Crowning the best Liberty basketball team of all-time

Today is Selection Sunday, but with the threat of the coronavirus, the NCAA Tournament and seemingly all other sports have been canceled and/or postponed for the foreseeable future

The 2019-2020 Liberty Flames men’s basketball team unfortunately is unable to compete in the program’s 5th ever NCAA Tournament, and with 30 wins the Flames had a chance to make a run.

There may be no basketball, but let us fill out a bracket and crown a champion!

What team is the best men’s basketball team in Liberty school history? You vote and decide!

We have selected the top 16 teams in school history and seeded them 1-16. The bracket is below. You can vote here, on Twitter, and/or on Instagram. Each round will last 24 hours.

Sweet 16 voting starts now.
Elite 8 will be finalized and voting will begin Monday evening.
Final 4 will be finalized and voting will begin Tuesday evening.
Championship will be finalized and voting will begin Wednesday evening.
The champion will be crowned Thursday evening.

Here is each team’s resume:

1. 2020

30-4 overall, 13-3 ASUN
ASUN co-regular season champs
ASUN Tournament champs
Wins over Vanderbilt, Akron
Starters: Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz, Darius McGhee, Elijah Cuffee, Caleb Homesley, Scottie James

2. 2019

29-7 overall, 14-2 ASUN
ASUN co-regular season champs
ASUN Tournament champs
Defeated 5-seed Miss St in NCAA Tournament
Defeated Lipscomb on road in ASUN Championship
Win over UCLA
Starters: Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz, Lovell Cabbil, Elijah Cuffee, Caleb Homesley, Scottie James

3. 1997

23-9 overall, 11-3 Big South
Big South co-regular season champs
Lost to Charleston Southern in Big South Conference Championship game
Starters: Marcus White, Larry Jackson, Peter Aluma, Mark Reed, Erik Sorensen

4. 1994

18-12 overall, 12-6 Big South
Big South Tournament champs
Advanced to program’s first ever NCAA Tournament
Lost to 1-seed North Carolina in Big Dance
Starters: Matt Hildebrand, Chris Toomer, Jason Dixon, Darryl Williams, Jody Chapman

5. 2004

18-15 overall, 12-4 Big South
Big South co-regular season champs
Big South Tournament champs
Lost to 1-seed St Joe’s in NCAA Tournament
Starters: Brian Woodson, Ryan Mantlo, Larry Blair, Gabe Martin, Louvon Sneed

6. 2009

23-12 overall, 12-6 Big South
Wins over Virginia, George Mason, William & Mary
Lost to VMI in Big South Tournament Semis
Advanced to CIT, lost in 2nd game
Starters: Jesse Sanders, Seth Curry, Anthony Smith, Kyle Ohman, Brolin Floyd

7. 2018

22-15 overall, 9-9 Big South
Lost to Radford in Big South Tournament Championship game
Advanced to CIT, lost in 3rd game
Wins over Wake Forest & Georgia State
Starters: Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz, Lovell Cabbil, Elijah Cuffee, Ryan Kemrite, Scottie James

8. 2017

21-14 overall, 14-4 Big South
Upset by Radford in Big South quarterfinals
Advanced to CIT, lost in 3rd game
Starters: Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz, Lovell Cabbil, John Dawson, Ryan Kemrite, Myo Baxter-Bell

9. 1980

28-11 overall (NCCAA)
NCCAA National Champs
Starters: Karl Hess, Mark Swift, Steve Isaacs Ed Vickers, Rod Martin

10. 1983

23-9 overall (NAIA)
NAIA Elite 8
Starters: Kenny Gunn, Eric Gordon, Steve Isaacs, Robert Robinson, Kent Kelly

11. 1992

22-7 overall, 10-4 Big South
Lost to Campbell in Big South Tournament semis
Starters: Matt Hildebrand, Chris Toomer, Julius Nwosu, Mike Coleman, Keith Ferguson

12. 2011

19-13 overall, 13-5 Big South
Upset by High Point in Big South quarterfinals
Starters: Jesse Sanders, Evan Gordon, John Brown, David Minaya, Joel VanderPol

13. 2013

15-21 overall, 6-10 Big South
Unprecedented run to Big South Tournament Championship
Lost to 16-seed NC A&T in First Four of NCAA Tournament
Starters: Davon Marshall, John Caleb Sanders, Tavares Speaks, Tomasz Gielo, JR Coronado

14. 1996

17-12 overall, 9-5 Big South
Lost to UNC Greensboro in Big South Tournament Championship game
Starters: Marcus White, Larry Jackson, Peter Aluma, Erik Sorensen, Barry Taylor

15. 1985

19-10 overall, 7-5 Mason-Dixon (D2)
Starters: Greg McCauley, Mike Minett, Cliff Webber, Dave Kennard, Brad Hamersley

16. 1986

18-13 overall, 6-5 Mason-Dixon (D2)
Starters: Mike Minett, Andrew McIntyre, Dan Kennard, Gary Yoder, Rodney Harrison

The Bracket: