Alabama
Liberty
Alabama Men’s Basketball Faces Liberty in the C.M. Newton Classic
12/29/2023 7:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Crimson Tide return to Birmingham to face the Flames
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's basketball team will play its final non-conference game as Alabama faces Liberty, Dec. 30, at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC in the C.M. Newton Classic.
The Crimson Tide's matchup against the Flames features two of the top programs in the country over the last four seasons as UA has won 83 games, which is tied for No. 11 in the country while Liberty is right behind them at No. 13, winning 82 games.
Alabama continues to have one of the best offenses in the country, as the Tide ranks No. 1 in the country, according to KenPom. Alabama has scored 1,066 points, which ranks No. 3 in the country and the most in program history through the first 12 games of the season, surpassing last year's team (1,004 points).
The Broadcast
Saturday's game is set for a 1 p.m. CT tipoff and will be aired on the SEC Network+ with Gray Robertson (play-by-play) and Lawson Schaffer (analyst) on the call.
The radio broadcast can be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Roger Hoover (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.
Notes You Need To Know
- Alabama head coach Nate Oats is one win away from becoming the fastest coach in program history to reach 100 career wins at Alabama
- Alabama has scored 1,066 points this season (92.2 ppg), the most any UA team has scored in the first 12 games of the season, surpassing last year's team (1,004 points)
- Alabama is one of six schools in the country that has two players on its current roster that has scored at least 1,500 points throughout their career in Aaron Estrada (1,641 points) and Mark Sears (1,589 points)
- In Alabama's five losses, its opponents have a combined record of 49-9 and a winning percentage of .845 with five opponents in the AP Top-25 (#18 Clemson, #1 Purdue, #12 Creighton and #4 Arizona) and Ohio State receiving votes
- Alabama has posted the toughest non-conference schedule, as its opponents have compiled a .715 winning percentage, posting a combined 93-37 record, which ranks No. 1 in the nation
- The Crimson Tide owns the No. 1 ranked offense, according to KenPom
- The Tide is averaging 92.2 points per game, which ranks No. 3 in the country
- Mark Sears is one of four players in Division I and the only Power 5 player in the country that has at least 235 points, 25 three-pointers, 45 assists and 50 rebounds this season
- Sears ranks No. 31 in the nation in scoring (19.6 ppg) and No. 32 in total points (235)
- One of the best players in the SEC, Sears ranks No. 1 in the SEC in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage (53.5), and No. 8 in assists (3.8 apg)
- Grant Nelson is shooting 93.6 percent from the free throw line, which ranks No. 17 in the country
- Alabama's trio of Estrada, Nelson and Sears have each scored over 1,000 points throughout their college career, which is tied for the third most in the country (St. John's & TCU with four each)
About Liberty
- Liberty is among the top 10 in the country in fewest turnovers per game (No. 4, 9.5), scoring defense (No. 5, 59.2), assist/turnover ratio (No. 7, 1.90) and scoring margin (No. 9, 20.1).
- Flames guard Colin Porter leads CUSA in assist/turnover ratio (4.50), ranking seventh nationally in the category.
- Head Coach Ritchie McKay picked up his 400th career win on Saturday. McKay and the Flames are 140 40 (.778) over the last six seasons. The 140 wins are the fourth most of any team in the nation in that span.
- Coach McKay is one of 48 active Division I coach with 400 or more career victories.
- All nine Flames wins have been by double digits. In those victories, Liberty is averaging 84.7 ppg and shooting 51.3 percent while allowing 53.6 ppg.
- Liberty has already faced five NCAA Tournament teams from last season. The Flames are 2-3 in those games, with wins against Furman and Vermont and setbacks to Florida Atlantic, Charleston and Grand Canyon.
- Liberty junior guard Joseph Venzant is second in CUSA in rebounding (8.4 rpg).
- The Flames were picked to finish first in the CUSA Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. This is the third straight year Liberty has been picked to finish first in its league's preseason polls.
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