MBB NIT Game Day: Villanova
3/13/2023 4:00:14 PM | Men's Basketball
Darius McGhee & Kyle Rode Press Conference
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Villanova Men’s Basketball Webpage
TV Coverage: ESPN+
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Derek Jones
Color Analyst: Paul Biancardi
Radio Coverage:
Liberty Flames Sports Network – Radio
LFSN Radio (107.5 FM Lynchburg)
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Alan York
Color Analyst: Anthony Smith
Liberty’s Top Storylines
• Liberty and Villanova will be meeting for the first time. The Flames are making their first-ever appearance in the NIT, and the Wildcats will be appearing for the 18th time.
• Liberty is in the top 10 nationally in scoring margin (No. 3, 14.5), effective field goal percentage (No. 4, 56.9), three-pointers per game (No. 4, 10.5), total threes (No. 4, 358), assist/turnover ratio (No. 5, 1.58) and scoring defense (No. 9, 60.6).
• Darius McGhee was selected as the ASUN Player of the Year for a third straight year. McGhee was also an All-ASUN first team honoree, and Kyle Rode was tabbed to the ASUN All-Conference second team. Rode was named ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Colin Porter made the ASUN All-Freshman team. McGhee is No. 2 nationally in made threes (153) and total points (764) and fifth in scoring average (22.5 ppg).
• McGhee and freshman Colin Porter were tabbed to the ASUN All-Tournament team.
• The Flames have eight total titles over the last five seasons in the ASUN - three ASUN Tournament crowns, four ASUN regular season titles and a Division title (2022).
• Liberty is 130-36 over the last five seasons and has the fourth-most wins in the nation over that span.
• Here is what Liberty has done in postseason tournaments (NCAA Tournament and CIT) since 2017:
2021 NCAA: No. 4 seed Oklahoma State 69, No. 13 seed Liberty 60 (Round of 64)
2020 NCAA: Liberty qualified, but the tournament was cancelled due to the CoVID-19 pandemic.
2019 NCAA: No. 4 seed Virginia Tech 67, No. 12 seed Liberty 58
2019 NCAA: No. 12 seed Liberty 80, No. 5 seed Mississippi State
2018 CIT: UIC 67, Liberty 51 (Semifinals)
2018 CIT: Liberty 84, Central Michigan 71 (Quarterfinals)
2018 CIT: Liberty 65, North Carolina A&T 52 (First Round)
2017 CIT: UMBC 80, Liberty 68 (Quarterfinals)
2017 CIT: Liberty 66, Samford 58 (Second Round)
2017 CIT: Liberty 73, Norfolk State 64 (First Round)
• Liberty Head Coach Ritchie McKay is one of 25 coaches who is a finalist for the 2022-23 Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award. Additionally, McKay has been tabbed to the Advancement of Blacks in Sports (ABIS) Men's Basketball Black College Coaches Watch List.
