The Liberty Flames rebounded from its only loss of the season with two double digit victories on the road to open ASUN play.
The Flames fell to 14-1 with a loss at LSU just prior to New Years, but that has only re-ignited the Flames, led by ASUN Preseason Player of the Year Caleb Homesley. First, Liberty coasted to a comfortable win over Florida Gulf Coast behind 24 points from Homesley. Then, the defense flexed its might by holding NJIT to 37 points on Saturday afternoon as the Highlanders shot just 23.5% from the field.
McKay’s Flames finally return to the Vines Center where they will host the first of three straight at home on Thursday night against North Alabama.
Liberty had risen to #31, just outside the AP Top 25 poll, in others receiving votes prior to the team’s loss in Baton Rouge. That loss also dropped the Flames out of the top 20 in the NET rankings. Will Liberty be able to rebound in either poll? What about KenPom and bracketology?
After a one week hiatus from receiving votes, Liberty is back in the others receiving votes category in the AP Top 25 this week, as the Flames received 2.
The Flames remain No. 2 in the Mid Major Top 25, only trailing No. 1 Gonzaga who received all 31 first place votes.
Liberty has moved up to No. 35 in the NET, down from a season best of 17 but up from 48 where the Flames dropped after the loss to LSU.
In KenPom, the Flames are up to a program best No. 47, jumping nearly 20 spots with the 27-point win at NJIT. This bests Liberty’s previous best KenPom ranking of 49 last season when the Flames were 18-4 overall and 7-0 in ASUN play before losing to Lipscomb in the Vines. Last season, Liberty finished a program best 58th final KenPom ranking.
The latest ESPN Bracketology has Liberty as an 11-seed play 6-seed Colorado in Greensboro.
Liberty finds itself in all 54 brackets submitted to Bracket Matrix, with an average seed of 11.96, highest seed received is a 10 with the lowest being a 14.
