At this same time a year ago, VMI's basketball team began a surprising run that nearly catapulted it to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 30 years.

Now, the Keydets hope to find some similar karma at the same place they started their postseason tear 12 months ago.

For the second consecutive season, VMI will commence play in the Big South Conference tournament with a hour-long trip to Lynchburg today. Like a year ago, the Keydets' assignment will be to cut down Liberty at the Vines Center in tonight's quarterfinals.

Only a week after it beat the Flames in the Hill City for a second straight time, fifth-seeded VMI (14-14) will shoot for the hat trick when it faces fourth-seed Liberty (15-15) at 7 p.m.

"You kind of hate to go play a team that you just played a week ago," said Keydets coach Duggar Baucom on Monday, referring to his team's 79-78 win seven nights ago at Liberty. "We were fortunate enough to win that one, but it will be a totally different thing going into a tournament atmosphere.

"Really, there's nobody I want to play in the tournament. Everybody is good from top to bottom, so I really think anything can happen this year."

The Keydets should welcome that news. After all, Baucom & Co. came only a basket shy of possibly making a NCAA bracket a year ago when they pulled an upset at Liberty, and then moved on to Rock Hill, S.C., where they stunned High Point in the semifinals before losing 84-81 to Winthrop on its homecourt in the title game.

"Hopefully, those six guys [off last season's club] will lend some advice to the others and help them be a little more relaxed. I think it certainly helps to have been in that position," Baucom said.

"And we'll have one senior, and Reggie Williams [VMI star forward] knows now that everytime he laces 'em up it could be his last game. I hope that's a motivator for him."

Williams hopes to find all the help he can. Baucom noted that junior starters Travis Holmes and Willie Bell are close to full strength again after battling minor injuries that have exacerbated a major decline in their recent production. Plus, shooting guard Christian Hunter is still battling mononucleosis.

After squandering a chance to earn a first-round game at home by losing three of their final four games, the Keydets can't be too upset about hitting the road. The Keydets were 4-3 in Big South road play this season, compared to 2-5 at Cameron Hall.

"They've won the last few times they've come to the Vines Center, so it's a team that's not going to walk in here with any fear," first-year Liberty coach Ritchie McKay said.

"I don't think any of us would choose to play VMI. I think they're a hard team to guard. Their style makes it much more unnerving. The Holmes brothers definitely put a damper in your sleep pattern if you're a coach preparing for them."