For the first time in school history, Liberty (28-6, 14-2 ASUN) is in the NCAA Tournament as something other than a 16-seed, as the Flames, a 12-seed, will face the 5-seed in the East regional Mississippi State (23-10, 10-8 SEC). The first round matchup is scheduled to tip-off from San Jose on Friday at 7:27 eastern.
The selection brought cheers from a group of about 1,000 Liberty faithful who gathered in the Vines Center to watch CBS’ Selection Show on the video boards with the team and coaches.
The Flames are set for the program’s 4th ever NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2013. Liberty is 0-3 all-time in the Big Dance, losing to 1-seed North Carolina in 1994, 1-seed St. Joseph’s in 2004, and fellow 16-seed North Carolina A&T in 2013.
This appearance will be much different for the Flames, as 16-seeds are just 1-135 against 1-seeds all-time, compared to a 47-89 mark by 12-seeds in the first round.
“That’s significant,” Coach McKay said of the Flames getting a 12-seed. “If you look at some of the teams that were 13, 14, 15, 16, for Liberty to have an opportunity to be a 12-seed, on that line, and play against a 5, I think that’s a huge accomplishment for our program and what our guys have done. I’m proud of them.”
One story-line to watch is Liberty’s Director of Player Development Joe Pierre III will face his brother Josh Pierre who is MSU’s Video Coordinator.
The winner of the first round matchup will face the winner of 4-seed Virginia Tech and 13-seed Saint Louis.
“Mississippi State is a quality team,” McKay said on his initial thoughts on the Flames’ first round opponent. “Although the wait was long, we finally know who we’re playing, and obviously we will have our work cut out for us. (They have a) great backcourt – Quinndary Weatherspoon, Lamar Peters. I coached against Ben Howland, before not looking forward to that. He’s a fabulous coach. I know how tenacious they are, and how good they will be defensively. I know it will be a tall task.”
McKay faced Howland when the two were head coaches in the Big Sky at Portland State and Northern Arizona, respectively. The pair split the 4 games they faced each other in 1996-97 and 97-98. Liberty has played the Bulldogs once previously, losing 78-67 in the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico on December 19, 2005.
