Belmont men’s basketball has become synonymous with sustained excellence. Case in point, Belmont, Gonzaga, Kansas and San Diego State are the only NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 17 consecutive seasons.
As the Bruins begin their inaugural season in the Missouri Valley Conference, the program will adjust to life without seven of their top eight scorers from last season’s 25-win team that earned a Postseason NIT invitation. That includes two of Belmont’s all-time greats – Grayson Murphy and Nick Muszynski – who have begun professional playing careers. Murphy, the all-time career leader in assists and steals in Ohio Valley Conference history, and Muszynski, a four-time All-OVC center, led Belmont to a 104-25 record during their careers.
Senior and returning leading scorer Ben Sheppard is back, after establishing himself among the top two-way players in the Ohio Valley Conference. Sheppard averaged 16.2 points per game last season, including a career-high 41 points at Tennessee Tech. Noted statistician Ken Pomeroy ranked Sheppard third in the OVC in offensive player rating last season. A versatile defender, Sheppard limited SEC leading scorer Scottie Pippen, Jr. to two field goals in Belmont’s Postseason NIT contest at Vanderbilt.
Returning upperclassmen EJ Bellinger, Even Brauns, Frank Jakubicek, Derek Sabin and Michael Shanks are expected to see increased roles. Belmont welcomes nine newcomers, including Keishawn Davidson, a three-year starter at point guard at Tennessee Tech, and Drew Friberg, a graduate transfer from Princeton. Redshirt freshman Isaiah Walker and six true freshmen will also compete for playing time.
Since head coach Casey Alexander took the helm at his alma mater following the 2019 season – upon the retirement of hall of fame coach Rick Byrd – Belmont has won 77 games. Only Gonzaga, Kansas, Houston and Baylor have won more games than Belmont over that span. Alexander had Belmont once again positioned for NCAA Tournament at-large consideration in 2021-22, following a 10-3 non-conference which included victories over Saint Louis, Drake, Iona, Furman and Chattanooga and a strong OVC campaign. Belmont has ranked in the Top 25 nationally in 3-point field goals made per game every year but one since becoming an NCAA Division I member institution in 1996. Currently, no program has made more 3-pointers than Belmont (7,578) since the Bruins went Division I.