2023–24 Liberty Flames basketball team

American college basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2023–24 Liberty Flames basketball team represented Liberty University during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Flames were are led by Ritchie McKay in the ninth season of his current stint as head coach (11th overall). They played their home games at Liberty Arena in Lynchburg, Virginia as first-year members of Conference USA (C-USA).

ConferenceConference USA
Record18–14 (7–9 C-USA)
Headcoach
Associate headcoachRob Jones
Quick facts Liberty Flames basketball, Myrtle Beach Invitational champions ...
2023–24 Liberty Flames basketball
Myrtle Beach Invitational champions
ConferenceConference USA
Record18–14 (7–9 C-USA)
Head coach
Associate head coachRob Jones
Assistant coaches
  • Derek Johnston
  • Joe Pierre III
Home arenaLiberty Arena
Seasons
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2023–24 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Sam Houston13–3 .81321–12  .636
Louisiana Tech12–4 .75022–10  .688
Western Kentucky †8–8 .50022–12  .647
Liberty7–9 .43818–14  .563
UTEP7–9 .43818–16  .529
New Mexico State7–9 .43813–19  .406
Middle Tennessee7–9 .43814–19  .424
Jacksonville State6–10 .37514–18  .438
FIU5–11 .31311–22  .333
† 2024 CUSA tournament winner
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The Flames finished the season 18–14, 7–9 in C-USA play, play to finish a four-way tie for fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the C-USA tournament they lost in the quarterfinals to UTEP.

Previous season

The Flames finished the 2022–23 season 24–7, 15–2 in 2022–23 ASUN play, to tie for first place in conference standings. In the ASUN tournament they defeated Bellarmine and Eastern Kentucky before losing to Kennesaw State in the champion title match. The Flames received an at-large bid to the NIT tournament where they defeated Villanova in the first round before losing to Wisconsin in the second round.

Offseason

Departures

More information Name, Number ...
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Darius McGhee2G5' 9"180RS SeniorRoxboro, NCGraduated/undrafted in 2023 NBA draft; signed with the Indiana Pacers
Isiah Warfield3G6' 5"180JuniorMonaca, PATransferred to Howard
Stephen Burggraf4G6' 0"160SeniorLynchburg, VAWalk-on; graduated
Jonathan Jackson11G6' 4"180JuniorDallas, TXTransferred to UT Tyler
Blake Preston32F6' 9"230RS SeniorCharlotte, NCGraduated transferred to Northwestern
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Incoming transfers

More information Name, Number ...
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious college
Kaden Metheny3G5' 11"180RS JuniorMorgantown, WVBowling Green
Zander Yates10F6' 7"225RS SophomoreGermantown, TNCreighton
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2023 recruiting class

More information Name, Hometown ...
College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Curtis Blair III
SG		 Richmond, VA The Steward School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Mar 9, 2022 
Recruit ratings: 247Sports: 3/5 stars   
Jaylen Davis
SF		 Richmond, KY Madison Central High School 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 165 lb (75 kg)  
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Hong Kai Yu
C		 Branson, MO Link Academy 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (100 kg)  
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.
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2024 recruiting class

More information College recruiting information (2024), Name ...
College recruiting information (2024)
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Brett Decker
PG		 Elizabethtown, KY Central Hardin High School 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Oct 23, 2022 
Recruit ratings: 247Sports: 3/5 stars   
Will Gibson
PF		 Louisville, KY DeSales High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) N/A Oct 23, 2022 
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

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2025 recruiting class

More information College recruiting information (2025), Name ...
College recruiting information (2025)
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Zander Carter
PG		 Ashland, KY Paul G. Blazer High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) N/A Jun 19, 2023 
Recruit ratings: 247Sports: 3/5 stars   
Andrew Grimes
PF		 Clayton, NC Clayton High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) N/A Sep 4, 2023 
Recruit ratings: No ratings found
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, 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:

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Roster

More information Players, Coaches ...
2023–24 Liberty Flames men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Colin Porter 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)170 lb (77 kg) SoPaul G. Blazer HS Ashland, KY
G 1 Brody Peebles 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) JrHartselle HS Hartselle, AL
G 3 Kaden Metheny 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg) RS JrBowling Green Morgantown, WV
F 5 Bryson Spell 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SoCape Henry Collegiate School Virginia Beach, VA
G 10 JC Jr. Shirer (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg) RS FrGrace Preparatory Academy Arlington, TX
F 11 Zander Yates 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SoCreighton Germantown, TN
G 12 Jaylen Davis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrMadison Central HS Richmond, KY
G 21 Gabriel McKay (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)180 lb (82 kg) RS SrTrevecca Nazarene Lynchburg, VA
F 22 Kyle Rode 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) RS SrLexington Christian Academy Lexington, KY
G 23 Joseph Venzant 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg) JrMidland Christian School Midland, TX
G 24 Curtis III Blair 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg) FrThe Steward School Richmond, VA
F 25 Zach Cleveland 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) SoNormal Community HS Bloomington, IL
F 33 Shiloh Robinson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)235 lb (107 kg) RS SrKearney HS Kearney, NE
F 34 Ben Southerland 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg) RS FrSycamore HS Cincinnati, OH
F 45 Kai Yu 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)245 lb (111 kg) FrLink Year Prep Zhuhai, China
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 3, 2025

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Schedule and results

More information Date time, TV, Rank# ...
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Mid-Atlantic Christian W 103–43  1–0
  20 – Peebles  9 – 2 tied  5 – Porter  Liberty Arena (3,664)
Lynchburg, VA
November 10, 2023*
4:30 p.m., ESPN+		 vs. Charlotte
He Gets Us Hall of Fame Series		 W 71–59  2–0
  23 – Rode  8 – Venzant  3 – Cleveland  Spectrum Center (6,783)
Charlotte, NC
November 16, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 vs. Furman
Myrtle Beach Invitational quarterfinals		 W 88–74  3–0
  19 – Rode  6 – Cleveland  8 – Porter  HTC Center (1,499)
Conway, SC
November 17, 2023*
9:00 p.m., ESPNU		 vs. Wichita State
Myrtle Beach Invitational semifinals		 W 83–66  4–0
  31 – Rode  9 – Cleveland  4 – 3 tied  HTC Center (1,281)
Conway, SC
November 19, 2023*
5:30 p.m., ESPN2		 vs. Vermont
Myrtle Beach Invitational final		 W 71–61  5–0
  21 – Cleveland  9 – Cleveland  7 – Metheny  HTC Center (1,228)
Conway, SC
November 25, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Maryland Eastern Shore W 99–62  6–0
  20 – Metheny  11 – Venzant  8 – Rode  Liberty Arena (2,524)
Lynchburg, VA
November 30, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPNU		 at No. 13 Florida Atlantic
Field of 68 Tip-Off		 L 58–83  6–1
  16 – Porter  6 – Cleveland  3 – Rode  Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena (3,161)
Boca Raton, FL
December 1, 2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPNU		 vs. Charleston
Field of 68 Tip-Off		 L 67–76  6–2
  18 – Rode  11 – Venzant  4 – Metheny  Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena 
Boca Raton, FL
December 5, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Mississippi Valley State W 74–39  7–2
  11 – Peebles  8 – Venzant  4 – 2 tied  Liberty Arena (2,942)
Lynchburg, VA
December 9, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPNU		 Grand Canyon
C-USA/WAC Alliance		 L 64–69  7–3
  13 – Cleveland  11 – Venzant  3 – 2 tied  Liberty Arena (4,052)
Lynchburg, VA
December 13, 2023*
8:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Tennessee State W 74–52  8–3
  18 – Rode  12 – Venzant  9 – Cleveland  Liberty Arena (2,311)
Lynchburg, VA
December 16, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+		 St. Andrews W 99–26  9–3
  23 – 2 tied  7 – 3 tied  6 – Southerland  Liberty Arena (2,230)
Lynchburg, VA
December 20, 2023*
8:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Utah Valley
C-USA/WAC Alliance		 W 79–63  10–3
  19 – Cleveland  8 – Venzant  8 – Cleveland  UCCU Center (1,407)
Orem, UT
December 30, 2023*
2:00 p.m., SEC+/ESPN+		 vs. Alabama
C.M. Newton Classic		 L 56–101  10–4
  14 – Metheny  6 – Cleveland  5 – Cleveland  Legacy Arena (6,912)
Birmingham, AL
January 1, 2024*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+		 Boyce W 88–46  11–4
  25 – Peebles  10 – Southerland  7 – Cleveland  Liberty Arena (2,655)
Lynchburg, VA
Conference USA regular season
January 6, 2024
6:00 p.m., CBSSN		 at Western Kentucky L 68–70  11–5
(0–1)		  23 – Cleveland  8 – Rode  5 – Metheny  E. A. Diddle Arena (5,057)
Bowling Green, KY
January 10, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Jacksonville State L 51–61  11–6
(0–2)		  15 – Metheny  8 – Venzant  5 – Porter  Liberty Arena (2,384)
Lynchburg, VA
January 14, 2024
3:00 p.m., ESPNU		 at Louisiana Tech L 76–80 OT 11–7
(0–3)		  20 – Rode  8 – Venzant  7 – Porter  Thomas Assembly Center (2,348)
Ruston, LA
January 18, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 FIU W 78–69  12–7
(1–3)		  19 – Rode  9 – Cleveland  6 – 3 tied  Liberty Arena (3,247)
Lynchburg, VA
January 20, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Sam Houston W 82–66  13–7
(2–3)		  19 – Rode  9 – Porter  8 – Porter  Liberty Arena (4,005)
Lynchburg, VA
January 27, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at Jacksonville State L 62–73  13–8
(2–4)		  17 – Rode  7 – Venzant  5 – Porter  Pete Mathews Coliseum (2,835)
Jacksonville, AL
February 1, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at New Mexico State L 73–79 OT 13–9
(2–5)		  23 – Cleveland  8 – Cleveland  7 – Cleveland  Pan American Center 
Las Cruces, NM
February 3, 2024
9:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at UTEP W 67–65  14–9
(3–5)		  21 – Metheny  6 – Venzant  7 – Cleveland  Don Haskins Center (5,028)
El Paso, TX
February 8, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Middle Tennessee W 88–53  15–9
(4–5)		  21 – Peebles  12 – Rode  6 – Rode  Liberty Arena (3,241)
Lynchburg, VA
February 10, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPNU		 Louisiana Tech W 65–62  16–9
(5–5)		  21 – Metheny  6 – Cleveland  5 – Cleveland  Liberty Arena (3,696)
Lynchburg, VA
February 17, 2024
7:30 p.m., ESPN+		 at Sam Houston L 73–83  16–10
(5–6)		  19 – Metheny  7 – Cleveland  4 – Metheny  Bernard Johnson Coliseum (1,547)
Huntsville, TX
February 22, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 at FIU L 71–76  16–11
(5–7)		  21 – Metheny  6 – Rode  3 – Rode  Ocean Bank Convocation Center (1,008)
Miami, FL
February 29, 2024
9:00 p.m., CBSSN		 New Mexico State W 83–58  17–11
(6–7)		  22 – Cleveland  9 – Venzant  7 – Cleveland  Liberty Arena (3,262)
Lynchburg, VA
March 2, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 UTEP L 51–67  17–12
(6–8)		  15 – Metheny  10 – Cleveland  3 – Porter  Liberty Arena (3,643)
Lynchburg, VA
March 5, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Middle Tennessee L 61–69  17–13
(6–9)		  17 – Cleveland  13 – Rode  3 – 2 tied  Murphy Center (2,806)
Murfreesboro, TN
March 9, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+		 Western Kentucky W 82–79  18–13
(7–9)		  31 – Rode  8 – Cleveland  7 – Cleveland  Liberty Arena (3,023)
Lynchburg, VA
Conference USA tournament
March 14, 2024
6:30 p.m., ESPN+		 (4) vs. (5) UTEP
Quarterfinals		 L 57–66  18–14
  20 – Metheny  8 – 2 tied  6 – Cleveland  Von Braun Center (2,265)
Huntsville, AL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern.
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