Belmont Bruins men's basketball

The Belmont Bruins men's basketball team

represents Belmont University in Nashville, Belmont Bruins men's basketball
Tennessee. Belmont completed a 10-season run 2024–25 Belmont Bruins men's basketball
in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2021–22, and team
joined the Missouri Valley Conference in July
2022.[2] The Bruins play their home games at
the Curb Event Center under head coach Casey
Alexander. Their most recent NCAA Division I
tournament appearance was in 2019.
University Belmont University
Head coach Casey Alexander (6th season)
Coaching staff Conference Missouri Valley Conference
Location Nashville, Tennessee
Casey Alexander – Head coach Arena Curb Event Center
Brian Ayers – Associate head coach (capacity: 5,085)
Kerron Johnson – Assistant coach
Nickname Rebels (1953-1995)
Sean Rutigliano – Assistant coach
Bruins (1995-present)
Luke Smith - Director of Player
Development Colors Navy, white, and red[1]
Harrison Gascho – Director of
Basketball Operations Uniforms
Graduate Assistant - Clay Holmes
Graduate Assistant - Bryce Haase

Rivalries
Home Away
Lipscomb University (Battle of the
Boulevard)
NCAA tournament appearances
The Battle of the Boulevard, also referred to as
the Belmont–Lipscomb basketball rivalry is a 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019
college basketball rivalry between the Belmont Conference tournament champions
University Bruins and the Lipscomb University 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020
Bisons. Its nickname was established because of
Conference regular season champions
both school's close placement in Nashville,
2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016,
Tennessee– about three miles apart on the same
2017, 2019, 2020, 2021
road.
Conference division season champions
2003, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Murray State University
Recently, the Bruins have been building a rivalry with Murray State University since the Bruins' entry
into the OVC in 2012. From that year until both teams' departure from the OVC in 2022, Belmont and
Murray State combined to win every regular season championship, including two seasons (2018-19 &
2019-20) where they shared the title. In three consecutive years (from 2018 to 2020), the Racers and
Bruins met in the OVC Tournament finals, with Belmont winning the 2020 meeting. With Belmont
joining the MVC alongside Murray State,[3] the rivalry will continue in that conference. The Bruins
currently lead the all-time series 13 to 12.

Awards
All-Americans[4]

Robert Barnes – 1956*

Adam Sonn – 2003*
Alex Renfroe – 2009*
Ian Clark – 2013*
J.J. Mann – 2014*
Evan Bradds – 2016*, 2017*
(*) Denotes Honorable Mention

Academic All-Americans[5]

Wes Burtner – 2001***, 2002*

Adam Mark – 2002**, 2003*, 2004*
Justin Hare – 2007**, 2008*
Andy Wicke – 2009***
Scott Saunders – 2011***, 2012*
J.J. Mann – 2014*
Craig Bradshaw – 2015***, 2016**
Evan Bradds – 2016***, 2017**
Dylan Windler – 2018**, 2019**
Luke Smith – 2021***, 2022***
(*) Denotes 1st team
(**) Denotes 2nd team
(***) Denotes 3rd team

NACDA Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Adam Mark – 2004

Justin Hare – 2008
Mick Hedgepeth – 2011
Craig Bradshaw – 2015
Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award
 Rick Byrd – 2011
NCAA Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award[6]

Rick Byrd – 2012

Ohio Valley/ASUN Conference Player of the Year

Adam Sonn – 2003

Alex Renfroe – 2009
Ian Clark – 2013
J.J. Mann – 2014
Evan Bradds – 2016, 2017
OVC/ASUN Defensive Player of the Year

Ian Clark – 2012, 2013

Grayson Murphy – 2020, 2021
OVC/ASUN Coach of the Year

Rick Byrd – 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019

NAIA National Coach of the Year

Rick Byrd – 1995

NAIA National Player of the Year

Joe Behling – 1989

NAIA All-Americans

Joe Behling – 1988*, 1989*, 1990*

Kerry West – 1995*
Al Allen – 1995**
DaQuinn Goff – 1996*
(*) Denotes 1st team
(**) Denotes 2nd team
Record by year

Statistics overview

Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason

Belmont Rebels[7] (VSAC) (1953–1986)

58–42
1953–56 Larry Striplin 1955 NAIA Playoff
(.580)
George 58–71 1960 NAIA District 24
1957–62
Kelley (.450) Tournament
14–23
1962–64 Ken Sidwell
(.378)
Wayne 35–19
1964–66 4–4
Dobbs (.648)
9–16
1966–67 Jack Young 3–5
(.360)
Dewey 69–76
1967–72 17–25
Jones (.476)
22–30
1972–74 Ken Sidwell 5–12
(.423)

Dick 48–68
1974–78 14–28
Campbell (.414)
116–138 1982 & '83 NAIA District
1978–86 Don Purdy 54–62
(.457) 24 Tournaments

429–483
First 8 Coaches: 97–136
(.478)

Belmont Rebels/Bruins[7] (Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference)(NAIA) (1986–1996)

1986–87 Rick Byrd 15–15 7–9

1987–88 Rick Byrd 22–9 15–1 NAIA District 24 Playoff

NAIA National
1988–89 Rick Byrd 25–10 12–4
Championships 1st Round
1989–90 Rick Byrd 27–7 14–2 NAIA District 24 Playoffs
1990–91 Rick Byrd 23–9 11–5 NAIA District 24 Playoffs
1991–92 Rick Byrd 22–10 12–4 NAIA District 24 Playoffs
1992–93 Rick Byrd 30–6 12–4 NAIA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94 Rick Byrd 30–7 14–2 1st NAIA Quarterfinals

1994–95 Rick Byrd 37–2 18–0 1st NAIA Semifinals

1995–96 Rick Byrd 29–11 13–5 NAIA Semifinals
 Belmont Bruins[7] (NCAA Independent) (1996–2001)

1996–97 Rick Byrd 15–11

1997–98 Rick Byrd 9–18
1998–99 Rick Byrd 14–13
1999–
Rick Byrd 7–21
2000
2000–01 Rick Byrd 13–15

Belmont Bruins (Atlantic Sun Conference) (2001–2012)

2001–02 Rick Byrd 11–17 8–12 T–7th

1st
2002–03 Rick Byrd 17–12 12–4
(North)
2003–04 Rick Byrd 21–9 15–5 3rd NIT Opening Round
2004–05 Rick Byrd 14–16 12–8 3rd
2005–06 Rick Byrd 20–11 15–5 T–1st NCAA round of 64

2006–07 Rick Byrd 23–10 14–4 2nd NCAA round of 64

2007–08 Rick Byrd 25–9 14–2 1st NCAA round of 64
2008–09 Rick Byrd 20–13 14–6 T–2nd CIT Quarterfinals
2009–10 Rick Byrd 19–12 14–6 T–1st
2010–11 Rick Byrd 30–5 19–1 1st NCAA round of 64
2011–12 Rick Byrd 27–8 16–2 1st NCAA round of 64
Belmont Bruins (Ohio Valley Conference) (2012–present)

2012–13 Rick Byrd 26–7 14–2 1st (East) NCAA round of 64

2013–14 Rick Byrd 26–10 14–2 1st (East) NIT Quarterfinals
T–1st
2014–15 Rick Byrd 22–11 11–5 NCAA round of 64
(East)

2015–16 Rick Byrd 20–12 12–4 1st (East) NIT First Round
2016–17 Rick Byrd 23–7 15–1 1st (East) NIT Second Round
2017–18 Rick Byrd 24–9 15–3 2nd

2018–19 Rick Byrd 27–6 16–2 T–1st NCAA round of 64

713–346 378–110
Rick Byrd:
(.673) (.790)
Belmont Bruins (Ohio Valley Conference) (2019–2022)

Casey Postseason not held

2019–20 26–7 15–3 T–1st
Alexander (qualified prior to cancelation)
 Casey
2020–21 26–4 18–2 1st
Alexander
Casey
2021–22 25–8 15–3 2nd NIT First Round
Alexander
Belmont Bruins (Missouri Valley Conference) (2022–present)

Casey
2022–23 21–11 14–6 T–3rd
Alexander
Casey
2023–24 20–13 12–8 T–4th
Alexander
Casey
2024–25
Alexander

118–42
Casey Alexander: 74–27 (.733)
(.738)
1267–874
Total:
(.592)

National champion Postseason invitational champion

Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament
champion
Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion

Postseason results
They have appeared in eight NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–8. They qualified for the
2020 NCAA Tournament before it was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They have appeared in
the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) four times with a combined record of 3–4. They have appeared
in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) once with a record of 1–1. Prior to joining
NCAA Division I, they participated in five NAIA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 9–5.
NCAA Tournament Results

Year Seed Round Opponent Result

2006 #15 First Round UCLA L 44–78

2007 #15 First Round Georgetown L 55–80

2008 #15 First Round Duke L 70–71

2011 #13 First Round Wisconsin L 58–72

2012 #14 First Round Georgetown L 59–74

2013 #11 First Round Arizona L 64–81

2015 #15 First Round Virginia L 67–79

First Four Temple W 81–70

2019 #11
First Round Maryland L 77–79
2020 n/a n/a n/a n/a

In the 2008 tournament, the #15 seeded Bruins, playing in the West Region, played an exciting, hard-
fought first-round game with a perennial powerhouse, the #2 seeded Duke Blue Devils. The Bruins came
up one point short of the upset, losing the game 70–71 after Justin Hare's desperation three point attempt
barely went wide left of the net. The Bruins rallied from 9 point and 7 point deficits in the second half to
take a 70–69 lead late in the game, before Duke scored what proved to be the game's final basket with
under a minute left to play.

In 2011 Belmont University won the Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championship and the Atlantic Sun
Conference Tournament. The Bruins finished 30–4 overall (marking their first 30 win season in the
NCAA era) and 19–1 in conference play. By doing this they received their highest seed in their history, a
#13. They faced the perennial powerhouse the #4 seed Wisconsin Badgers in the second round of the
Southeast Region, where they lost 58–72.

NIT results

Year Round Opponent Result

2004 First Round Austin Peay L 59–65

First Round Green Bay W 80–65

2014 Second Round Robert Morris W 82–71
Quarterfinals Clemson L 68–73

2016 First Round Georgia L 84–93

First Round Georgia W 78–69
2017
Second Round Georgia Tech L 57–71

2022 First Round Vanderbilt L 71-82

CIT Results

Year Round Opponent Result

First Round Evansville W 92–76
2009
Quarterfinals Old Dominion L 62–70
NAIA Division I Tournament

Year Round Opponent Result

1989 First Round Hastings L 76–89

First Round Findlay W 87–73

1993
Second Round Minnesota Morris L 59–66
First Round Hawaii–Hilo W 91–83
1994 Second Round Pfeiffer W 99–80
Quarterfinals Oklahoma Baptist L 76–89

First Round Spring Arbor W 94–75

Second Round Geneva W 85–65
1995
Quarterfinals The Master’s W 91–72
Semifinals Birmingham–Southern L 80–90

First Round Westminster (PA) W 57–54

Second Round Life W 74–73
1996
Quarterfinals Cumberland (KY) W 65–60
Semifinals Oklahoma City L 77–80

Bruins in professional leagues

Current
Alex Renfroe, CB Miraflores (Spain)
Ian Clark, Xinjiang Flying Tigers (China)
Kerron Johnson, BC Enisey (Russia)
J.J. Mann, Okapi Aalst (Belgium)
Amanze Egekeze, P.A.O.K. BC (Greece)
Austin Luke, Yoast United (Netherlands)
Dylan Windler, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kevin McClain, Baskets Oldenburg (Germany)
Ben Sheppard (basketball), Indiana Pacers

Record book

Retired numbers

Belmont Bruins Retired Jerseys

No. Player Pos. Career Ref.

15 Robert Barnes C 1953–56 [8][4]

54 Joe Behling SG 1986–90 [4][9]

21 Ian Clark G 2010–13 [10]

Individual career records

References
1. Belmont University Brand Book (https://issuu.com/office.communications/docs/brand_book_
final_1_16_19). Retrieved June 26, 2019.
2. "Belmont University to Join Missouri Valley Conference" (https://web.archive.org/web/20210
928153145/https://belmontbruins.com/general/2021-22/releases/20210927xedytv) (Press
release). Belmont Bruins. September 28, 2021. Archived from the original (https://belmontbr
uins.com/general/2021-22/releases/20210927xedytv) on September 28, 2021. Retrieved
September 28, 2021.
3. "Belmont University to Join Missouri Valley Conference" (https://web.archive.org/web/20210
928153145/https://belmontbruins.com/general/2021-22/releases/20210927xedytv) (Press
release). Belmont Bruins. September 28, 2021. Archived from the original (https://belmontbr
uins.com/general/2021-22/releases/20210927xedytv) on September 28, 2021. Retrieved
September 28, 2021.
4. Belmont Bruins History & Tradition (https://www.belmontbruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/2020-2
1/files/bel.mbb.2021_record_book.pdf) .Retrieved October 11, 2020
5. Belmont: List of Academic All-Americans (http://belmont.prestosports.com/information/acade
micAwards/allamericans)
6. NCAA Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award (https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/
NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2012/July/NCAA+honors+student+athletes+with+Sportsma
nship+Awards,+Belmonts+Byrd+wins+Bob+Frederick+Award) Archived (https://web.archive.
org/web/20131205094714/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/L
atest%2BNews/2012/July/NCAA%2Bhonors%2Bstudent%2Bathletes%2Bwith%2BSportsm
anship%2BAwards%2C%2BBelmonts%2BByrd%2Bwins%2BBob%2BFrederick%2BAward)
December 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
7. 2016-17 Media Guide (http://campus.belmont.edu/mp3/bruins/mbb2016/)
8. Robert Barnes bio (https://belmont.prestosports.com/information/hall_of_fame/bios/robert_b
arnes) at belmont.com
9. Athlete Alumni Spotlight -- Joe Behling (https://belmont.prestosports.com/information/alumni
_spotlight/profiles/behling_profile) at belmont.com
10. "Belmont to Retire Jersey of Men's Basketball Legend Ian Clark" (https://belmontbruins.com/
news/2025/1/8/belmont-to-retire-mens-basketball-legend-ian-clarks-no-21-jersey.aspx).
Belmont University. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-09.

External links
Official website (https://belmontbruins.com/sports/mens-basketball)

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