Liberty basketball is set to start the 2022-23 season when they face Regent at Liberty Arena on Monday, Nov. 7. Get ready for this upcoming year with our season preview that covers the team from all angles – position previews, schedule review, roster, breakout candidates, who makes the rotation and much more.
The Flames finished the 2021-22 season at 22-11 and 12-4 in the ASUN. For the first time since joining the league prior to the 2018-19 season, Liberty did not win the ASUN tournament championship, falling to Bellarmine in the semifinals.
Liberty returns most of its production from last season’s team, but, under tenth year head coach (8th consecutive) Ritchie McKay the Flames must find a replacement for the leadership and scoring potential of guard Keegan McDowell.
Newcomers for the Flames include three class of 2022 recruiting cycle signees. Point guard Colin Porter has turned heads during the summer and is pushing for a starting position while forwards Zach Celveland and Ben Southerland provide some depth in the frontcourt. Walk-on JC Shirer, Jr. also joins the program as a freshman from Arlington, Texas.
LIBERTY BASKETBALL ROSTER AND BIOS
#4 Stephen Burggraf – Senior Guard – 6-0, 160: Burggraf, a former team manager joined the team as a walk- on last season. He played in 12 games while averaging 4.1 minutes per game. He was awarded a scholarship during the middle part of the season and scored a season-high six points on Dec. 13 against Carver College.
#25 Zach Cleveland – Freshman Forward – 6-7, 210.
#11 Jonathan Jackson – Junior Guard – 6-4, 180: Sophomore Year – Jackson played in 21 games, averaging 3.5 minutes per game to go along with 1.2 points, 0.3 rebounds, and 0.1 assists each contest. He entered the transfer portal at the end of the season before changing course and electing to return to the program.
#2 Darius McGhee – Super Senior Guard – 5-9, 180: Senior Year – McGhee continued his assault on the record books and staking his claim as not only one of the best players in the country but also one of the best players to ever play at Liberty. He was named the ASUN Player of the Year for the second straight season, becoming he only Liberty player to win a conference player of the year more than once. McGhee averaged 24.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. He led the country in three point field goals made, while setting the program and ASUN record for most threes made in a single season with 142. He had three 40-point games on the season, including 48 on Jan. 15, 2022, setting the school record for most points in a single game. McGhee’s 812 points set the school’s Division I record for most points scored in a season. He is currently No. 5 on Liberty’s all-time scoring list.
#21 Gabriel McKay – R-Junior Guard – 6-2, 190: The son of head coach Ritchie McKay, Gabriel joined Liberty as a walk-on last year after two seasons at Division II Trevecca Nazarene. He played in 45 games over those two years, including six starts, while averaging 2.0 points and shooting 65.6% from the field. He redshirted at Liberty last year.
#1 Brody Peebles – Sophomore Guard – 6-2, 170: Freshman Year – Peebles averaged 5.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game after playing in all 33 games, including three starts. He scored a season high 18 points on Dec. 6 against Delaware State and reached double figures in six games.
#0 Colin Porter – Freshman Guard – 5-9, 145.
#32 Blake Preston – R-Senior Forward – 6-9, 230: Junior Year – Preston played in 31 games, including eight starts, as he averaged 6.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He reached double figures six times, including a double-double on Dec. 31 against Boyce. He finished the season ranked No. 44 on Liberty’s all-time rebounding list.
#33 Shiloh Robinson – Senior Forward – 6-7, 210: Junior Year – Robinson took a huge leap forward in his role last season, becoming one of the team’s best players. He played in all 33 games, making 31 starts, and averaged 9.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He was named the Hall of Fame Shootout MVP on Dec. 17 against East Carolina and posted his first career double-double on Feb. 3 at Bellarmine. Robinson scored in double figures in 16 games, including a career-high 21 points on Jan. 11 against North Florida.
#22 Kyle Rode – Senior Forward – 6-7, 220: Junior Year – Rode earned ASUN Second Team All-Conference honors after playing in 33 games, starting 32, and averaging 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He ranked first on the team in assists per game and finished the year No. 35 in the country in assist/turnover ration. Rode scored a career-high 24 points on Feb. 8 against Lipscomb and picked up his first career double-double on Feb. 5 at Eastern Kentucky.
#10 JC Shirer, Jr. – Freshman Guard – 6-3, 195.
#34 Ben Southerland – Freshman Forward – 6-7, 190.
#5 Bryson Spell – R-Freshman Forward – 6-9, 2020: Spell red-shirted last season.
#23 Joseph Venzant – Sophomore Guard – 6-3, 195: Freshman Year – Venzant started in 31 games last season and played in all 33. He averaged 3.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game. He scored a season high 13 points in the season opener against Regent and grabbed a season high 11 rebounds on Dec. 11 against SF Austin. Venzant reached double figures scoring in two games on the year.
#3 Isiah Warfield – Junior Guard – 6-5, 180: Sophomore Year – Warfield emerged as a valuable piece of the rotation during the season. He played in 32 games, averaging 13.4 minutes per game as well as 1.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. He scored a season high nine points on Feb. 5 at Eastern Kentucky and played 23 minutes or more in the final six games of the season.
2022-23 SCHEDULE
November 07, 2022: Regent 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
November 11, 2022: at Alabama 8:00 p.m.
November 14, 2022: NC Central 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
November 18, 2022: Southern Miss 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
November 22, 2022: vs Northwestern (Cancun) 8:30 p.m. CBSSN
November 23, 2022: TBD (Cancun) CBSSN
November 26, 2022: Delaware State 5:00 p.m.
December 02, 2022: Maryland Eastern Shore 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
December 06, 2022: Clarks Summit 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
December 12, 2022: at Oral Roberts 8:00 p.m.
December 17, 2022: vs Bryant (Springfield, Mass.) 12:30 p.m. ESPN+
December 19, 2022: Grambling State 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
December 21, 2022: Mid-Atlantic Christian 12:00 p.m. ESPN+
December 29, 2022: at Bellarmine 6:30 p.m. ESPN+
January 02, 2023: Lipscomb 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
January 05, 2023: Jacksonville State 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
January 08, 2023: at Eastern Kentucky 1:00 p.m. ESPN+
January 12, 2023: North Alabama 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
January 14, 2023: Central Arkansas 7:00 p.m.ESPN+
January 19, 2023: at Jacksonville 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
January 21, 2023: at North Florida 2:00 p.m. ESPN+
January 26, 2023: Stetson 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
January 28, 2023: FGCU 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 2, 2023: at Austin Peay 8:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 4, 2023: at Lipscomb 5:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 9, 2023: Bellarmine 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 11, 2023: Eastern Kentucky 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 16, 2023: at Kennesaw State 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 18, 2023: at Jacksonville State 5:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 22, 2023: at Queens 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 24, 2023: Queens 7:00 p.m. ESPN+
February 27, 2023: ASUN Tournament First Round ESPN+
February 28, 2023: ASUN Tournament Quarterfinals ESPN+
March 02, 2023: ASUN Tournament Semifinals ESPN+
March 05, 2023: ASUN Tournament Championship ESPN
LIBERTY BASKETBALL SCHEDULE REVIEW
The Non-Conference
Liberty’s home schedule leaves much to be desired. You have to circle the dates against North Carolina Central and Southern Miss as likely the best teams to come into Liberty Arena. The neutral site and road games that McKay and the Flames have scheduled will be challenging. The first Friday night of the men’s basketball season Liberty will be taking on No. 20 Alabama. The opportunity in Cancun will also test the team, as the Flames open against Northwestern and then could face a top 25 team in Auburn. The two games in mid-December at Oral Roberts and against Bryant will also be attractive games for the Flames.
Toughest Stretch
Liberty’s most difficult stretch may be from Nov. 11-23. The Flames play at Alabama on Nov. 11, before having a quick turnaround to host NC Central on Nov. 14. Then, Liberty begins the Cancun Challenge, hosting Southern Miss on Nov. 18, and playing the first of two games in Cancun on Nov. 22 against Northwestern.
5 Most Difficult Games
At Alabama (November 11). Under Nate Oats, the Crimson Tide have been one of the best teams in the SEC in the past few seasons, and they are once again expected to compete in that league and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Vs Northwestern (November 22). The Wildcats have struggled in recent seasons under head coach Chris Collins. They haven’t had a winning record since 2017, but, as a Big Ten program, they will provide a big challenge for the Flames.
At Oral Roberts (December 12). The Golden Eagles have become one of the better mid-major programs in the country. They advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2021 behind the stellar play of Max Abmas, who returns as one of the top scorers in Division I.
At Jacksonville (January 19). The Dolphins didn’t lose at home at all during the first season under head coach Jordan Mincy. They return most of their top producers from that team and will be looking to challenge for the ASUN title once again.
At North Florida (January 21). Just two days after playing at Jacksonville, the Flames will have a quick turnaround to wrap up a tough road trip at the Ospreys. This has been one of the more difficult places for Liberty to play since joining the ASUN, and UNF is expected to compete in the top half of the conference.
POSITION PREVIEW: GUARDS
Projected Starters
Colin Porter: Perhaps the team’s biggest weakness last year was the lack of a true point guard who could help take some of the burden off McGhee and Rode from handling the ball. McKay seems to have found that guy in true freshman Colin Porter. While it is a lot to ask out of a freshman, it seems as though Porter has the maturity and ability to handle the load.
Darius McGhee: McGhee is good enough to put the Flames on his back this year and carry them deep into the NCAA Tournament. We’ve seen it from other explosive players at the mid-major level in the past. Will Darius go out with a bang and become a household name?
Joseph Venzant: Venzant became a starter early on during his true freshman season last year. He quickly became one of the team’s best defenders, and now he looks to become more of a team defender and take a big step offensively.
Key Reserves
Brody Peebles: Peebles has the ability to be the team’s second leading scorer behind Darius. It’s all about finding his spots and playing with confidence. He showed flashes of his scoring ability last year, but hopefully he can become more consistent in his second year with the program.
Isiah Warfield: It was beginning to look like Warfield was not going to work himself into a role with the Flames. The highest rated recruit in school history, Warfield was able to force his way into the rotation in conference play and became one of the team’s glue guys. Like Venzant, he is one of the best defenders on the team and hopes to show improvement on the offensive end.
Jonathan Jackson: Can Jackson break into the rotation? He has the potential to be one of the team’s best three-point shooters and provide something off the bench. He is a veteran now and will be counted on for his leadership on and off the court.
Biggest Question
Is Porter the answer at point guard? The Flames have struggled to find the next answer after Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz and Chris Parker. Drake Dobbs and DJ Moore weren’t the answer, but Porter has impressed ever since arriving on campus this summer. Will that translate over when the lights are on?
POSITION PREVIEW: FORWARDS
Projected Starters
Kyle Rode: He got off to a slow offensive start last season, but by the end of the year he was one of the more efficient players on the team. We know Rode is a great team leader and now he can be a first team all conference player, as well. He has triple-double potential every time he steps on the floor and has shown flashes of his ability to score 20 points on any given night.
Shiloh Robinson: The biggest surprise last year was the development of Robinson’s offensive game. There were times he was the best player on the team last season. Can he become more consistent as he enters his fourth year at Liberty?
Key Reserves
Blake Preston: Blake has been around for a long time, and we know what he provides. He can get a double-double when called on, and provides a great weapon for Coach McKay when facing some of the bigger low post threats in the ASUN.
Biggest Question
Does the team have enough size? Rode, Robinson, and Preston are veterans and will play a lot of minutes, but is there enough behind them? Can Zach Cleveland, Bryson Spell, or Ben Southerland develop?
BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
Which Liberty players could have breakout seasons this year?
Colin Porter: He has all-conference potential, but we have to see how consistent Porter will be on a nightly basis. He will be tested in critical moments early in the season, and he will have to respond to that. There will be adversity that comes his way, but he does have some veterans to lean on throughout the lineup.
Brody Peebles: Brody can become a double digit scorer. He has all the tools, it’s just a matter of putting it all together and playing with that confidence when he steps on the floor. He doesn’t have to play in McGhee’s shadow, he can be a complimentary piece alongside him.
Isiah Warfield: We saw him break out last year, but Warfield can take an ever bigger step this season. If he finds a jump shot that becomes reliable, he could become too good for McKay to take off the floor.
