In a three-person prediction panel predicting the winners of each 2025 conference tournament, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf, Jeff Borzello, and Joe Lunardi all made their picks for the 2025 CUSA Tournament. Two of them picked Liberty while the third picked Jacksonville State and ESPN Analytics give the Flames a 43% chance at winning.
On why Liberty will win, Joe Lunardi said: “The Flames have taken some losses, even at home as recently as this past Sunday, but they are the best team in the league. The neutral conference tournament works in their favor. That, coupled with the CUSA’s best defense, should result in Ritchie McKay’s third NCAA bid in Lynchburg.
On why Jacksonville State will win, Myron Medcalf said: “Ray Harper’s Gamecocks are one of the league’s most balanced teams (third in offensive efficiency and fourth in defensive efficiency). At their best, the Gamecocks won eight games in a row from mid-January to mid-February. They sit atop the standings for a reason. Plus, former Wichita State transfer Jaron Pierre, Jr., who has had five 30-point efforts this season, might be the league’s player of the year.”
Liberty, as the No. 1 seed, will open CUSA Tournament play on Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm ET at Propst Arena.
The entire CUSA Tournament will be played in Huntsville, Alabama at Propst Arena. The first round begins Tuesday night with No. 7 seed Western Kentucky taking on No. 10 seed FIU and No. 8 seed UTEP taking on No. 9 seed Sam Houston. The quarterfinals begin Wednesday night with two games while the other two quarterfinals will be played on Thursday. The semifinals get underway Friday afternoon while the championship game is scheduled for Saturday night on CBS Sports Network.
For all the ESPN conference tournament predictions, click here.
