Latest news with #KadenMetheny
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Three Liberty Flames to look out for in Oregon's first round matchup
Three Liberty Flames to look out for in Oregon's first round matchup The Oregon Ducks are a day away from their first game of the 2025 NCAA tournament when they'll match up with the Liberty Flames in the round of 64. The Ducks and Flames are seeded on the 5-12 line, with Oregon as a five-seed and Liberty as a 12. The 12-over-five upset is one of the more common occurrences in the NCAA Tournament, at the Flames have the makeup of 12-seed Cinderella. Shooting 39.0% from beyond the three-point line, Liberty has the sixth-best three-point clip in the country, giving them the ability to beat any mid-seeded team on the right shooting night. Liberty also averages just 62.9 points allowed per game, which is 10th in the nation, and the Flames are 25-0 when they hold their opponents to 70 points or fewer. What the Flames' stellar three-point and defensive numbers don't take into account is opponent. The Flames played zero power conference teams this season and had zero quad 1 matchups. They played just five quad 2 matchups and went 3-2 in those games. Oregon will be the most talented and most physical opponent Liberty has seen all season, which could spell trouble for the Flames. Below are three players to watch out for from the Liberty Flames. With a team average of 39%, so many guys on the court are dangerous, but these three have the highest potential to hurt the Ducks or break the game open. Kaden Metheny Overview: Senior, Guard, 5'11", 180 pounds Stats: 32.0 minutes, 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 42.7 FG%, 39.0 FG%, 78.2 FT% Liberty's senior leader is guard Kaden Metheny who, despite his small stature at 5 feet 11 inches, can do most anything on a basketball court. Perhaps most impressive is his 39.0 three-point percentage, which he's held while averaging almost 7.7 attempts per game. Metheny will touch the ball on almost all of Liberty's possessions, making it imperative that the Ducks deny his ability to create his own shots. His height and position make it likely that he and Oregon's Jackson Shelstad will be matched up for most of this game, which could be an offensive asset for both guards as both are used to being guarded by bigger players. Taelon Peter Overview: Senior, Guard, 6'4", 185 pounds Stats: 22.7 minutes, 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 58.6 FG%, 46.0 3P%, 77.3 FT% Although there are five guys who average more minutes per game for the Flames, senior guard Taelon Peter is Liberty's leading scorer. At 6 feet 4 inches, Peter is an efficiency nightmare, shooting nearly 60% from the field and over 45% from three, averaging 8.2 FG attempts and 4.8 three-point attempts per game. He'll be on the court for just a little over half the game, but Peter has the highest potential to swing this game in favor of the Flames. Zach Cleveland Overview: Junior, Forward, 6'7", 210 pounds Stats: 32.0 minutes, 11.0 points, 6.3 rebounds. 5.1 assists, 49.1 FG%, 18.8 3P%, 53.5 FT% Bringing the Flames some more size is junior forward Zach Cleveland, who plays an interesting for Liberty. He's a capable scorer, shooting nearly 50% and averaging 11 points per game, but at 5.1 assists per game, Cleveland is also the Flames top facilitator. It's rare to see a bigger guy lead a team in assists, especially at this level of college hoops, but Cleveland's ability to spread the rock opens up Liberty's offense. No one in Liberty's rotation has the height to match Oregon's Nate Bittle, and at 6 feet 7 inches, Cleveland may struggle when he's matched up against the Ducks star center.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oregon Basketball vs Liberty prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round
Oregon Basketball vs Liberty prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament first round The Oregon Ducks matchup in the first round of March Madness is set, with the Ducks earning a five-seed and a game against the 12-seed Liberty Flames. Oregon has won eight of their last nine games and Liberty has won 11 of 12, beating Jacksonville State on Saturday in the CUSA Championship to punch their tournament ticket. Liberty is a strong team on both defense and offense. At 39% flat, the Flames have the sixth-best three-point percentage in the country, and they are undefeated when they hold their opponents to 70 points or fewer — something they've done 25 times this season. Oregon and Liberty's football teams faced off a year ago in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, when the Flames were the best team in the Group of Five. The Ducks won that Fiesta Bowl, defeating the Flames 45-6. No. 5 vs. No. 12 seed matchups are always exciting, and they offer so much upset potential (12-seeds are 55-101 (.353) against 5-seeds since the tournament expanded in 1985). The Ducks were on the flip side of the 5-12 line last year, when they defeated No. 5 South Carolina as the Pac-12 Champion and automatic qualifier. Matchup Overview Liberty plays elite defense and offense, and their stellar three-point shooting can break games open in a hurry. The Flames are led by their senior guards Taieon Peter and Kaden Metheny, who each average over 13 points per game and make major contributions to the Flames' 39.0 three-point percentage. For the Ducks to win, they'll need to limit Liberty's opportunities for easy threes. Where the Ducks may have an advantage is size and strength in the post. Liberty's tallest player who plays more than 20 minutes per game, Owen Aquino, is 6 foot 8 inches and 230 pounds. In contrast, Oregon's starting center, Nate Bittle, is 7 feet tall and 215 pounds. Bittle likes to play with his back to the basket where his size may offer him a big advantage for hook shots and layups. Names to Know Oregon Jackson Shelstad: 13.2 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 2.7 Ast Nate Bittle: 14.1 Pts, 7.4 Reb, 1.9 Ast TJ Bamba: 10.4 Pts, 3.5 Reb, 2.9 Ast Liberty Taeion Peter: 13.9 Pts, 4.1 Reb, 1.1 Ast Kaden Metheny: 13.5 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 2.0 Ast Zach Cleveland: 11.0 Pts, 6.3 Reb, 5.1 Ast Keys to the Game Oregon Tough perimeter defense Get Nate Bittle post touches as often as possible Protect the ball. Finish with fewer than 14 turnovers Liberty Find a rhythm from three-point range early on Handcuff Jackson Shelstad on defense Create driving lanes for G Kaieon Peter, who shoots 76.1% from two-point range Odds and Prediction Moneyline: Oregon: -220 | Liberty: +185 Spread: Oregon: -4.5 points Over/Under: 139.5 points Our Pick: Liberty shoots the ball like crazy and its defense is fantastic, but the Flames haven't played too many teams like the Oregon Ducks this season. Tenacious defense — particularly when closing out jump shots — will be paramount, and on offense, look for Nate Bittle to have a big day. I'll take the Ducks to win and cover.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Liberty takes on Jacksonville State in CUSA Championship game
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (22-11, 14-6 CUSA) vs. Liberty Flames (27-6, 15-5 CUSA) Huntsville, Alabama; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Flames -6.5; over/under is 130.5 BOTTOM LINE: Liberty takes on Jacksonville State in the CUSA Championship. The Flames are 15-5 against CUSA opponents and 12-1 in non-conference play. Liberty leads the CUSA with 76.5 points and is shooting 49.1%. The Gamecocks' record in CUSA play is 14-6. Jacksonville State is 7-3 in games decided by at least 10 points. Liberty makes 49.1% of its shots from the field this season, which is 8.2 percentage points higher than Jacksonville State has allowed to its opponents (40.9%). Jacksonville State has shot at a 44.7% rate from the field this season, 4.7 percentage points higher than the 40.0% shooting opponents of Liberty have averaged. The teams meet for the third time this season. Liberty won 59-55 in the last matchup on Feb. 28. Kaden Metheny led Liberty with 13 points, and Jao Ituka led Jacksonville State with 14 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Metheny is shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc with 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Flames, while averaging 13.2 points. Taelon Peter is averaging 15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals over the past 10 games. Jaron Pierre Jr. is averaging 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Gamecocks. Quel'Ron House is averaging 9.4 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Flames: 9-1, averaging 73.9 points, 29.1 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 5.4 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.0 points per game. Gamecocks: 6-4, averaging 68.5 points, 32.4 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 40.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.9 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Liberty takes on Jacksonville State in CUSA Championship game
Huntsville, Alabama; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Flames -6.5; over/under is 130.5 BOTTOM LINE: Liberty takes on Jacksonville State in the CUSA Championship. The Flames are 15-5 against CUSA opponents and 12-1 in non-conference play. Liberty leads the CUSA with 76.5 points and is shooting 49.1%. The Gamecocks' record in CUSA play is 14-6. Jacksonville State is 7-3 in games decided by at least 10 points. Liberty makes 49.1% of its shots from the field this season, which is 8.2 percentage points higher than Jacksonville State has allowed to its opponents (40.9%). Jacksonville State has shot at a 44.7% rate from the field this season, 4.7 percentage points higher than the 40.0% shooting opponents of Liberty have averaged. The teams meet for the third time this season. Liberty won 59-55 in the last matchup on Feb. 28. Kaden Metheny led Liberty with 13 points, and Jao Ituka led Jacksonville State with 14 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Metheny is shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc with 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Flames, while averaging 13.2 points. Taelon Peter is averaging 15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals over the past 10 games. Jaron Pierre Jr. is averaging 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Gamecocks. Quel'Ron House is averaging 9.4 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Flames: 9-1, averaging 73.9 points, 29.1 rebounds, 16.4 assists, 5.4 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.0 points per game. Gamecocks: 6-4, averaging 68.5 points, 32.4 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 40.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.9 points. ___
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Metheny scores 24, Liberty beats Kennesaw State 81-79 in Conference USA semifinals
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Kaden Metheny had 24 points and Liberty beat Kennesaw State 81-79 on Friday in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals. The Flames secured a spot in a conference title game for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. Metheny went 8 of 14 from the field (7 for 13 from 3-point range) for the Flames (27-6). Colin Porter added 15 points while shooting 6 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 2 of 5 from the free-throw line while he also had five assists. Taelon Peter shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 1 for 3 from the line to finish with 11 points. The Owls (19-14) were led in scoring by Adrian Wooley, who finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Braedan Lue added 14 points, two steals and two blocks. Simeon Cottle also had 13 points. Metheny scored eight points in the first half and Liberty went into the break trailing 40-31. Metheny scored 16 points in the second half. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
