Editor: The following is part of a press release from belmontbruins.com.
(Nashville, TN) – On the heels of a 12th 20-plus win season in the last 13 years, Belmont University men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd released the program’s 2018-19 schedule Tuesday evening.
Having won 16 conference championships since 2006 – third-most nationally over that span behind only Kansas and Gonzaga – Belmont has earned a reputation as one of the most respected programs in the country.
Annually playing one of the nation’s most demanding schedules – Belmont’s 153 road/neutral victories over the last 13 years ranks top 10 nationally – the Bruins’ slate features 11 contests against teams who received postseason invitations a year ago, including eight against RPI Top 100 programs.
“This is another demanding schedule for our basketball team, and it will be particularly difficult for a team that is as young as ours,” Byrd said. “We have always felt that playing quality competition in the non-conference better prepares us for conference play. I think our home schedule is as attractive as it has ever been.”
Belmont opens the season November 10 hosting Missouri Valley Conference preseason favorite Illinois State. The Redbirds, who defeated South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tulsa among others last season, return their top three leading scorers, including MVC Player of the Year candidate Milik Yarbrough.
Two days later, Belmont welcomes Middle Tennessee to the Curb Event Center. The Blue Raiders, 25-8 in 2017-18, are led by first-year head coach Nick McDevitt. Belmont has won eight of the last 11 games in the series, including 69-63 last season in Murfreesboro.
The Bruins road opener is slated for November 15 at Lipscomb. Like Illinois State, the Bisons are experienced and expected to challenge for their conference crown. Garrison Mathews and Rob Marberry spearhead the Lipscomb squad returning 91 percent of its offensive production from Casey Alexander’s 23-win team.
Belmont heads to Thanksgiving with a fourth straight game in town, hosting Nashville neighbor Trevecca Nazarene November 20. Perhaps the biggest storyline entering the game will be the return of former Belmont standout point guard Reece Chamberlain (’15), an assistant coach on the Trojan staff.
Three straight road games await the Bruins out of Turkey Day, beginning with former Atlantic Sun Conference foe Kennesaw State. From there, a trip down I-65 beckons, and a date with another past Atlantic Sun Conference competitor, Samford. The Bulldogs and head coach Scott Padgett welcome Alabama transfer Brandon Austin, as the team appears poised to challenge in the Southern Conference.
December opens with a trip to the frozen tundra – literally – as Belmont will face Green Bay in the shadows of historic Lambeau Field.
Part two of the Battle of the Boulevard will take place December 4 at the Curb Event Center. Belmont has won 11 of the last 13 meetings in the series.
Following semester exams, Belmont heads to the California to face national power UCLA December 15. The Bruins won 21 games last season and boast one of the nation’s top incoming recruiting classes for head coach Steve Alford. It marks the Bruins’ first-ever trip to Pauley Pavilion.
Four days later, Belmont hosts Conference USA preseason favorite Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers went 27-11 in 2017-18, which included a trip to Madison Square Garden and the NIT Final Four.
The non-conference schedule concludes December 29 at Purdue. The Boilermakers were mainstays in the top 10 last season, going 30-7 under head coach Matt Painter. With Belmont sporting four players from the state of Indiana, it will be among the most highly-anticipated Power 5 contests in recent memory.
On Monday, the Ohio Valley Conference announced an extension of its media rights’ agreement with ESPN. All Belmont home and away league games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks and digital platforms.
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Done like only you can @Frank_Cusumano. So perfect. Respectful. Hopeful. Personal. You've always been the best. @DanRolfes, you are in our prayers still today. Thanks for sharing.
As we said the 'closed' transfer portal keeps growing. Paperwork delays and/or no regard for deadlines. Over 2K in the portal now. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that. Just saying before you think your program won't have more players leaving, give it a minute to see
BTW, despite the portal being 'closed' you'll still hear about players entering it because sometimes paperwork is slow AND all they have to do is sue to be able to enter later.
Admittedly I am no recruiting expert, but I'm seeing these reports about which coaches have been crushing the portal. We'll know who did what when we see them play, but no one has been more active than @TSUTigersMBB's @coachpenny1. 6 D1's among the 9 he's signed.
