The Liberty Flames (12-1) men’s basketball team is back in action on Thursday night at Liberty Arena against Western Kentucky (9-4).
Here’s what you need to know about the game:
Liberty vs Western Kentucky How to Watch
7 p.m. ET | Thursday, Jan 2
Lynchburg, Virginia | Liberty Arena
TV: CBS Sports Network
Liberty vs Western Kentucky Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -9
Projected score: Liberty 75, Western Kentucky 66
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
7.1 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.4 rpg
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Senior Guard | 5’11”, 170
14.2 ppg, 44.2% from 3
#32 Jayvon Maughmer
Senior Guard | 6’6″, 205
9.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Junior Forward | 6’7″, 220
11.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 5.4 apg
#8 Owen Aquino
Junior Forward | 6’8″, 230
9.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Liberty vs Western Kentucky History
Series tied, 1-1
Liberty vs Western Kentucky Storylines
CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS
Liberty had tremendous success in non-conference play, but none of that matters now as the Flames prepare to open conference play. The next 18 games are for conference superiority and, while regular season play isn’t rewarded much in CUSA with the postseason tournament being on a neutral floor, Liberty wants to improve on last year’s 7-9 mark in its first year in CUSA.
Coach McKay was intent on getting more length and athleticism to prepare his team for conference action. The Flames went out and got several newcomers including four transfers that have been a huge part of the team’s early success. Thursday night will be the first chance we get to see just how prepared this new look roster is compared to CUSA competition.
FLAMES TAKING ON REIGNING CUSA CHAMPS
The conference opener won’t be easy. The Flames take on reigning CUSA champ Western Kentucky.
The Hilltoppers, under first year head coach Steve Lutz last season, went just 8-8 in conference play but that was good enough to earn the three seed in the conference tournament. WKU then defeated New Mexico State, Middle Tennessee, and UTEP in Huntsville to claim the CUSA crown. WKU then went into the NCAA Tournament as a 15-seed, falling to Marquette.
Liberty and WKU were very evenly matched last season. The two team’s split the season series, each team winning on its home floor. Liberty lost by two in Bowling Green to open conference play but then defeated the Hilltoppers by three at Liberty Arena.
Following the team’s success last year, Lutz left WKU and is now the head coach at Oklahoma State. One of his assistants, Hank Plona, has taken over as head coach at WKU. Prior to his one year on staff at WKU, Plona had a lot of success at Indian Hills Community College, posting a 225-35 record.
This year under Plona, Western opened the season at 0-2 but they have responded by winning 9 of their last 11 entering conference play with the two losses coming against Kentucky and Michigan.
HILLTOPPERS TO TEST FLAMES
Despite the coaching change, Western Kentucky returns many of its key pieces from last year’s championship squad. They are also very experienced.
WKU’s normal starting lineup features five seniors, including first team all-CUSA and CUSA Tournament MVP from last year Don McHenry. The 6’2″ guard is averaging 18.5 points per game and has his eyes set on returning to the Big Dance.
6’8″ forward Babacar Faye has first-team all-conference potential. He is currently averaging 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and provides a big man in the paint for WKU that can score as well as protect the rim.
6’3″ guard Khristian Lander is also averaging double figures at 11.1 points per game. Both Faye and Lander have missed the past three games due to injury and their status for Thursday night’s game is in jeopardy. Their absence greatly affects WKU’s ceiling.
6’2″ guard Braxton Bayless is in his first season after beginning his college career at Niagra where he averaged 11.5 points per game a season ago. Bayless is currently averaging 6.8 points per game for the Hilltoppers.
6’7″ senior Tyrone Marshall is averaging 8.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while 6’4″ freshman guard Julius Thedford is scoring 11.8 points off the bench.
