evaluate and identify prospects. The initial phone conversations to the prospect and family usually reveals if the interest in the Liberty environment is present or is there a fit in some capacity. The correspondence we mail goes every MWF and is an attraction to the families. We use a Wooden wisdom, Maxwell message and Swindoll living insight ...many comment on the use of our material as family motivation hanging on refrig on elsewhere. Very critical to build solid relationships that get pass just the image of television programs. Visits are determined by our staff's input and my conversation with the prospects. The biggest factor is to get the parents and prospect on the campus. We have great success when the families touch Liberty, see the facilities and meet the people(always get them with Dr. Falwell-he is the best with the parents on his vision/commitment). Coach Sherard coordinates all recruiting and that is a full time job. His mandate is to attract the best talent in the Big South and then more us in the position to year in and out make a serious run at the top hundred prospect who are fits for Liberty. Zack and Chuck are very active in the prospects they get invoved with so each of us should have a list of ten to fifteen potential players. The influences of the South and Bible belt certainly create the necessity to evaluate as many as possible in those regions. Texas is a great pool of talent and the high school do the best job in the country supporting athletics. I find it easy to sell Liberty because I believe so much in the benefits of the experience. I am passionate to see the program bless first and foremost our Chancellor for all he has done to build a university and fund athletics. I do believe that we are on the verge of a surge to toward the next step in the growth of our program. Jason Eaker is tremendous and I can tell you to be in staff meetings and ask what was Oklahoma or Virginia doing in every situation is a resource benefit few at our level enjoy. It is paramount that our alumni inform us and we are dogged in turning over every meaningful lead. We are going to go hard back on the international front this coming year.
|
|