The 2017–18 Liberty Flames men's basketball team represented Liberty University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Lynchburg, Virginia for the 28th consecutive season at Vines Center, with a capacity of 8,085. The team was led by Ritchie McKay, who was in his fifth season, but third season since his return to the program. They were members of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 22–14, 9–9 in Big South play, to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. They defeated Campbell and UNC Asheville to advance to the championship game of the Big South tournament where they lost to Radford. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated North Carolina A&T in the first round in a game referred to as the Jim Phelan Classic. They received a second-round bye and defeated Central Michigan in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to UIC.
This was Liberty's final season as members of the Big South Conference, as the school announced on May 17, 2018 that they will be moving to the ASUN Conference for the 2018–19 season.
Previous season The Flames finished the 2016–17 season 21–14, 14–4 in Big South play, to finish in a third place. They were upset in quarterfinals of the Big South tournament by Radford. They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they defeated Norfolk State in the first round to be champions of the Coach John McLendon Classic. In the second round they defeated Samford before losing in the quarterfinals to UMBC.
2017–18 departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown NotesAC Reid 2 Guard 190 Spring Branch, TX Transferred to Tennessee StateXzavier Barmore 4 Guard 165 Seneca, SC Transferred to College of Central FloridaRay Chen 13 Guard 185 Miaoli, Taiwan GraduatedJohn Dawson 22 Guard 205 Clovis, NM GraduatedJosiah Talbert 34 Forward 210 Olathe, KS Transferred to Central Missouri
2017–18 newcomers
Roster
Schedule and results
!colspan=12 style=|Exhibition
!colspan=12 style=|Non-conference regular season
!colspan=12 style=| Big South regular season
!colspan=12 style=|Big South tournament
!colspan=12 style=|CIT
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References