During Liberty’s five year tenure in the ASUN, the Flames established themselves as a mid-major power. This was thanks in large part to the team’s dominant play in the conference.
Liberty went 65-14 during the regular season in ASUN play, that’s an astounding 82.3% winning percentage. Not many teams in the country had that level of success in their conference.
During those five seasons, Liberty won three straight ASUN tournament titles and four ASUN regular season titles. The Flames were successful on its home court but also away from its friendly confines in Lynchburg during its time in the ASUN. The Flames sported a 30-11 record away from home in ASUN games. While that is certainly an impressive record, it’s not quite as good as the gaudy 45-4 home record in ASUN games.
Over its five years in the league, the ASUN averaged being ranked the 22.2 best conference in Division I basketball out of 32 leagues. Now, as Liberty has transitioned to Conference USA, it is seeing a significant step up in competition. CUSA currently ranks as the 13th best conference in the country.
One thing that has become clearly evident in this year’s Conference USA is the margin between victory and defeat is incredibly thin, and, many times, home court advantage is too much to overcome. Through the first few weeks of conference play, CUSA teams are 16-4 when playing on their home floor in league games.
“I think the road is a hard place to win in college basketball,” said Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay. “Look around the country, you see some of the shooting woes we have experienced and some of the high major teams with Hall of Fame coaches, it happens to everyone.”
Liberty has not been immune to the struggles of playing on the road. The Flames are currently 0-2 away from home in conference play, falling at Western Kentucky and Louisiana Tech. Liberty is currently 2-1 in conference play on its home floor at Liberty Arena.
“I can tell by the first two games in the conference on the road, the Western Kentucky environment was significant,” McKay noted. “There were a lot of people there, the most we’ve ever had in a conference road game in a while. Louisiana Tech didn’t seem as full, but you can tell when you just look up at the banners and you see Karl Malone, there is a tradition in both of those places that is evident.”
Now, the Flames prepare to head on the road for three straight contests, beginning Saturday at Jacksonville State. Liberty will then play at New Mexico State and UTEP, all three games within the span of a week.
The Flames have already faced setback against the Gamecocks, Saturday’s opponent. Jacksonville State came into Liberty Arena and became the first visiting team to win two games in the Flames’ newest venue. They held Liberty to a season low in points with 51 while shooting just 9 of 34 from three and 34% from the field for the game.
Jacksonville State is currently 1-1 on their home floor at Mathews Coliseum in Jacksonville, Alabama during conference play. The Flames have played there previously, just last year, when Liberty defeated the Gamecocks at Mathews Coliseum, 79-55, on Feb. 18. Darius McGhee led the team in scoring in that contest with 27 points. This year’s game is sure to be different as JSU is much improved from a season ago, and McGhee is not suiting up for the Flames.
“We have been to Jax State before,” said McKay. “Ray Harper is the winningest coach in our league. They have a very good team. They are a very different team than last year. If you want a comparative score (from last year), I don’t think it has a whole lot of significance because this year’s version of the Gamecocks is way better and Coach Harper would be the first to tell you that. They’ve got some new pieces, new faces, especially in (KyKy) Tandy, that really makes them go. We know it will be tough.”
Following the trip to Jax State, Liberty’s next two opponents have been even more successful on their home floor. New Mexico State is 3-0 at home in conference games and 9-1 overall at home this season. UTEP is also unbeaten on their home floor in conference play, having won both games, and they are 9-2 at home overall this season.
For Liberty to compete for a regular season title as it did all five seasons in the ASUN, the Flames will have to find some success on the road. This next week will provide three opportunities for the team to take another step towards rebounding from its 0-3 early start in conference play. Currently sitting at 2-3 in league play, the Flames are currently in a three-way tie for 6th place and just 1.5 games out of first place where three teams are tied at 3-1.
“I’m not focused yet on Las Cruces and El Paso,” said McKay. “It’s a long trip, I’ve been there before. I think those will be challenging, as well, but the game that we have next is in Jacksonville, Alabama and that’s where our focus lies.”
