On Wednesday, Liberty released its 2017-18 men’s basketball non-conference schedule, highlighted by a trip to 2017 NCAA Tournament & ACC opponent Wake Forest and a trip to the Virgin Islands to compete in the Paradise Jam.
The Flames will open the season at home on November 10th against non-Division I opponent Clarks Summit. Liberty then travels to North Carolina to take on the Demon Deacons. Behind 3rd-year coach Danny Manning, the Demon Deacons advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, a first for the program since 2010. Liberty is 0-1 all-time against Wake Forest, losing the previous meeting, 81-47, on November 24, 1997.
The Flames will then open play in the Paradise Jam on November 17th against Mercer and then play either Drexel or Houston in the 2nd game of the tournament. Liberty will play 3 games total while in the Virgin Islands as part of the Paradise Jam. Other teams participating in the 2017 Paradise Jam in addition to those already mentioned are Wake Forest, Drake, Colorado, and Quinnipiac.
Following the Paradise Jam, Liberty returns home to play 5 of 6 games at home beginning with non-Division I opponent Toccoa Falls on November 25th and Howard on the 27th. The Flames will host UNC Greensboro on Decmber 2nd. The Flames lost to the Spartans, 72-65, last season. The Spartans, led by head coach Wes Miller won 25 games a year ago and advanced to the NIT.
Following the 3 game home stand, Liberty will travel to Atlanta to face Sun Belt foe Georgia State. The Panthers won 20 games a season ago. The Flames conclude the home portion of their non-conference schedule on December 8th against Maryland Eastern-Shore and December 16th against non-Division I opponent Kentucky Christian.
To close out its non-conference schedule, Liberty will play its final two non-conference games as part of the New Orleans Classic where the Flames will face Fort Wayne in the opening round and then either Louisiana Tech or Alabama State.
11/10 vs Clarks Summit
11/14 @ Wake Forest
11/17-20 Paradise Jam
11/25 vs Toccoa Falls
11/27 vs Howard
12/02 vs UNC Greensboro
12/04 @ Georgia State
12/08 vs Maryland Eastern-Shore
12/16 vs Kentucky Christian
12/21-22 New Orleans Classic
