Nick Kirby and Jon Manson are joined by former Liberty player Joel Vander Pol to preview the 2025-26 season for the Liberty Flames. This episode is sponsored by Jason Porter Realty.

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Liberty Flames: Reloaded and Ready for Another CUSA Run in 2025-26As the calendar flips to November 2025, the Liberty University men's basketball Flames are poised to defend their Conference USA crown and chase deeper into March Madness. Last season's 28-7 dream run—capped by a regular-season sweep, tournament title, and first-round NCAA berth—set a high bar under coach Ritchie McKay. Despite losing key transfers like Taelon Peter and Jayvon Maughmer, Liberty returns a battle-tested core, bolsters it with savvy portal grabs, and infuses youth with a towering freshman class. The result? A squad blending experience, length, and upside that could make Lynchburg hum all winter.

McKay, entering his seventh year, enters with quiet confidence. "We're not scrambling like so many mid-majors," he told reporters in September, emphasizing the Flames' retention of talent. His portal strategy targeted size and versatility, yielding transfers like R-Senior guard JJ Harper from D-II powerhouse West Liberty (15.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG last year) and R-Senior forward Josh Smith from Stetson, a 6-9 stretch-four who sat out 2024-25 with a knee injury but flashed 8.4 PPG prior. R-Freshman forward Ryan Jones Jr. adds ACC polish from Virginia Tech. These vets join a spine of returners: Graduate guard Kaden Metheny (13.3 PPG, CUSA Championship MVP, 102 threes), senior forward Zach Cleveland (11.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, third-team all-CUSA), and senior point guard Colin Porter (9.1 PPG, 4.3 APG, honorable mention all-CUSA). Sophomore guard Brett Decker (44.2% from deep as a frosh) and R-Senior forward Zander Yates provide bench spark, while injured duo Isaiah Ihnen (10.4 PPG pre-injury) and Smith return to fortify the frontcourt.

The freshmen haul screams potential: All 6-6 or taller, led by 6-8 forwards TJ Drain and Brady Kester, 6-9 Drew Grimes, 6-7 Torr Sorensen, and 6-6 guard Zander Carter.  Position breakdowns? Guards brim with shooters (Metheny, Porter) and creators (Cleveland at forward). Forwards hinge on health—Smith and Ihnen's knees could unlock elite spacing.