This week’s ASOR Player of the Week, for the second consecutive week, is Kyle Rode. After suffering their first home loss in three years, the Flames responded by winning their next three games, all away from Liberty Arena. Kyle Rode continued his stellar play, and without it, the Flames very likely would not have swept the three-game road stand.
On Monday night against Kennesaw State, Rode scored 13 points while securing eight rebounds and dishing out three assists in a 65-50 Flames victory. After defeating the Owls, Liberty made the trip to Kentucky, Rode’s home state, for two crucial ASUN games against Bellarmine and Eastern Kentucky. What a homecoming it was for Rode. Against Bellarmine, Rode scored 14 points and was just one rebound short of a double-double with nine. Just a couple of days later against Eastern Kentucky, with family and friends in attendance, Rode recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The junior also had seven assists, just three short of a triple-double.
Rode has won our Player of The Week for the last two weeks. In those weeks, Rode is averaging 13.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. That is elite production from the Lexington, Kentucky native, and Rode only seems to be improving by the week. On the season, Rode is averaging 7.5 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and four assists per game. In terms of overall production, there may not be a bigger contributor on Liberty’s team than Rode.
Despite his statistical production, Rode is a leader of the team and epitomizes the culture of Liberty Basketball. “Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together, and Play with Purpose.” Perhaps no one recognizes and appreciates Kyle Rode’s contributions more than Head Coach Ritchie McKay.
After the Flames most recent win over Eastern Kentucky, McKay had this to say about his starting forward:
“I’m not surprised at anything Kyle Rode does that leads to success. He’s got greatness on him. I don’t know what he’s going to do when his career’s over, but if I’m an employer, or a coach, or a GM, I’m hiring Kyle Rode.”
Kyle Rode is performing at an all-conference level as of late. With March nearing by the day, each game becomes more important, as the Flames look to improve their placement in the conference standings. With hopes of a fourth consecutive ASUN Championship and another appearance in the NCAA Tournament in mind, Kyle Rode and the Liberty Flames will look to build off their three-game win streak and ride that momentum into the ASUN tournament.
