Liberty’s men’s basketball team is 1-12 away from the Vines Center this season compared to 7-5 at home. When looking at the stats, Liberty looks like 2 different teams on paper when comparing home against away.
The Flames are averaging 74.5 points scored per game at home. While on the road Liberty is averaging just 58.6 points scored per game. Liberty is allowing 60.5 points per game inside the Vines Center, but when playing on the road the Flames are giving up 70.9 points per game.
Liberty is shooting 46% from the field in home games, but just 38% in road games. There’s an even greater disparity in 3 point shooting. The Flames are shooting an impressive 42% from 3 inside the Vines Center, but are only shooting 31% from behind the arc in road matchups.
The Flames are shooting 25.17 free throws per contest at home, but only 17.62 free throws per game in road games. Well, sure, it’s the same for their opponents, right? Wrong. Liberty’s opponents are attempting 21.15 free throws per game when playing Liberty on their home floor which is nearly identical to the 22.17 free throw attempts per game by Liberty opponents when playing inside the Vines Center.
None of this can be blamed on turnovers. Liberty is averaging 14.15 turnovers per game in games played away and nearly an identical 14.17 turnovers per game during home contests.
While these differences are not necessarily uncommon in college basketball, it shows that Liberty’s 1-12 road record is not an anomaly. If the Flames want to get back in the hunt in the North Division race, or advance in the Big South Tournament, they must learn how to win away from the Vines Center.
The Flames have their next opportunity Wednesday night against a reeling Campbell team who has lost 5 straight.
