Liberty (10-6, 1-0) vs. North Florida (4-11, 0-2)
Lynchburg, Virginia – Liberty Arena (Capacity: 4,000)
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 7:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Last Meeting: Liberty won both games last season
Series History: Liberty leads 5-3
Projected LU Starters:
2 Darius McGhee (Sr., 5-9, 150) – 21.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.1 apg
23 Joseph Venzant (Fr., 6-3, 170) – 4.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.5 apg
20 Keegan McDowell (R-Sr., 6-6, 180) – 10.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 apg
22 Kyle Rode (Jr., 6-7, 220) – 6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.8 apg
33 Shiloh Robinson (R-Jr., 6-7, 200) – 9.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 0.9 apg
Projected North Florida Starters:
15 Jose Placer (So., 6-1, 174) – 13.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.8 apg
0 Emmanuel Adedoyin (So., 6-2, 161) – 7.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.7 apg
5 Dorian James (So., 6-7, 202) – 5.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.4 apg
3 Carter Hendricksen (Jr., 6-7, 217) – 10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg
21 Jonathan Aybar (Fr., 6-9, 183) – 6.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.8 apg
PREVIEW
After having Saturday’s home game against Kennesaw State postponed due to COVID issues with the Owls, Liberty now returns to action on Tuesday evening against the North Florida Ospreys. With a week off, the Flames will face the Ospreys for the team’s ASUN home opener.
Since joining the ASUN, Liberty is 5-2 against UNF. The Flames won both games last year, 73-61 and 80-60, both of which were played at Liberty Arena. In 2020, the teams split their season series while in 2019, Liberty won two out of the three contests, including a 71-63 win at the Vines Center in the ASUN semifinals.
This season, the Ospreys dropped their first five games overall and their first nine games against Division I teams. UNF is just 1-11 against DI Opponents this season, with their lone win coming at home against Austin Peay on Dec. 11. Of course, North Florida has played a challenging schedule with nine of their first 11 games away from home and against the likes of Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Arizona State, UCLA, Kentucky, and Florida.
The Ospreys opened ASUN play with losses to Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson. Their loss at home to Stetson on Saturday night, 68-66, came in overtime on a buzzer beating three pointer by the Hatters’ Chase Johnston.
“I have a ton of respect for Matt Driscoll,” Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay said of UNF’s head man. “Think they have a very sound system. He recruits very well to that system. They will be a tough out against anyone, not just us. There’s a reason why they’re always a contender in the ASUN. They get it. All the money he’s got to raise for the athletic department, and chooses to raise, I pay no attention whatsoever to (their record). They have a good team, a really good team.”
KENPOM PREDICTION
Liberty 78, North Florida 63
