A shot at redemption

Liberty Flames men’s basketball team reflects on a successful season 

The Liberty Flames men’s basketball team’s season was over.

A 2016-17 campaign that produced its highest win total in nearly a decade was abruptly cut short.

The first 20-win season since 2008 was brought to a screeching halt after a quarterfinal exit against the Radford Highlanders in the Big South Championship.

Senior guards Ray Chen and John Dawson had played their final game for Liberty.

The season was over — until Head Coach Richie McKay received a phone call.

“(I was in) my home office,” McKay said.

“A guy called and said ‘How would you guys feel about playing in the tournament?’”

With support from Liberty Athletic Director Ian McCaw, the Flames accepted the invitation to the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament (CIT).

This invitation included an opportunity to host the Coach John McLendon Classic in their bout against the Norfolk State Spartans, which served as the tournament’s opener.

And with that call, they were granted the opportunity to rewrite the ending of their 2016-17 story.

“You don’t ever want to end (your season) on a loss,” Dawson said.

“It’s always like a prolonged feeling of redemption until next year. I didn’t want to end on a loss. After that Radford game, that heartbreaking game, the CIT was a way for me to say we get our redemption.”

Two weeks after the heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Highlanders, Dawson and his teammates were back on the court, anticipating their shot at redemption.

In the Coach John McLendon Classic, the Flames scorched the Knights of Norfolk State, 73-64.

Junior forward Ryan Kemrite and sophomore guard Lovell Cabbil combined for 55 of the Flames 73.

Kemrite, who finished with a career-high average in points, acknowledged the magnitude of the newfound postseason experience and its impact on the program.

“(Playing in the CIT) was definitely a big (deal) for the team because you’re getting a lot of young guys experience playing past the regular season, playing past conference play, and getting into any sort of postseason,” Kemrite said.

“And that’s something that we need to get used to because it’s going to happen every year. We’re going to play in the postseason regardless. That’s something Liberty basketball is going to have from last year onward.”

This valuable postseason experience extended after Kemrite and Co.

kenneled the Samford Bulldogs 66-58 in the second round of the CIT.

The Flames were playing with a newfound fire — fire fueled by their early exit only a couple weeks prior.

“I think most guys were still reeling from the loss in the Big South Tournament,” McKay said.

“We had set our sights on winning the next game, and we didn’t do that against Radford. So I think there was disappointment. And to be honest, we were more anxious to get a bad taste out of our mouth than we were about celebrating (our) postseason invite.”

With each advancement, the Flames drew closer to ridding themselves of the disappointment against Radford.

However, a trip to Catonsville, Maryland would put an end to their postseason trek.

In the CIT quarterfinal, the Flames were snuffed out by the UMBC Retrievers, 68-80, effectively ending their season for good.

Little consolation came with the quarterfinal defeat. But Dawson saw this season beyond its disappointing end.

“Looking back on this season, I loved it,” Dawson said.

“I don’t have any regrets because it’s a different team. It’s an unbelievable team. I’m glad we got to play postseason and get that 20-win season. As little as it sounds, it feels really good to me.”

Despite finishing 8th in points per game and last in rebounds per game in the Big South Conference per espn.com, McKay’s unit finished the regular season in third place, a feat especially impressive after losing a key component in redshirt sophomore forward Caleb Homesley to injury in December.

The North Carolina native led the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocks per game before a leg injury sidelined the forward for the remainder of the season.

Soon after the season’s conclusion, the Flames roster suffered losses beyond that of Chen and Dawson.

A total of three players announced their intentions to transfer.

Of those three were junior sharp-shooter A.C. Reid, whose late-game heroics were the difference in two conference games this season.

Joining Reid, Josiah Talbert and Xavier Barmore also announced their intent to transfer.

McKay, while he might not expect a transfer, is never shocked when it happens. In fact, it’s a concept he completely understands.

“I’m never surprised,” McKay said.

“Xavier Barmore and Josiah Talbert are good kids, and they’ll have some good options, I’m sure. We wish them the best in those aspects. Coaches leave all the time to take different jobs to better their own situation. I did it. So I’m not going to begrudge a player on it.”

While the departures due to graduation and transfer do leave gaps in the roster, McKay believes that a firm recruiting class, coupled with the growth of his young team, should more than account for the holes.

“We have some good pieces that are in place,” McKay said.

“I think we’ve got more depth in next year’s team.”

As the next chapter of Liberty basketball unfurls, it will be written without Dawson, a team captain and leader.

However, the New Mexico, native leaves with confidence knowing that his alma mater is in good hands.

“I’ve said it before — this team is destined for great things,” Dawson said.

“Coach McKay is one of those guys who doesn’t only speak to the player, but speaks to the person. When you have a coach who cares about both development in the person and the player, it’s a great thing to have. With McKay, a lot of people here do have that relationship, and that’s what makes this team bond so strong.”

Haywood is the graduate assistant.