The return of college basketball is finally here, as this week marks the first games of what promises to be an unusual 2020-21 season. Liberty opens up its campaign in Florida on Wednesday against Purdue to begin a challenging stretch of four games in five days. Head coach Ritchie McKay met with reporters Monday ahead of the season opener. Here is everything McKay had to say:
ARE YOU HAPPY TO GET THE TWO EARLY SEASON TOURNAMENTS ON THE SCHEDULE?
“I wouldn’t use happy as the feeling that I currently possess. As a mid-major, very rarely are you afforded opportunities to play against high major opponents, especially on neutral floors. Although, I feel like it’s a very risky move, a lot of trepidation simply because we lost so many experienced players that were really good. I think our freshmen class is terrific, but to throw them to the wolves like this. There used to be a Saturday Night Live that had the not ready for primetime players. I’m a little afraid that we’re going to be posing as that crew, but I think the opportunity is we get a great chance to see what we’re not and we will be measured against some really good programs led by some tremendous coaches. I think our guys are excited to be a part of it. I think it is a real privilege to be a part of both tournaments, as was Bubbleville, we just felt like this was a great opportunity after our second consecutive game in Bubbleville was changed
ARE YOU EXCITED FOR THE YOUNGSTERS TO GET MORE OPPORTUNITIES?
“You want to get the freshmen as many minutes as you can, quality minutes especially, but also there are some guys in our program that have waited to play like Blake Preston, Josh Price, Shiloh Robinson. I feel like everyone’s going to be afforded an opportunity, just hope we are able to stay healthy before, during, and obviously after the events.”
IN A COVID WORLD, ARE THERE MORE UNKNOWNS THIS SEASON THAN PREVIOUSLY?
“I think every head coach and coaching staff is in the same boat. We have no idea what to expect in terms of what we haven’t covered, what we haven’t addressed, who is much more game ready than they are practice oriented. Those are variables that you can’t predict. In a normal year you have scrimmages and/or exhibitions to at least get a little bit of a peak of a window inside what you’re not. Obviously, because of the pandemic, this is a little different navigation barometer. The other thing, you have this angst that the ball could drop at any second and either someone in your program or someone on your schedule, an opponent on your schedule, could unfortunately contract it or be contract traced. So, I think it’s difficult, especially for the 18-22 year olds, but also for some of us old coaches, but we’re trying to not take for granted to be grateful for the opportunity that is in front of us. Realistically, we have 27 games on our schedule. The likelihood of all 27 being played on the dates in which they are originally scheduled is very slim. Having been through what we’ve been through after the let down of not being able to participate in the NCAA Tournament, I thinkn our guys have a deep appreciation for one game for 40 minutes.”
WILL YOU KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT YOUR TEAM ONE WEEK FROM NOW AFTER THESE FOUR BIG TESTS?
“This is a no-lose proposition for us. Because of our success, we’ve built a little bit of an expectation from our fan base that we belong in the conversation with other high major programs. Although I think we’re certainly pursuant of that, I think last year’s team was much better equipped for the four game scenario that is in front of us; however, I do think the residual of playing really good people, really good programs, is that you get tested and you get a little bit of a glimpse as to what it is like if you qualify or you’re fortunate enough to qualify for NCAA Tournament or postseason, you’re going to play against somebody really good. For us, here’s an opportunity, if we’re fortunate enough to advance to March Madness, we will know what it looks like. We did that in the year we won in the NCAA Tournament. I think that year we played Vanderbilt, UCLA, Alabama, and Georgetown. I do think this is healthy for our program.”
WHAT ARE YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON LIBERTY ARENA?
“We’ve only practiced there a couple times. I can just tell you, it’s such a privilege, such a blessing to have an Area that is state of the art. It is spectacular. Our guys, you can see them looking up in the rafters, pointing out different features in the Arena. It’s a beautiful place. I, fortunately, have the privilege of being in John Paul Jones Arena. I think it was only five or six years old when I got there. When we first got there, there were just a couple thousand fans per game. Having seen Coach Bennett build it the way he did to now it’s an incredible home court advantage. I think the intimacy of the new Liberty Arena has an opportunity to really create a really great home court advantage though it won’t be this year until, obviously, we get this pandemic under control. I think we feel really honored and privileged that we get to be one of the occupants in that facility.”
IS IT SIMILAR TO JMU’S NEW FACILITY OR EVEN JPJ?
“I haven’t seen JMU’s. Obviously, I’ve been to JPJ. I just think the intimacy of ours, there’s 4,000 seats, there’s not a bad seat in the venue. There’s a Club level or a Suite level, as well as a Courtside Club. I think it will be attractive for every fan regardless of your demographic to have an experience. Really excited about it and excited for Flames Nation to be able to participate in our rise and women’s basketball and volleyball.”
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM THE FRESHMEN THIS WEEK?
“I don’t quite know what to expect. That’s the beauty of this coaching there, there is some unpredictability in it. Some things surprise you, some things maybe concern you. Jonathan Jackson has been great. He’s shot the ball at a really high clip. He’s slowed a little bit this week, had to sit out not because of symptoms but had to sit out for a, I can’t speak to the injury. Micaiah Abii has been a pleasant surprise. Drake Dobbs, he’s really good. Isiah Warfield, all four of our freshmen have a chance to play. They are in our top rotation. Chris Parker, I’m really excited about the grad transfer from Henderson State. I think our old is going to blend well with the new.”
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW ASUN SCHEDULE?
“I really don’t know, never done it, never played a team back to back within 24 hours. So, new terrain for us. I think we all just have to be flexible. We’re granted 24 hours each day, let’s make the most of them. Worrying about the fairness of it or the inequity, that’s just not me. I hope though that we get the conference season in. I do think there’s one caveat to playing Friday-Saturday is if indeed games get canceled in the non-conference there is a small window to reschedule those games on a Monday or Tuesday early in the week if it can be worked out with an opponent that had games canceled too. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise, who knows right now. I haven’t thought much more than about Trevion Williams and (Isaiah) Thompson and (Sasha) Stefanovic and (Aaron) Wheeler, not to mention their freshmen. I will worry about the other games at the turn of the year.”
