The Liberty men’s basketball 2020-21 season will finally get underway this week as the Flames head to Florida for the Space Coast Challenge before a quick trip to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic. The Flames will face four KenPom Top 100 teams in five days beginning with Purdue on Wednesday.
“As a mid-major, very rarely are you afforded opportunities to play against high-major opponents, especially on neutral floors,” Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay said this week. “Although, I feel like it’s a very risky move, a lot of trepidation, simply because we lost so many experienced players that were really good. I think our freshmen class is terrific, but to throw them to the wolves like this. I think the opportunity is we get a great chance to see what we’re not and we will be measured against some really good programs led by some tremendous coaches. I think our guys are excited to be a part of it. I think it is a real privilege to be a part of both tournaments.”
First up for McKay’s squad is Purdue on Wednesday at 6 p.m. to open the Space Coast Challenge in Melbourne, Florida in a game that will be televised on CBS Sports Network. The Boilermakers return three starters (Eric Hunter, Jr., Sasha Stefanovic, and Trevion Williams) from last year’s team that showed promising glimpses, but struggled with consistency en route to a 16-15. Under head coach Matt Painter, Purdue is 14-1 in season openers, having won seven straight openers by a combined 30.3 points per game and winning the last six openers by at least 22 points.
The following day, Liberty will match up with either Clemson or Mississippi State, depending on how Wednesday’s games go. The Thanksgiving Day matchup will also air on CBS Sports Network. Last year, Clemson finished 16-15 overall and they return most of their rotational players including Aamir Simms who averaged 12 points and seven rebounds on 47% shooting last season. Simms attended the Blue Ridge School in Charlottesville, the same school that produced Liberty guard Darius McGhee. The Tigers enter the season with a highly-touted recruiting class that was ranked 20th nationally. Liberty and Mississippi State are familiar faces as they met in the 2019 NCAA Tournament first round where the Flames got the 12-5 upset for the program’s first ever win in March Madness. It will be a new look team for the Bulldogs this season who return just four scholarship players who saw action last season. Top 100 recruit Deivon Smith may have the most immediate impact of the newcomers as the 6’1″ point guard is expected to start from day one.
On Friday, the Flames will have a travel day to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic which will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Liberty will begin play Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPNews against South Carolina. Frank Martin’s squad returns most of its contributors from last season as they look to get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Flames will conclude the week on Sunday against either TCU or Tulsa in a game that will be televised on ESPN2.
“This is a no-lose proposition for us,” said McKay of the opening week’s schedule. “Because of our success, we’ve built a little bit of an expectation from our fan base that we belong in the conversation with other high-major programs. Although I think we’re certainly pursuant of that, I think last year’s team was much better equipped for the four game scenario that is in front of us; however, I do think the residual of playing really good people, really good programs, is that you get tested and you get a little bit of a glimpse as to what it is like if you’re fortunate enough to qualify for NCAA Tournament or postseason.”
