Liberty is preparing to make its 6th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 following the Flames’ third straight ASUN regular season and tournament championship. The Flames were a 16-seed in each of the school’s first three NCAA Tournament appearances before receiving a 12-seed in 2019. Before the 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the COVID pandemic, the Flames were likely to receive a 12-seed once again. This year, Liberty is currently being projected by most bracket projections as a 13-seed.

With a lot of basketball to still be played during Championship Week this week, there are still many questions left about the final tournament field and seeding of the teams. We have identified eight teams who Liberty is most likely to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

FLORIDA STATE

The Seminoles finished the regular season 15-5 overall and 11-4 in ACC play. FSU finished in second place in the conference, just behind the Virginia Cavaliers. Leonard Hamilton’s team will play in the ACC Tournament on Thursday, their opponent yet to be determined.

Florida State opened the season with an 86-58 win over ASUN member North Florida. The Seminoles are currently ranked No. 22 in the NET Rankings. They are currently being projected right on the 4/5 seed line.

FSU has a balanced offensive attack with five players scoring between 8.7 and 13.1 points per game this season. Their typical starting lineup features guys listed at 6’4″, 6’5″, 6’6″, 6’8″, and 7’1″.

KANSAS

The Jayhawks finished the regular season at 19-9 and 12-6 in the Big 12, good enough for 2nd in the conference, just ahead of West Virginia, Texas, and Oklahoma State. They are scheduled to begin play in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday.

Kansas is currently ranked No. 14 in the NET and being projected as either a 3 or 4 seed. Their typical starting lineup features guys listed at 6’5″, 6’5″, 6’6″, 6’8″, and 6’10”. The Jayhawks have five players who average double figures, led by guard Ochai Agbaji and forward David McCormack who are at 13.7 and 13.4 points per game, respectively.

OKLAHOMA STATE

The Cowboys are 18-7 overall and 11-7 in Big 12 play following the conclusion of the regular season. They are currently being projected as a 4-seed with a NET ranking of 30. Oklahoma State is scheduled to face West Virginia on Thursday in the Big 12 Tournament.

6’8″ freshman Cade Cunningham is considered by many to be the top prospect in the 2021 NBA Draft. He leads the Cowboys with 19.7 points per game to go along with 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He’s shooting 45.5% from the field and 42.5% from three.

The rest of Oklahoma State’s typical starting lineup are listed at 6’2″, 6’3″, 6’5″, and 6’9″. 6’3″ guard Avery Anderson III is the only other player currently averaging double figures at 11.1 points per game.

PURDUE

The Flames are familiar with the Boilermakers as the two opened the season against one another. Purdue picked up the win, 77-64, on Nov. 25. It is Liberty’s only loss by double figures this season. The Flames struggled with Purdue’s size, being out-rebounded 30-24. 7’4″ freshman Zach Edey had 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting from the field in just 16 minutes. Darius McGhee paced the Flames with 21 points, making 4 of 14 from three point range to go with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Micaiah Abii had 19 points in the loss.

Purdue finished the regular season 18-8 overall and 13-6 in the Big Ten. They are scheduled to begin Big Ten Tournament play on Friday as the 4-seed. The Boilermakers are currently ranked No. 20 in the NET and being projected as a 4-seed.

TEXAS

The Longhorns finished the regular season at 17-7 overall and 11-6 in the Big 12. They are scheduled to face Texas Tech on Thursday in the Big 12 Tournament. Shaka Smart, in his 6th season in Austin, has a team currently No. 24 in the NET and being projected as a 4-seed by most.

6’4″ guard Andrew Jones leads Texas in scoring at 14.9 points per game. 6’3″ guard Courtney Ramey is averaging 13.6 points per game while 6’2″ guard Matt Coleman III and 6’9″ forward Greg Brown are also averaging double figures in scoring. 6’10” forward Jericho Sims rounds out the usual Texas starting lineup. Sims is averaging 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

VILLANOVA

The Wildcats are an interesting team when it comes to their potential seeding. At 16-5 overall and 11-4 in the Big East, Villanova was being projected as a 2-seed by many recently. Ranked No. 11 in the NET, the Wildcats are beginning to slide in many bracket projections following the loss of two key guards due to injury.

6’4″ guard Justin Moore suffered a severe ankle sprain on Saturday against Providence. He’s likely out of the entire Big East Tournament this weekend and his status for the NCAA Tournament is currently unclear. Moore was third on the team in scoring at 12.7 points per game to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists each outing.

6’3″ guard Collin Gillespie suffered a torn MCL last Wednesday against Creighton and he is out for the rest of the season. Gillespie was second on the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game and led the team in assists at 4.6 per night.

6’9″ forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl leads the team with 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. 6’7″ forward Jermaine Samuels and 6’4″ guard Caleb Daniels are also averaging double figures.

Villanova was only going 7 or 8 deep in most games prior to the injuries to Moore and Gillespie. The Wildcats will begin Big East Tournament play Thursday against the winner of Georgetown-Marquette.

VIRGINIA

If Liberty and Virginia are to meet in the NCAA Tournament, it will have plenty of interesting story lines. The story of Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay and his long time friend Tony Bennett has been told. McKay worked under Bennett when the Cavaliers’ head coach took the job in Charlottesville. It’s where Liberty’s head coach got a graduate degree, as he says, in the Packline defense.

The Cavaliers are being projected as either a 4 or 5 seed in recent bracket projections with a current NET ranking of 13. They finished as the regular season champion in the ACC with a 17-6 overall record and 13-4 mark in conference play. Virginia will begin play in the ACC Tournament on Thursday.

6’8″ Sam Hauser was named first-team all-ACC in his first season on the court for the Cavaliers after transferring from Michigan State. 5’9″ point guard Kihei Clark and 7’1″ center Jay Huff provide plenty of championship experience for Virginia, the defending national champs.

WEST VIRGINIA

The Mountaineers finished the regular season at 18-8 overall and 11-6 in Big 12 play. West Virginia is currently No. 23 in the NET and being projected by many as a 3-seed but could fall to a 4-seed with an early exit in the Big 12 Tournament. WVU faces Oklahoma State on Thursday.

6’2″ guard Miles McBride leads the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and assists (4.7 apg) to go along with 3.9 rebounds per game. 6’10” forward Derek Culver is second on the team with 14.8 points per game and a team best 9.8 rebounds each contest. Guards Taz Sherman (13.4 ppg) and Sean McNeil (11.9) round out the Mountaineers averaging double figures.