Liberty concluded the 2015 calendar season with a 17 point loss to Notre Dame on Tuesday night, bringing to an end a dreadful 2015 where the Flames were 2-28 against Division I opponents. This includes an 0-12 mark this season and a 2-16 record at the end of the 2014-15 season under former coach Dale Layer. There was only one other Division I team with a worse record in 2015, Grambling State who was 0-28. The 2-28 record is the worst calendar year the Flames have ever suffered in program history since Liberty moved to Division I prior to the 1988-89 season.
Yet, as we enter 2016, we enter the new year with a new found hope for the men’s basketball program.
It’s not only because of new head coach Ritchie McKay. Yes, April 1, 2015 (the day McKay was hired), is the moment we look back to as the first place of optimism for this program. But it’s also what has happened since then, in spite of the 0-12 record.
Against top 50 teams the last 2 times out (VCU and Notre Dame), Liberty has shown promise. After getting blitzed by the Rams 45-16 in the first half, the Flames have 3 straight halves where they competed at a high level. It started in the 2nd half Sunday against VCU, Coach McKay’s squad beat the Rams, 41-40, in the final 20 minutes. They followed that up by only getting beat by 6 points for 38 minutes and 30 seconds against Notre Dame. The Irish used an 11-0 run in the first 90 seconds of the 2nd half to create separation.
Are those 3 halves just an aberration? Or has the youngest team in Division I begun to turn a corner? We’ll learn soon.
The last 2 months of 2015 have also provided individual performances of which the Flames can build upon. Evan Maxwell has developed into a legitimate low post threat. Perhaps the best young big man prospect to don the red, white, and blue this century.
Homesley had a career-high 18 points against the Irish
John Dawson and Lovell Cabbil both provide perimeter threats. They are both still young and raw with visible areas of improvement needed, but they have shown their potential.
True freshman Caleb Homesley had the best game of his young career on the big stage against the Fighting Irish. Ryan Kemrite has picked his game up the past 2 contests. Both, at the least, should be solid role players to add to the foundation McKay is building.
That’s 5 guys mentioned, all of which are freshmen and sophomores, and some of the other guys on the roster could still develop. The 2016 conference schedule will provide them an opportunity to prove they belong in the rotation.
The team is still missing some pieces though. and, it appears, reinforcements are on the way. Coach McKay has announced the signing of 5 high school seniors for next year. This group of 5 chose Liberty over offers from the likes of Winthrop, Air Force, Central Arkansas, and Stephen F. Austin. Three within this signing class are 6’7″ or taller, which is more than the 2 currently on the roster. 6’7″ wing Brock Gardner is averaging 27 points and nearly 13 rebounds per game through the first month of his senior year. Point guard Xzavier Barmore is averaging 23 points, 6 assists and 7 steals while leading one of the best teams in the state of South Carolina. Yes, reinforcements are on the way.
So, keep your heads up Flames Nation, hope springs eternal for 2016!
