[kuntryboimike]

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 26&TeamID=

Notre Dame, Texas Tech, South Florida and the South Padre Island Invitational headline the 2010-11 Liberty men’s basketball schedule, as announced by head coach Dale Layer.

Layer enters his second season at the helm of the program after leading a young Flames squad, which consisted of 11 underclassmen, to a 15-16 record overall and a 10-8 record in conference play in 2009-10.

Liberty opens the 2010-2011 campaign inside the Vines Center, playing host to NAIA member Virginia Intermont on Nov. 12. After their tangle with Cobras, the Flames head to Notre Dame (Nov. 14), squaring off with the BIG EAST opponent in South Bend, Ind., for the second-straight year.

Last season, Liberty remained within single digits against the Fighting Irish in the opening game of the 2009 Chicago Invitational, until the home team pulled away in the second half with help of center Luke Harangody for the 91-72 final. In this year’s rematch, the Irish will not have the presence of Harangody in the post.

From South Bend, Liberty makes the trek to Wilmington, N.C., to face UNC Wilmington (Nov.16). The quick turnarounds continue on Nov. 18, as the Flames return home to host Southern Virginia for the second consecutive season.

Following the brief stay at home, the Flames will spend the majority of their Thanksgiving break in the Lone Star State, as they kick off the South Padre Island Invitational at Texas Tech (Nov. 21). Liberty’s inaugural clash with the Red Raiders is also the team’s first contest against a Big XII team since Nov. 16, 2006, when the Flames took on Oklahoma.

Leaving Lubbock, Liberty then makes a brief stop in Tampa, Fla., to take on another BIG EAST member in South Florida. The matchup marks the fifth BIG EAST opponent the Flames have faced all-time and the first ever meeting with the Bulls. After the short stay in the Sunshine State, Liberty heads back to Texas to close out the invitational at the South Padre Island Convention Centre. The Flames will face Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 26 and conclude the event against Georgia Southern or Chicago State (Nov. 27).

December marks the start of Big South Conference play, as Liberty opens a four-game homestand with contests against Presbyterian (Dec. 2) and defending Big South champion, Winthrop (Dec. 4). The Flames then dip back into non-conference action, hosting two CAA competitors in back-to-back home games. Liberty meets George Mason on Dec. 11, followed by a meeting with William & Mary on Dec. 18.

Liberty encountered the same CAA tandem in back-to-back fashion during the 2008 season, prevailing in what resulted in two nail biters. After defeating William & Mary in double overtime, 80-74, to win the Thanksgiving Classic (Nov. 28, 2008), the Flames followed up the performance with a 69-66 overtime win against the Patriots on Dec. 1, 2008.

The Flames then hit the road again, playing away from the Vines Center in six of the next nine contests. Liberty plays at Hampton on Dec. 22 and then returns home to host Union College (Dec. 28). Conference play kicks up again to ring in the new year, as the Flames head to Gardner-Webb (Dec. 31) and UNC Asheville (Jan. 2). Liberty’s 2011 home slate begins on Jan. 6 against Charleston Southern, followed by a matchup with the 2009-10 regular-season champions, Coastal Carolina (Jan. .

The following week, the Flames head to High Point (Jan. 13) and Radford (Jan. 15) to continue conference play. Liberty looks to continue its winning ways at Radford’s Dedmon Center, taking three of the last four games from the Highlanders inside the venue. The Flames most recently upset Radford on its home floor on Jan. 23, 2010, squeaking by with a 60-55 win.

The Flames will step back into the Vines Center for a three-game homestand against VMI (Jan. 20), UNC Asheville (Jan. 27) and Gardner-Webb (Jan. 29). Shortly after returning from its annual beach swing versus Coastal Carolina (Feb. 3) and Charleston Southern (Feb. 5), Liberty concludes its conference home schedule against Radford (Feb. 10) and High Point (Feb. 12). The Flames then finish up the regular season with three-straight road contests against VMI (Feb. 22), Winthrop (Feb. 24) and Presbyterian (Feb. 26).

The Big South Men’s Basketball Championship begins with the quarterfinals on March 1 at the home of the higher seed. The semifinals, which will be broadcast on ESPNU, will be played at the site of the regular-season champion on March 3. One of the ESPN Family of Networks will broadcast the championship game on March 5 at the home of the highest remaining seed. The NCAA Tournament starts March 15, with the first two rounds being played at various locations across the country.

All television assignments and game times will be announced at a later date.

Nov 12, 2010 7:00 PM Virginia Intermont Lynchburg, Va.
Nov 14, 2010 2:00 PM vs. Notre Dame South Bend, Ind.
Nov 16, 2010 7:00 PM vs. UNC Wilmington Wilmington, N.C.
Nov 18, 2010 7:00 PM Southern Virginia Lynchburg, Va.
Nov 21, 2010 1:00 PM vs. Texas Tech South Padre Island Invitational Lubbock, Texas
Nov 23, 2010 TBA vs. South Florida South Padre Island Invitational Tampa, Fla.
Nov 26, 2010 TBA vs. Mississippi Valley State SPI Invitational - South Padre Convention Centre South Padre, Texas
Nov 27, 2010 TBA vs. Georgia Southern/Chicago State SPI Invitational - South Padre Convention Centre South Padre, Texas

Dec 2, 2010 7:00 PM Presbyterian* Lynchburg, Va.
Dec 4, 2010 7:00 PM Winthrop* Lynchburg, Va.
Dec 11, 2010 7:00 PM George Mason Lynchburg, Va.
Dec 18, 2010 7:00 PM William & Mary Lynchburg, Va.
Dec 22, 2010 7:00 PM vs. Hampton Hampton, Va.
Dec 28, 2010 7:00 PM Union College Lynchburg, Va.
Dec 31, 2010 TBA vs. Gardner-Webb* Boiling Springs, N.C.
Jan 2, 2011 TBA vs. UNC Asheville* Asheville, N.C.
Jan 6, 2011 7:00 PM Charleston Southern* Lynchburg, Va.
Jan 8, 2011 7:00 PM Coastal Carolina * Lynchburg, Va.
Jan 13, 2011 7:00 PM vs. High Point* High Point, N.C.
Jan 15, 2011 TBA vs. Radford* Radford, Va.
Jan 20, 2011 7:00 PM VMI* Lynchburg, Va.
Jan 27, 2011 7:00 PM UNC Asheville* Lynchburg, Va.
Jan 29, 2011 7:00 PM Gardner-Webb* Lynhcburg,Va.
Feb 3, 2011 8:00 PM vs. Coastal Carolina* Conway, S.C.
Feb 5, 2011 TBA vs. Charleston Southern* Charleston, S.C.
Feb 10, 2011 7:00 PM Radford* Lynchburg, Va.
Feb 12, 2011 7:00 PM High Point* Lynchburg, Va.
Feb 22, 2011 TBA vs. VMI* Lexington, Va.
Feb 24, 2011 TBA vs. Winthrop* Rock Hill, S.C.
Feb 26, 2011 TBA vs. Presbyterian* Clinton, S.C.

[jcmanson]

Not a bad schedule. 3 BCS schools which I think is the perfect amount. 3 CAA which is good. Then Hampton and the 2 games in South Padre are good games too. 3 non D1's - I wish we could make that 2, but I'm not going to complain too much with this schedule

I could see us winning 18, 19 games.

[SuperJon]

The three non Division I games is one less than last year. It's a step in the right direction.

This is a good schedule for where we are. It gives us a payday or two without getting absolutely killed over and over and some non-conference DI games with a chance to win.

[WinthropEagleFan]

And you guys still have space for one more game. Someone on the VMI board mentioned that everyone in the Big South would be participating in the BracketBuster event this season. Not sure if that is true or not, but that weekend (Feb. 19) is currently not being occupied on your guys' schedule.

[SuperJon]

There’s a gap between February 12-22, but the Flames won’t have 10 days off. More on that when a certain television network announces the field for a certain annual event.

Chris's blog

[Cider Jim]

when a certain television network announces the field for a certain annual event.

Sounds like Sly speak.

[g-webb1994]

Dec. 31 here at G-W. No students, no crowd. I wouldn't be surprised if that turned into an afternoon start for whatever reason. If LU and VMI are traveling together again in sequence, it will mean we get VMI here on that following Monday.

[kdinva]

There’s a gap between February 12-22, but the Flames won’t have 10 days off. More on that when a certain television network announces the field for a certain annual event.

Chris's blog

VMI's website lists our game in Lexington as Feb. 15, not the 22nd........when you look at the other games in February, the 15th does make better sense, since we are both home the 12th, but away the 24th.

[Chris Lang]

Interesting. Liberty's still lists it as the 22nd. I'll shoot an e-mail down to the Big South office to see which one is right.

EDIT: Quick response. The game is indeed on the 15th, so VMI's web site was correct.