After starting the season off at 3-0, the competition will ramp up considerably this weekend for the Liberty Flames. Heading to Charleston, South Carolina, the Flames will take on Florida Atlantic and College of Charleston on Saturday and Sunday.
FAU and Charleston will begin the Field of 68 Tip-Off from the campus of the College of Charleston on Friday night. Play begins for Liberty on Saturday at 6 p.m. against FAU and then on Sunday at 4 p.m. against the host Charleston. All games will be streamed on YouTube.
Here’s what you need to know about the event:
Liberty vs FAU How to Watch
6:00 p.m. ET | Saturday, November 16
Charleston, SC | TD Arena
TV: YouTube
Liberty vs FAU Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty +1
Projected score: FAU 76, Liberty 75
Liberty vs Charleston How to Watch
4:00 p.m. ET | Sunday, November 17
Charleston, SC | TD Arena
TV: YouTube
Liberty vs Charleston Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty +1
Projected score: Charleston 74, Liberty 73
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
5.0 ppg, 4.7 apg, 2.0 rpg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
15.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Junior Forward | 6’7″, 220
9.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.7 apg
#8 Owen Aquino
Junior Forward | 6’8″, 230
9.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.7 bpg
#7 Isaiah Ihnen
R-Junior Forward | 6’9″, 220
4.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg
Liberty vs FAU History
FAU leads the all-time series, 2-1. The Owls defeated the Flames, 83-58, on their home floor in this same event last year.
Liberty vs Charleston History
Liberty is 0-3 all-time against Charleston. The Cougars defeated the Flames, 76-67, on a neutral floor in this same event last year.
Liberty Field of 68 Storylines
GREAT TESTS FOR FLAMES
FAU and Charleston have been two of the premier programs at the mid-major level the past few seasons. They have each reached the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, with the Owls making the Final Four run two years ago.
As Liberty hopes to return to the top of the conference race, now in CUSA, these will be two great tests for the Flames in mid-November. Both FAU and Charleston will test the new look roster both in terms of size and athleticism.
A good showing this weekend could go a long way in the season outlook for this year’s Flames while also allowing the team to find areas of weakness to improve upon before conference play begins.
FAU PREVIEW
Just two seasons ago, FAU’s men’s basketball team became a nationwide phenomenon, winning a school-record 35 games while making a memorable run to the Final Four. Last season, with all five starters back, the Owls earned another berth in the NCAA Tournament before being knocked out in the first round.
This season, it’s a much different look to the Florida Atlantic basketball team. Head coach Dusty May is gone as he has departed for the head coach job at Michigan. Replacing him is John Jakus, a former Baylor and Gonzaga assistant who reached the national championship game with Gonzaga in 2017 and won the national title with Baylor in 2021. This is his first head coaching job.
The Owls lost 10 players from last year’s squad, three to graduation and seven to the portal, forcing Coach Jakus to retool his roster through the portal.
Picked to finish 5th in the AAC Preseason Poll, the Owls have started the season at 2-1. They defeated Indiana State, 97-64, on the same floor Liberty opened the season with a win over Valpo just a couple of hours later. FAU then played non-Division I foe Coastal Georgia, winning 99-49. On Tuesday night, FAU dropped its first game of the season, falling at UCF, 100-94.
FAU has a deep roster with eight players currently averaging 9 points or more. 6’7” forward Kaleb Glenn leads the way at 14.7 points per game while shooting 46.2% from three so far this season. 6’1” point guard Leland Walker, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, is currently averaging 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 50% from three.
Last year’s SWAC Player of the Year at Jackson State, 6’5” guard Ken Evans is currently averaging 12.0 points and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 47.6% from three. 6’1” guard Niccolo Moretti is averaging 11.7 points and 5.0 assists per game.
A name familiar to Liberty fans, KyKy Tandy, who led CUSA in scoring a year ago at Jacksonville State, has transferred to FAU. The 6’2” guard is currently averaging 11.3 points per game.
The Flames will certainly be tested in the paint as the Owls boast two 7-footers. Florida State transfer Baba Miller averaged 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game last year for the Seminoles. Through the first three games this season, Miller is averaging 9.7 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Lithuanian big man, Matas Vokietaitis is the other 7-footer in the FAU lineup. He is averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game this season.
CHARLESTON PREVIEW
Much like FAU, Charleston is going through a makeover. After two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, head coach Pat Kelsey has taken over at Louisville. Meanwhile, former Louisville head coach Chris Mack is now the head coach of Charleston.
Mack and Charleston were picked to finish second in the CAA preseason poll behind Towson. They are off to a 2-0 start to the season, defeating Southern Illinois, 90-80, and South Florida, 86-71.
This year’s team revolves around CAA preseason Player of the Year Ante Brzovic. The 6’10” forward is averaging 30.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game through the first two games of the season. He is a talented big man who can handle, score in the paint, and step out and knock down jump shots.
Another returner, CJ Fulton is second on the team in scoring through the year’s first two games. The 6’3” guard is averaging 16.5 points and 6.5 assists per game.
Last year’s MEAC Rookie of the Year, Deywilk Tavarez, has transferred to Charleston. He is currently averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. 6’6” forward Jaxon Prunty is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.5 points per game.
Lipscomb graduate transfer Darrin Boyd averaged 17.6 points per game for the Bison before entering the portal and landing with Mack at Charleston. He has yet to play this season due to an injury, but he is expected to return for Charleston’s two games this weekend.
