Boyce vs Liberty prediction: Liberty unveils a rebuilt roster against NCCAA visitor Boyce
With most of last season's shooting core gone, Liberty's early November date with non-Division I Boyce is a first look at who replaces them.
- Liberty should control a non-Division I opponent throughout; the real interest is which new pieces earn minutes.
- Watch returners Zander Carter and RJ Jones next to the transfers and five freshmen who make up most of the roster.
- No spread or total is posted yet. Liberty went 26-8 last season, though that team's core has largely moved on.
A champion starts over
Liberty won its second straight Conference USA regular-season title outright last season, by four games, and finished 26-8. Most of that team is gone. Zach Cleveland, Brett Decker Jr., Kaden Metheny and Colin Porter have departed, and only Zander Carter and RJ Jones return with significant experience. The roster now holds 16 players, including five freshmen and several transfers.
Ritchie McKay, entering his 12th season after an extension through 2031-32, has plenty of sorting to do. Conference USA's preseason poll still picked the Flames 3rd. A home game against Boyce, an NCCAA Division II school from Louisville, gives him low-stakes minutes to test combinations.
The style worth looking for
Last season's Liberty was built on shot-making. Its effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times) was 60.5, 3rd in Division I. It hit 39.3% from three, 4th nationally, and turned it over on just 13.3% of possessions, 8th. It also played slowly, 319th of 365 in pace.
The weaknesses were just as clear. Liberty ranked dead last in offensive rebound rate, and opponents shot 37.2% from three, 356th. Whether a new rotation keeps the shooting and fixes the perimeter defense is the question this game starts to answer. Against Boyce, the answer will be partial at best.
Availability and scheduling
Sean Register Jr., a junior-college All-American, is out for the entire season with an injury. A player identified only as Drew was briefly slowed by a minor leg strain during preseason practice.
The tip is also unsettled. Friday, Nov. 6 is the listed date with the time still to be announced, though some schedules show Nov. 7 at 2:00 p.m. Check the final listing before game day.
Numbers that matter
| Liberty eFG% last season | 60.5 | 3rd in Division I in 2025-26, the core skill the new roster has to rebuild. |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty 3-point % last season | 39.3% | 4th nationally last season, from a group that has mostly departed. |
| Opponent 3-point % last season | 37.2% | 356th of 365 last season, the defensive flaw Liberty needs to fix. |
| Liberty pace rank last season | 319th | A deliberate tempo that kept possession counts low. |
Boyce vs Liberty: quick answers
When is Boyce vs Liberty?
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM ET.