For the first time since 2021, Liberty (28-6, 13-5 CUSA) is in the NCAA Tournament as the Flames saw their name flash on the CBS’ Selection Show as a 12-seed. The Flames will face the 5-seed Oregon (24-9, 12-8 Big 10) in the East regional for a game on Friday in Seattle.
The game is scheduled to tip at 10:10 pm Eastern from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington with a capacity of 18,300. The game will be televised on TruTV and Lisa Byington, Robbie Hummel, Jalen Rose, and Andy Katz will be on the call. Climate Pledge Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Seattle, located North of downtown. It is the home of the Seattle Kraken of the NHL and the Seattle Storm of the WNBA with a capacity of 18,300.
“First of all, it’s a privilege just to have a chance to be in the NCAA Tournament,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay of his initial reaction on seeing the matchup. “The anticipation from after we won the conference championship last night to this morning it’s like waiting for Christmas when you were a little kid waiting to open the presents. Then I saw the draw and back to reality because Coach Altman’s phenomenal. He’s a Hall of Famer. I’ve watched him a few times this year. We will have our work cut out for us, but it is the NCAA Tournament and you can expect nothing less.”
The Flames are set for the program’s 7th ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Liberty is 1-5 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 as part of the First Four held in Dayton, and No. 4-seed Oklahoma State in 2021. In 2019, as a 12-seed, Liberty upset 5-seed Mississippi State for the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament win before falling to 4-seed Virginia Tech in the second round.
The winner will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday and will play the winner of 4-seed Arizona and 13-seed Akron.
This is the second straight trip to the Big Dance for Oregon, as they made it as an 11-seed, defeating 6-seed South Carolina before falling to 3-seed Creighton in double overtime in the second round. Dana Altman is in his 15th season as head coach of the Ducks and this is the 8th tournament appearance for Oregon under Altman, reaching at least the Sweet 16 five times including one Final Four appearance in 2017.
The Ducks are led by 7’0″ senior big man Nate Bittle. The Oregon native is averaging 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game this season while shooting 51.0% from the field.
6’0″ sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad is second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points per game. He is making 43.8% of shots and 36.6% from three. TJ Bamba and Keeshawn Barthelemy also average double figures scoring. Bamba, a 6’5″ senior guard is averaging 10.4 points per game. He shoots 38.6% from the field and 25.5% from three. Barthelemy, a 6’1″ senior guard is averaging 10.1 points per game and shoots 41.7% from three.
“Nate Bamba is one of my favorite players, versatile big,” said McKay. “TJ Bamba is one of the best forwards in the country. Then they got a miniature Peyton Pritchard in Shelstad. (Former Liberty strength coach) Henry Barrera and Peyton were really close. Henry reminded me of how good Shelstad was.”
After entering the Big 10 Tournament this past week as a No. 8 seed, the Ducks received a first round bye before defeating No. 9 seed Indiana in the second round. Oregon was upended by No. 1 seed Michigan State in the Quarterfinals on Friday.
This will be Liberty’s second trip to Seattle this year. The Flames’ first true road game and second game of the season was at Seattle U. Liberty won that game, 66-64, thanks to a late second three-pointer by CUSA Tournament MVP Kaden Metheny. Coach McKay went to college in Seattle and his wife, Julie, is also from the area, so it will be a bit of a homecoming for the McKay’s to the Pacific Northwest.
