2020–21 Liberty Flames basketball team

The 2020–21 Liberty Flames men's basketball team represents Liberty University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team plays its home games in Lynchburg, Virginia for the inaugural season at Liberty Arena, with a capacity of 4,000. The team is led by Ritchie McKay, who is in his eighth season, but sixth season since his return to the program. They are third-year members of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

2020–21 Liberty Flames basketball
ConferenceAtlantic Sun Conference
2020–21 record15–5 (6–2 ASUN)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Brad Soucie (6th (8th) season)
  • Derek Johnston (3rd season)
  • Joe Pierre III (1st season)
Home arenaLiberty Arena
2020–21 Atlantic Sun men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Bellarmine*8–2 .800  11–5  .688
Liberty6–2 .750  15–5  .750
North Florida5–3 .625  7–11  .389
North Alabama*6–4 .600  10–6  .625
Lipscomb6–4 .600  12–9  .571
Florida Gulf Coast4–4 .500  9–6  .600
Stetson4–6 .400  7–10  .412
Jacksonville3–7 .300  9–11  .450
Kennesaw State0–10 .000  3–15  .167
* ineligible for the 2021 NCAA Tournament due to transition period
† 2021 ASUN Tournament winner
As of February 6, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Flames finished the 2019-20 season 30–4, 13–3 in ASUN play to finish in first place in their third season in the ASUN. They defeated NJIT, Stetson, and Lipscomb in the championship game to win the ASUN Tournament. The Liberty Flames did not compete in the 2020 NCAA Tournament because it was canceled due to COVID-19.

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Myo Baxter-Bell0Forward6'5"255RS SeniorCincinnatiGraduated
Caleb Homesley1Forward6'6"205RS SeniorIndian Trail, North CarolinaGraduated
Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz11Guard6'1"170SeniorPonce, Puerto RicoGraduated
Scottie James31Forward6'8"235RS SeniorTarpon Springs, FloridaGraduated
Brandon Newton55Center7'2"235SophomoreRoanoke, VirginiaTransferred to Trevecca Nazarene

2020-21 Newcomers
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Drake Dobbs
G		 Eden Prairie, Minnesota Eden Prairie High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) N/A Jan 3, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A
Isiah Warfield
G		 Sewickley, Pennsylvania Sewickley Academy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) N/A Mar 28, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:
Jonathan Jackson
G		 Overland Park, Kansas Blue Valley High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) N/A Nov 13, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Micaiah Abii
F		 Frisco, Texas Liberty High School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Chris Parker
G		 Plano, Texas Henderson State 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    Roster
    2020–21 Liberty Flames men's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Drake Dobbs 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
    —
    		 FrEden Prairie High School Eden Prairie, Minnesota
    G 1 Chris Parker 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
    —
    		 SrHenderson State Reddies Plano, Texas
    G 2 Darius McGhee 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
    —
    		 JrBlue Ridge School Roxboro, North Carolina
    G 3 Isiah Warfield 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
    —
    		 FrSewickley Academy Monaca, Pennsylvania
    G 4 Tytist Dean (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS SoNorth High School St. Paul, Minnesota
    G 5 Marten Maide 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
    —
    		 RS FrCarmel Christian School Charlotte, North Carolina
    G/F 10 Elijah Cuffee 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrLiberty Christian Academy Poca, West Virginia
    G 11 Jonathan Jackson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
    —
    		 FrBlue Valley High School Overland Park, Kansas
    G 15 Colton Reed (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
    —
    		 RS JrRoanoke Maroons Wake Forest, North Carolina
    G/F 20 Keegan McDowell 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
    —
    		 RS JrMoeller High School Cincinnati
    G 21 Luke McKay (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
    —
    		 SrLiberty Christian Academy Lynchburg, Virginia
    F 22 Kyle Rode 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
    —
    		 SoLexington Christian Academy Lexington, Kentucky
    F 24 Micaiah Abii 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
    —
    		 FrLiberty High School Frisco, Texas
    G 25 Josh Price 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
    —
    		 RS SoCarmel Christian School Charlotte, North Carolina
    F 32 Blake Preston 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
    —
    		 RS SoCharlotte Christian School Charlotte, North Carolina
    F 33 Shiloh Robinson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
    —
    		 SoKearney High School Kearney, Nebraska
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on
    • Roster is subject to change as/if players transfer or leave the program for other reasons.

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Non-conference regular season
    Nov 25, 2020*
    5:30 pm, CBSSN    		 vs. Purdue
    Space Coast Challenge    		 L 64–77  0–1
    		  21 – McGhee  6 – Tied  4 – 3 tied  Titan FieldHouse (0)
    Melbourne, FL
    Nov 26, 2020*
    6:00 pm, CBSSN    		 vs. Mississippi State
    Space Coast Challenge    		 W 84–73  1–1
    		  23 – McGhee  5 – Preston  10 – Parker  Titan FieldHouse (0)
    Melbourne, FL
    Nov 28, 2020*
    4:00 pm, ESPNews    		 vs. South Carolina
    Hall of Fame Classic semifinals    		 W 78–62  2–1
    		  18 – Rode  6 – Tied  5 – Parker  T-Mobile Center (0)
    Kansas City, MO
    Nov 29, 2020*
    3:30 pm, ESPN2    		 vs. TCU
    Hall of Fame Classic final    		 L 52–56  2–2
    		  15 – McGhee  9 – McGhee  2 – Preston  T-Mobile Center (0)
    Kansas City, MO
    Dec 3, 2020*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Saint Francis (PA) W 78–62  3–2
    		  21 – McDowell  7 – Tied  6 – Parker  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 5, 2020*
    2:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Bluefield W 86–64  4–2
    		  21 – McGhee  6 – Tied  7 – McDowell  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 9, 2020*
    8:00 pm, SECN    		 at Missouri L 60–69  4–3
    		  12 – Preston  5 – Preston  5 – Parker  Mizzou Arena 
    Columbia, MO
    Dec 12, 2020*
    1:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Columbia International W 73–26  5–3
    		  11 – Preston  6 – 3 Tied  5 – Dobbs  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 15, 2020*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 South Carolina State W 82–52  6–3
    		  16 – Tied  11 – Preston  8 – Parker  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 16, 2020*
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Carver College W 91–38  7–3
    		  17 – Abii  7 – Preston  5 – Tied  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Dec 22, 2020*
    1:00 pm    		 Alcorn State W 108–65  8–3
    		  20 – McGhee  9 – Rode  7 – Preston  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Atlantic Sun Conference regular season
    Jan 1, 2021
    3:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Lipscomb L 70–77  8–4
    (0–1)    		  16 – McGhee  11 – Preston  4 – McGhee  Allen Arena (820)
    Nashville, TN
    Jan 2, 2021
    5:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Lipscomb W 66–50  9–4
    (1–1)    		  20 – McGhee  9 – Preston  5 – Parker  Allen Arena (863)
    Nashville, TN
    Jan 8, 2021
    6:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Kennesaw State W 69-63  10-4
    (2–1)    		  17 – Preston  7 – McGhee  3 – Parker  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Jan 9, 2021
    5:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Kennesaw State W 76-47  11-4
    (3–1)    		  12 – McGhee  6 – McDowell  5 – Rode  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Jan 8, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Florida Gulf Coast Postponed due to COVID-19 issues Liberty Arena 
    Lynchburg, VA
    Jan 9, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Florida Gulf Coast Postponed due to COVID-19 issues Liberty Arena 
    Lynchburg, VA
    Jan 15, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Stetson L 59-65  11-5
    (3–2)    		  18 – Parker  6 – 3 Tied  4 – Cuffee  Edmunds Center (50)
    Deland, FL
    Jan 16, 2021
    5:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Stetson W 68–58  12–5
    (4–2)    		  12 – Parker  11 – McGhee  4 – Parker  Edmunds Center (50)
    Deland, FL
    Jan 29, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Jacksonville W 59–54  13–5
    (5–2)    		  18 – Parker  8 – Rode  3 – Parker  Swisher Gymnasium (180)
    Jacksonville, FL
    Jan 30, 2021
    6:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at Jacksonville W 64–58  14–5
    (6–2)    		  25 – McGhee  6 – Rode  4 – Rode  Swisher Gymnasium (180)
    Jacksonville, FL
    Feb 5, 2021
    6:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Lancaster Bible College W 90-49  15-5
    		  19 – Cuffee  9 – Preston  4 – Tied  Liberty Arena (250)
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 5, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 North Florida   Liberty Arena 
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 6, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 North Florida   Liberty Arena 
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 12, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at North Alabama     Flowers Hall 
    Florence, AL
    Feb 13, 2020
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 at North Alabama     Flowers Hall 
    Florence, AL
    Feb 26, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Bellarmine     Liberty Arena 
    Lynchburg, VA
    Feb 27, 2021
    7:00 pm, ESPN+    		 Bellarmine     Liberty Arena 
    Lynchburg, VA
    Atlantic Sun Tournament
    March 2–7 2021
    TBA    		 ( ) vs. ( )  
         		       
     
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Eastern Time..

    [1]

    References
    1. "2020-21 Season Men's Basketball Schedule | Liberty Flames". www.liberty.edu.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.