Belmont’s Big Man Brigham Rogers

Growing in Confidence

(St. Louis, MO) – Belmont’s big man Brigham Rogers is following the Bruin plan. He gained some valuable playing time as a freshman, became a rotational player (starting 30 games) as a sophomore and is ready to break out as a junior.

The 6’9 Georgia native averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds while sharing the post with rookie Drew Scharnowski. Those two, Sam Orme, Gonzaga transfer Graydon Lemke and redshirt freshman Eoin Dillon all stand 6’8 or taller and the athletic quintet will cause problems for Missouri Valley Conference foes this season.

Finding time for all five of them in the Bruin frontcourt will be a fun dilemma for head coach Casey Alexander. While they have some similarities, each brings his own strengths to the table.

Rogers is seemingly one ‘ah hah’ moment away from becoming a dominating MVC big man. Scharnowski turned heads last season with some dynamic athleticism while Orme seems to be more of a ‘stretch 4’.

Rogers says all 5 Belmont big men could play important roles.

Rogers has taken the well-worn Bruin path to success. He says defense was his early calling card and he prides himself on being consistent and reliable. With a growing confidence in his abilities and decision-making, he’s ready to take the proverbial ‘next step’.

Four of his seven double-digit scoring performances happened in one, four-game spurt in early January. Both of his double-digit freshman season outbursts happened in late season, back-to-back games. Rogers and the coaching staff have had conversations about him playing more ‘freely’. They want him to react more and think less.

Brigham Rogers on The New Backcourt

Belmont’s backcourt was decimated by graduation and transfers. Thirteen-point-scorer Carter Whitt andall-bench team member Brody Peebles graduated. Most improved team member Isaiah Walker transferred to Xavier.

Alexander and his staff worked hard to replace those talented ball-handlers. Eastern Washington grad-transfer Nic McClain and Samford newcomer Isaiah West bring a veteran presence to the Belmont backcourt. Rookie Jack Smiley is a highly regarded (3.64 stars) guard from Valparaiso, Indiana.

McClain averaged nearly eleven points and nearly four rebounds and four assists per game. West is a 6’3 junior, returning to his home state of Tennessee. They combined to appear in 61 games (35 starts) last season.

Smiley is ranked as the seventh best player coming out of Indiana this season. The 6’2 freshman was recruited by Valpo and Southern Illinois and a number of other mid-major programs.

Rogers says all three players are talented and will bring value to this year’s Belmont squad. He lauds the veterans’ defensive and play-making abilities. Rogers says Smiley is a great shooter who is more ‘crafty’ than most freshmen.

Rounding out the Belmont backcourt is the nation’s reigning top three-point shooter in Tyler Lundblade. The 6’3 guard made 48 percent of his long-distance shots and is the team’s top returning scorer (12.4 ppg).

Breaking Rhythm

Rogers says Alexander wants his team to be a little more unpredictable this year. He says Alexander wants his team to be more aggressive and maybe a little ‘out of rhythm’. Playing with purpose and expanding each players’ options will be on the table.

Rogers talks a lot about growing in confidence. One thing he is confident in is his faith in Jesus. The 6’9 center says ‘faith is a huge part of his life’. Former Bruin Taylor Barnette leads a Bible study for players from several of the Nashville area’s universities.

Rogers is a two-time MVC honor roll member and is studying Business Administration. He appreciates the academic environment at Belmont. While being a ‘business major’ he hasn’t worked particularly hard on building his brand in the NIL world of college basketball. He says that is an ever-evolving world.

Head to YouTube to see our entire conversation or to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts for our ‘audio-only’ version.

Belmont has won twenty or more games for fifteen straight seasons and are a good bet to do so again. Alexander has put together a solid nonconference schedule that includes regional rivals Middle Tennessee, Lipscomb and Tennessee State. The Bruins will open the season against Air Force and will face ORU, College of Charleston, Richmond and UC Irvine during a difficult nonconference grind.

Brigham Rogers could be on the verge of a break out season.

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