The Liberty Flames have won three straight games to move into a three-way tie for first place atop the ASUN standings. Coach McKay’s team is on pace for a 5th straight 20-win season and controls its own destiny for a third straight ASUN regular season title.

Obviously, the ASUN is a one-bid league and the Flames won’t be getting an at-large bid. The only path for Liberty to the NCAA Tournament this season is through the ASUN’s automatic bid. If Liberty is able to secure that bid and advance to another Big Dance, seeding will be incredibly important for the Flames’ chances to make some noise in March. Two years ago, when Liberty won its first ever NCAA Tournament game, the Flames were a 12-seed. Last year, Liberty was being projected as a 12 or 13-seed before the Tournament was canceled due to COVID.

With that being said, let’s take a look at all the Flames’ victories this season to see how those opponents are ranked in the current NCAA NET rankings. This will play an important role in what happens with Liberty come tournament time should the Flames be dancing once again.

LIBERTY NON-CONFERENCE WINS BY NET RANKINGS…

No. 80 – Mississippi State (10-8 overall, 4-5 SEC)
No. 105 – South Carolina (4-6 overall, 2-4 SEC)
No. 232 – St Francis (PA) (5-10 overall, 4-7 NEC)
No. 332 – Alcorn State (3-7 overall, 3-2 SWAC)
No. 345 – South Carolina State (0-14 overall, 0-4 MEAC)

LIBERTY ASUN WINS BY NET RANKINGS…

No. 230 – Lipscomb (11-8 overall, 5-3 ASUN)
No. 237 – Stetson (6-9 overall, 3-5 ASUN)
No. 300 – Jacksonville (x2) (9-9 overall, 3-5 ASUN)
No. 339 – Kennesaw State (x2) (3-15 overall, 0-10 ASUN)

OVERALL ASUN NET RANKINGS…

*Overall and ASUN records noted, plus if LU still plays them or not.

No. 90 – Liberty (14-5 overall, 6-2 ASUN)
No. 189 – Bellarmine (9-5, 6-2) <BU at LU>
No. 230 – Lipscomb (11-8, 5-3)
No. 237 – Stetson (6-9, 3-5)
No. 250 – North Alabama (10-4, 6-2) <LU at UNA>
No. 290 – North Florida (7-11, 5-3) <UNF at LU>
No. 295 – FGCU (7-6, 2-4) <FGCU at LU>
No. 300 – Jacksonville (9-9, 3-5)
No. 339 – Kennesaw State (3-15, 0-10)

**The NCAA will use a curve this season when selecting teams because of reduced non-conference games, as wella s tons of postponements and cancellations.

ASOR’S TAKE…

Liberty has 8 games remaining in the regular season, provided all games get played, and the Flames control their own destiny for the regular season title. This year’s team has an interesting resume when it comes to seeding.

Last year, the Flames were ranked No. 66 in the NET rankings after winning the ASUN Tournament with one top 100 win, coming over Akron. This season, the Flames’ NET ranking is a little bit lower with one and possibly two top 100 wins by season end.

Most bracket analysts have the Flames projected as a 13 or 14 seed. Depending on how the rest of the regular season finishes, Liberty could push for a 12-seed, but is most likely to fall on the 13 line. When the selection committee is selecting teams on the 13 and 14 line, Liberty will get the benefit of the doubt due to recent success the past two seasons with 59 wins and a first round NCAA Tournament upset. Those facts should keep the Flames above the 14-seed line.