Liberty (12-6, 3-0) vs. Jacksonville (11-4, 3-0)
Lynchburg, Virginia – Liberty Arena (Capacity: 4,000)
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 7:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Last Meeting: Liberty won both games last season, both played at Liberty Arena
Series History: Liberty leads 7-0
Projected LU Starters:
2 Darius McGhee (Sr., 5-9, 150) – 22.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.1 apg
23 Joseph Venzant (Fr., 6-3, 170) – 4.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.7 apg
20 Keegan McDowell (R-Sr., 6-6, 180) – 10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.9 apg
22 Kyle Rode (Jr., 6-7, 220) – 5.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.7 apg
33 Shiloh Robinson (R-Jr., 6-7, 200) – 10.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.1 apg
Projected Jacksonville Starters:
3 Kevion Nolan (Jr., 6-2, 170) – 12.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.2 apg
11 Jordan Davis (Sr., 6-3, 195) – 10.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg
23 Tyreese Davis (So., 6-6, 210) – 7.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.2 apg
15 Osayi Osifo (Jr., 6-8, 225) – 8.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.3 apg
12 Mike Marsh (So., 6-10, 250) – 8.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.6 apg
PREVIEW
At the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Jacksonville parted ways with head coach Tony Jasick and ended up hiring Florida assistant coach Jordan Mincy.
The Dolphins have not posted a winning season since the 2016-17 campaign, and Mincy has nearly a completely new team. Just four of the 14 teams on this year’s roster are carryovers from last year’s team as the new head coach brought in four freshmen and six transfers.
The new coach and roster makeover has paid dividends as Jacksonville is currently 11-4 on the season, already marking last year’s season win total. The Dolphins finished non-conference play with an 8-4 mark, their four losses coming against UCF, Minnesota, Georgia and Pitt. However, all of Jacksonville’s wins so far this season have come against teams ranked 200+ in KenPom.
The Dolphins have carried their success over into the beginning of league play, winning their first three games. They defeated FGCU with a buzzer-beating three pointer on their home court to open ASUN play, followed by wins over Stetson and North Florida. Jacksonville’s three ASUN wins have come by a combined 13 points.
Jacksonville’s top five scorers are all transfers, including four that are in their first season with the program. Kevion Nolan began his career at Samford before joining JU and beginning to play with them last year. Jordan Davis (Dayton), Tommy Bruner (USC Upstate), Osayi Osifo (Florida), and Mike Marsh (JUCO) round out Jacksonville’s top five scorers.
Coach Mincy has brought a defensive mindset with him to Jacksonville, as the Dolphins not only lead the ASUN they also lead the entire country in scoring defense, holding teams to 54.5 points per game. Liberty has been the top scoring defense in the league since joining the ASUN. The Flames are currently second in the league behind the Dolphins and No. 21 in the country at 60.6 points per game.
KENPOM PREDICTION
Liberty 66, Jacksonville 57
