Liberty opens conference play Friday afternoon at approximately 2pm against 4-seed UNC-Asheville in a game that will be carried on ESPN3. Here’s what you need to know about the game:
1. The Bulldogs are 19-11 overall and 12-6 in Big South play.
They finished tied for 3rd place with Coastal Carolina and just 1 game out of first place.
2. Asheville has lost 3 out of their last 5 games.
Photo courtesy citizen-times.com
Prior to this stretch, they were in first place in the Big South at 10-3.
3. UNCA has won 9 straight games against the Flames.
Liberty’s last win in the series came in 2011.
4. The Flames are 3-4 all-time in the Big South Tournament against Asheville.
This includes an 80-70 loss in last year’s 6/11 game.
5. The Bulldogs lead the conference in 3-point defense.
Photo courtesy USA Today
Opponents are shooting just 29.7% from 3 against Asheville, as they rank 6th in the country in that statistic.
6. Liberty leads the Big South in 3-pointers made this season.
Liberty Basketball is in the midst of an amazing turn around.
The Flames have made 277 three pointers.
7. Ritchie McKay was 2-2 during his first 2 Big South Tournaments.
Each season he lost in the semifinals, including a loss to UNCA in the 2008 tournament.
