Liberty (9-3) hits the road to take on Utah Valley (6-5) on Wednesday in Orem, Utah.
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
8:00 p.m. ET | Wednesday, December 20
Orem, UT | UCCU Center
TV: ESPN+
Liberty vs Utah Valley Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -5
Projected score: Liberty 68, Utah Valley State 63
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Sophomore Guard | 5’9″, 170
9.7 ppg, 3.8 apg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
11.6 ppg, 3.0 apg, 3.6 rpg
#23 Joseph Venzant
Junior Guard | 6’3″, 200
5.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg
#22 Kyle Rode
R-Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
13.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Sophomore Forward | 6’7″, 215
9.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.1 apg
Liberty vs Utah Valley History
This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs
Liberty vs Utah Valley Storylines
WOLVERINES COMING OFF VERY GOOD SEASON
Utah Valley is coming off one of their best seasons in school history. The Wolverines were 28-9 overall last season and 15-3 in the WAC. They were the regular season champions in their league, finishing ahead of the likes of Sam Houston and Grand Canyon. Utah Valley went on to the NIT where they advanced to the semifinals before losing to UAB.
The Wolverines have won at least 20 games in each of the last two years, being led by head coach Mark Madsen. Their former skipper, a standout at Stanford, left at the conclusion of last season to become the head coach at Cal.
FIRST YEAR HEAD COACH LEADS UTAH VALLEY
Todd Phillips spent the previous four years as an assistant coach under Mark Madsen at Utah Valley. He is now in his first year as head coach of the Wolverines, being promoted to the vacated spot following Madsen’s departure for Cal.
Prior to his time at Utah Valley, Phillips coached at Salt Lake Community College for over a decade. He was first an assistant there before becoming the head coach and had a very successful tenure guiding that program before moving to Utah Valley.
UP AND DOWN RESULTS SO FAR THIS SEASON
It has been a mixed bag of results for the Wolverines so far this season under their first year head coach. Utah Valley is currently 6-5 on the season and is coming off two straight losses, both on the road. The Wolverines lost at Oregon State, 74-71, and at Utah, 76-62, in their previous contests.
Utah Valley has faced a couple of familiar opponents to Liberty fans. Earlier in the season, they defeated Sam Houston, 79-73, in overtime. They also have a win over Southern Miss on a neutral floor, 67-65, and lost at Charlotte, 62-45.
