Following the win over Furman on Thursday, Liberty (3-0) will take on Wichita State (4-0) on Friday night in the semifinals of the Myrtle Beach Invitational in a game that will be televised on ESPNU. The Shockers defeated the tournament host, Coastal Carolina, 86-77, on Thursday.
Be sure to check out our complete Myrtle Beach Invitational preview if you missed it.
The Flames will take on Furman (2-0) on Thursday night to get the tournament started. Here’s what you need to know about the game:
How to Watch
9:00 p.m. ET | Friday, November 17
Conway, SC | HTC Center
TV: ESPNU
Liberty vs Wichita State Odds (KenPom)
Spread: Liberty -5
Projected score: Liberty 71, Wichita State 66
Liberty Projected Starters
#0 Colin Porter
Sophomore Guard | 5’9″, 170
8.0 ppg, 5.0 apg, 33.3% 3-point
#3 Kaden Metheny
R-Junior Guard | 5’10”, 170
9.7 ppg, 2.0 apg, 2.3 rpg
#23 Joseph Venzant
Junior Guard | 6’3″, 200
4.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg
#22 Kyle Rode
R-Senior Forward | 6’7″, 220
17 ppg, 3.0 rpg
#25 Zach Cleveland
Sophomore Forward | 6’7″, 215
9.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg
Liberty vs Wichita State History
This will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Liberty vs Wichita State Storylines
SHOCKERS LOOKING TO GET BACK TO THE TOP
After a very successful 13-year run under head coach Gregg Marshall, Wichita State has struggled, by their terms, in the last few years. The Shockers made the NCAA Tournament seven straight seasons, including a Sweet 16 and Final Four appearance, under Marshall. The last two years, however, they didn’t make it to the postseason.
Enter new head coach Paul Mills, who comes to Wichita this year from Oral Roberts. Mills had a very strong run there where he advanced to the Big Dance two out of the last three years including a Sweet 16 appearance as a 15-seed in 2021.
MILLS LOOKING TO CONTINUE HIS SUCCESS AGAINST THE FLAMES
Now competing in the American Athletic Conference, Mills is no stranger to the Flames and head coach Ritchie McKay, as he and Oral Roberts defeated the Flames, 84-70, on December 12 last year. ORU and Mills went on to a 30-5 season and an 18-0 mark in the Summit League last season.
This season, he has helped lead Wichita to an early 4-0 record. The Shockers typically play seven players on a given night, with their size likely to challenge Liberty on Friday. Wichita starts two guys over 6’10” in Kenny Pohto and Quincy Ballard. Pohto had 16 points and 8 rebounds in the win over Coastal Carolina on Thursday.
6’2″ guard Xavier Bell scored 20 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists against the Chanticleers.
SHOCKERS HAVE FACED SOME FAMILIAR FOES FOR FLAMES FANS
As part of the 4-0 start to the season, Wichita State has played several teams that are familiar to Liberty fans. In addition to their win over Coastal Carolina to open the Myrtle Beach Invitational, a team the Flames used to play in the Big South, the Shockers opened the season with a 76-59 win over Lipscomb, a former ASUN rival of the Flames.
In their second game of the season, Wichita defeated a new Liberty conference rival in Conference USA by defeating Western Kentucky. The Shockers defeated the Hilltoppers, 71-61, on their home floor on November 9.
