When Coach McKay returned to Liberty 3 years ago, the Flames were coming off the worst 4 year stretch in program history which included 3 straight 20+ losing seasons and 84 losses combined during that stretch. With all the losing came several long losing streaks against fellow Big South teams. Over the course of the past 3 seasons, McKay’s teams have vanquished all of those demons, including a season sweep this year of Winthrop, with one exception – UNC Asheville.
Liberty is in the midst of a 13 game losing skid against the Bulldogs dating back to 2011, and the Flames will attempt one more time to end the streak when it pays a visit to the first-place Bulldogs Thursday night. Liberty is 0-5 all-time in Kimmel Arena which opened in November 2011 and 6-25 in road contests at Asheville since the series began in 1992.
During the losing streak, Liberty hasn’t really come close to knocking off the Bulldogs. Only 2 of the 13 losses have been decided by single digits, a 3 point loss in 2014 and a 7 point loss in 2016. The average margin of defeat has been by 15.5 points, a number that has increased to 17 points per game during McKay’s 6 losses over the previous 3 seasons.
With just 4 games left in the regular season and 2 games separating 3rd and 8th place in the Big South standings, the Flames have little room for error. Liberty has the toughest schedule remaining in the Big South as the 4 teams left on the docket combine for a 34-22 record in conference. The top 6 teams in the league standings get an opening round bye in the Big South Tournament.
