Liberty (6-0) heads to Boca Raton, Florida where the Flames will compete in the Field of 68 Tip-Off, taking on both Florida Atlantic and Charleston. This is the first of a three-year arrangement between the three teams, with all three playing each other in Charleston, South Carolina next year and in Lynchburg, Virginia in two seasons.
It begins Thursday night with Liberty taking on Final Four participant from a season ago, FAU. Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
6:00 p.m. ET | Thursday, November 30
Boca Raton, FL | Baldwin Arena
TV: ESPNU
Liberty vs FAU Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty +5
Projected score: FAU 76, Liberty 71
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Sophomore Guard | 5’9″, 170
9.2 ppg, 4.3 apg, 36.7% 3-point
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
12.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, 3.2 rpg
#23 Joseph Venzant
Junior Guard | 6’3″, 200
5.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg
#22 Kyle Rode
R-Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
16.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Sophomore Forward | 6’7″, 215
10.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Liberty vs FAU History
The all-time series is tied at 1. Both of the previous games were played in Lynchburg with the Flames losing in the first meeting, 91-80, on December 4, 2001. Liberty won the second meeting, 84-79, on December 20, 2002.
Liberty vs FAU Storylines
FLAMES FACING A TOP 25 OPPONENT
Florida Atlantic is currently ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. This will mark the 20th occasion the Flames have faced a team ranked in the top 25 all-time, Liberty is 0-19 in all previous games against ranked foes.
Liberty has only faced two top 25 opponents during Coach McKay’s current stint as head coach which dates back to the 2015-16 season. In the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the Flames played No. 11 Oklahoma State in the first round in Indianapolis, falling 69-60 to the Cowboys and future No. 1 overall NBA Draft selection Cade Cunningham. Just last season, Liberty lost at No. 20 Alabama, 95-59.
“It’s really fun watching them play,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay of FAU. “They play with a cohesion, a tempo, a togetherness that I think we as coaches all admire. If they had a logo that said SEC or ACC, they would be a top 5-10 program in the country. They are really physical. They take advantage of any mistake on your defense. When you hard-hedge a ball screen, they attack it. They get downhill. They are willing to make the extra pass. They have an inside outside balance.”
BIG TEST, BIGGER OPPORTUNITY
This will be a huge test for Liberty, with the pending Alabama matchup the only one that could compare. The Owls are good, really good.
Under head coach Dusty May, who signed a contract extension with FAU after last season despite several other overtures, the Owls are coming off a season when they were 35-4 and advanced to the Final Four. FAU finished No. 17 in KenPom rankings last year and have never been ranked higher than No. 129 previoiusly.
May and the Owls have returned most of their squad from last season, as well. They are off to a great start, including a tremendous showing at the ESPN Invitational this past weekend. FAU defeated Butler, No. 12 Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech in their three games at Disney World as part of that event. This included a 34-point win over the Hokies on Sunday.
While this will certainly be a big test for the Flames, it also represents a huge opportunity. Nobody is expecting Liberty to win this game, so a loss doesn’t derail the season, but a win…A win could set this season up to be something incredibly special. We will very likely be talking about a Top 25 Liberty team next week this time should the Flames pick up two wins this week, and dare we begin to dream about a potential at-large type of resume with a win? Yes, the calendar is still November and there is a ton of basketball left to be played, but this is what could potentially be on the table for the Flames with an upset on Thursday night.
“Any opportunity we’ve got to make it difficult on our guys from a competitive standpoint is beneficial,” McKay said. “It’s a bumpy road to better and we’re about to get on that ride.”
FIRST TRUE ROAD TEST
This will be Liberty’s first true road test this season. After playing some tough competition in neutral site venues earlier against Charlotte and then the three games in Myrtle Beach, the challenge steps up significantly for this one.
The Owls feature two standout guards in Alijah Martin, Jr. and Johnell Davis, Jr. This combo were selected as co-Preseason AAC Player of the Years entering this season. The 6’2″ guard Martin was the 2023 CUSA Tournament MVP and named to the 2023 NCAA All-Tournament team while Davis, a 6’4″ junior guard is also integral to the Owls’ success.
“This team is legit,” said McKay. “They are deep. There is not a whole lot of weakness. Big opportunity because they are a quality opponent, assuming it will be sold out in Boca. We will have our hands full.”
