The Flames conclude the 2017-18 season following their loss on Wednesday to Illinois-Chicago:

  1. In Coach McKay’s 3rd year, the team continues to show improvement. The team’s performance in the non-conference portion of its schedule, the Big South Tournament, and the CIT were all improvements over the previous season. Sure, the 9-9 Big South regular season record was underwhelming, but it was due in large part to a mid-season swoon where the team lost 5 games in a row amid a myriad of injuries and a key suspension.
  2. One stat I’ve been tracking during this turnaround has been the team’s improvement from year to year. During the calendar year 2015, the Flames were a program-worst 2-28 against Division I opponents. That mark improved to 14-15 during 2016. In 2017, it jumped to 20-11. Again, another way to show the program’s continued upswing.
  3. After finishing the previous two seasons at 292 and 211 in KenPom, Liberty finishes the 2017-18 campaign at 184 which very narrowly misses the program’s best finish in the history of the site. Dating back to 2002, the only other occasions Liberty finished in the top 200 was following the 2004 and 2009 seasons. 181, at the end of the NCAA Tournament season in 2004, is the program’s highest ever KenPom finish.
  4. Over the past 21 seasons, Liberty has had three 20-win seasons and all 3 have come under Coach McKay including two consecutive for the first time in school history.
  5. For the 2nd straight season, the Flames set a school record for free throw percentage, shooting 79.2% from the charity stripe. This mark was good for 5th nationally and obliterated last season’s record of 74.2%.
  6. Liberty finished 8th nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 63.6 points per game.
  7. Ryan Kemrite is the only graduating member of Liberty’s everyday rotation, but he will be a big hole to fill. Kemrite finished his career as Liberty’s most decorated 3 point shooter owning the program records for career 3 pointers made, career 3 point field goal percentage, and single season 3 point field goal percentage. He also tied the school record with 132 games played.
  8. In much the way that this season was Kemrite’s, 2018-19 will be Lovell Cabbil’s. He will likely be the only senior in the every day rotation next year, and, when healthy, he is one of the most dynamic two-way players in the Big South. He finished his junior campaign just two points shy of 1,000 for his career, and he could finish in the top 15 of Liberty’s annals in both career scoring and rebounding.
  9. Scottie James had a remarkable season, particularly in the 2nd half of the year when he averaged 17 points and 8.75 rebounds while shooting 64.6% from the field. If he keeps that up for the entire 2018-19 season, he will end a drought of 7 years without a first-team all Big South honoree.
  10. As the days and weeks unfold in the offseason, keep an eye out for coaching staff and/or roster changes as typically happen.
  11. Next year’s squad should be the most talented Coach McKay has had since his return to Liberty Mountain. It also will be the first time in his time at Liberty that the team will have an experienced roster as the past few seasons have been marked with numerous freshmen and sophomores. While Cabbil will likely be the only senior in the rotation, there will be several others that will make up the rotation that have plenty of game experience.
  12. I’ll leave you with this quote from departing senior Ryan Kemrite – “As Coach (McKay) has said before, there is no limit to what you can put on this team. We’ve already accomplished back-to-back 20 win seasons and it’s only year 3 of McKay. That’s what’s incredible for me. Sometimes you get impatient and want things now, but the accelerated pace that we’ve been on is because of the commitment and the character of the guys that are in the locker room and on the staff. They’re going to be really good. They’re going to be a hard out for any team that they play next year, ACC or Big South.”