In the 2 years since Ritchie McKay has returned to Liberty’s bench, the Flames have made significant progress. Prior to his return, Liberty was coming off 3 straight 20 loss seasons and was one of the worst basketball teams in all of Division I. Installing his system, complete with the Packline defense, was going to take time. He cautioned the fan base of that repeatedly when he was first hired. For comparison’s sake, it took McKay and Tony Bennett 3 seasons at Virginia for their success to become evident.
So, when the Flames dropped their first 13 games against Division I opponents last season, it didn’t come as a shock. Liberty concluded the 2015 calendar year with a program worst 2-28 record against DI competition. Then, on January 6, 2016, John Dawson hit a game winning 3 pointer at Coastal Carolina to give Liberty it’s first win over a Division I team in 11 months. The team went on to win 7 straight and 9 of 11 to surge towards the top of the Big South standings, but faltered down the stretch, losing 4 out of 5 to finish the year, including a 31 point blowout against UNC Asheville in the Big South Tournament. The team was headed in the right direction, but still had growing pains to endure.
This season, the Flames have continued to improve toward the goal of being a championship contender. They won their first non-conference game against a Division I opponent in nearly 2 years back in November, but they couldn’t get over the hump against top 200 teams. In fact, the Flames are 0-9 this season against teams ranked in the top 200 by KenPom, including conference losses to Winthrop and Asheville.
Reid on the team’s mindset entering Saturday’s game – “Be 1-0. If we go out there and do what we’re supposed to – don’t think about the race, don’t think about being in first place, that’s all distractions – all we’ve got to do is worry about Winthrop on Saturday and be 1-0”
“We’re still taking baby steps to gradually grow towards being a championship contender,” McKay said. “What I would love to see is the consistency on the road against a top team in the league. Winthrop still has a chance to win (the regular season title) as well. It’s a big game for both of us.”
If Liberty is going to be a championship contender this year, they must learn to win against top 200 teams, as 2 of their final 3 regular season games come against the likes of Winthrop and UNCA, ranked 120th and 104th, respectively. Also, the Flames would likely have to beat at least 1, if not both Winthrop and Asheville in the Big South Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
McKay’s squad has its worked cut out for them Saturday at Winthrop, a place Liberty hasn’t won at since 2004 and is 5-22 all-time.
“It really means nothing to this team because they have zero to do with all but 1 of those losses,” McKay said of the Flames’ struggles in Rock Hill. “I feel like every 40 minutes is a different opportunity, and I think our guys are excited to be able to have the challenge.”
The Flames fell to Winthrop in the teams’ first meeting this season, 61-48, at the Vines Center on January 21st. Liberty was held to a season-low 15 first-half points and just 33% shooting from the field, the 2nd worst shooting performance this season.
Senior captain John Dawson said, “It will be a really good test for us, our maturity, our mindset, because Winthrop is a great team. If we come out scared, they’re going to expose us, and they’re going to eat us alive. But if we come out with a belief, that’s what all championship teams have, is that level of belief that they can do anything.”
Kemrite on the team’s mindset entering Saturday’s game – “We’re just trying to go 1-0 the next game.”
Pat Kelsey’s squad boasts the top scoring offense in the Big South, as well as one of the top defenses, leading the league in field goal percentage defense. They are a veteran club, led by two of the most dynamic players in the conference in senior Keon Johnson and junior Xavier Cooks.
“They are terrifically coached,” McKay said of the 12-3 Eagles. “They have 2 first team all conference players, at minimum, and they’re used to winning. They’ve been in the championship game of the league the last 3 years. We will have our work cut out for us. To win at Winthrop, you’ve got to be really good for 40 minutes.”
In just his 2nd season back at Liberty, McKay has his team in a position to win the regular season Big South championship with only 3 games to play. Liberty has only won the Big South regular season twice in school history, and hasn’t done it since 2004. A regular season title isn’t the team’s primary objective though.
“We’re not really worried about the conference (regular season) championship,” sophomore guard Lovell Cabbil said. “We just want to take it 1 game at a time and try to be 1-0. The last 4 seasons the #1 seed hasn’t won the conference tournament. So, really, the regular season championship is something we want to do, but it’s not something that we’re looking to finish out the season with. We’re just trying to go 1-0 each game.”
A win Saturday would be another baby step towards being a championship contender. Either way, the Flames are moving in the right direction and at a quick pace.
