The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. By Ritchie McKay Julie and Ritchie McKay with their three children: Ellie, Luke and Gabriel When I was first approached by FCA to submit an article for Sharing the Victory magazine, I was (#1) humbled, but also (#2) excited to be able to publicly appreciate my wife. McKay was skeptical to even be around Williams that day. “And he does it out of his own pocket. Liberty’s hopes of going into the new year undefeated ended with a 74-57 loss to LSU Sunday. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. While Bennett’s bunch again leads the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 52.4 points per game, McKay’s men are only a spot behind, ranking second at 53.7. While McKay gushed about Williams as a coach in his meeting with reporters Saturday, he also told stories about the goodwill that Williams has done while in Blacksburg. McKay was at the 2019 Final Four in Minnesota when his close friend’s system delivered a national championship, forever burying the flawed argument that the style of basketball Bennett and McKay believe in couldn’t win it all. Both teams have completely changed. About nine months ago, McKay visited Williams in Blacksburg, Va., about a 90-minute drive from Liberty’s campus in Lynchburg, Va., and spent a half-day observing his tendencies. LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Liberty men's basketball coach Ritchie McKay has promoted Marcus Conrad to director of player development. “But we spent probably two, two-and-a-half hours on a plane, and I was like, man, I have misread the cover of this book, because he’s special.”. Tournament Champion. LU coach Ritchie McKay looks at an official after a call was made Tuesday night against NJIT at the Vines Center. UVA coach Tony Bennett shows the same grimace when his normally stout defense suffers a momentary breakdown. It was the second-most points ever scored by a Vanderbilt freshman, trailing only the 34 scored by Mike Rhodes against Virginia Tech in 1977. Among them: Bennett’s wife and daughter. You have permission to edit this article. Ritchie McKay Record includes games as coach of major schools, and does not reflect forfeits or vacated games. “Sometimes, when they’re on, I’ll tune in just to watch,” Homesley said. In 2018, Liberty joined the Atlantic Sun after 27 years competing in the Big South. If that exhibition game did anything, it strengthened the relationship between the teams’ coaches and served as a reminder of how far they have come since clashing during that Mountain West game nearly two decades ago. All Filters. “Yeah, we let our competitive nature get the best of us in the moment.”, It wasn’t until years later that the two men reconciled while sharing a plane ride after a recruiting event in Georgia. Here's why. To be afforded the chance to come back was a blessing.”. From the methodical offense and pack-line defense to the no-tie look McKay sports on the sideline, McKay has put together an uncanny recreation of Bennett’s ACC power at the conservative Christian school of 15,000 located in Lynchburg, a little more than an hour from UVA.
Conrad had been serving as a graduate assistant for the last two seasons for the Flames. But if you know Buzz, he’s so eccentric. So wha... To get here, U-Va. had to look in the mirror. McKay made the announcement Monday. All the updates from Day 3 of the NCAA tournament. The hot shooting thwarted Lipscomb’s plans. He didn’t return until Friday night’s first-round win, but his absence and subsequent return made Virginia Tech more versatile and more unfamiliar to Liberty than the team the Flames played in November. Record includes games as coach of major schools, and does not reflect forfeits or vacated games. About two hours before that, McKay — who is in his second stint as Liberty’s head coach but making his first appearance with the program in the NCAA tournament — led the Flames (29-6) to their first NCAA tournament win, a comeback victory over Mississippi State. “ … And, like, his mind thinks way differently. In five years since returning to Liberty, McKay is 115-59. SAN JOSE — Nearly two decades ago, when Ritchie McKay was head coach at New Mexico, he first encountered a profane, young Colorado State assistant named Buzz Williams. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Liberty coach Ritchie McKay doesn’t necessarily want to be undefeated, but he admits he likes some of the rewards it has brought his team so far this season. Ritchie McKay, Lynchburg, Virginia. You can’t get ahead of their defense.”. Next year, Liberty (30-4) will open its version of John Paul Jones Arena, a $65 million home court, about 5,000 seats smaller in capacity than the Vines Center, which will remain available for bigger games.