NCAA Tournament/Postseason Play

Belmont Basketball has earned postseason tournament invitations 10 of the past 11 years, including trips to theNCAA Tournament in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Only Belmont, Gonzaga, and Kansas have earned seven or more automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament in the last 11 years. Moreover, only Belmont, Gonzaga, Marquette, VCU, and Xavier among NCAA Division I-AAA (non-football) institutions have reached the NCAA Tournament seven of the last 11 years.

Belmont took on storied UCLA in the 2006 NCAA Tournament at Cox Arena in San Diego, Calif. Dubbed as the ‘Battle of the Bruins,’ Belmont led much of the first half before falling to the eventual National-Runner Up.

Belmont faced Big East Champion Georgetown in the 2007 NCAA Tournament at LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Bruins held their own against future NBA first-round picks Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert.

Belmont took on three-time National Champion Duke in the 2008 NCAA Tournament at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. With Alex Renfroe and Andy Wicke rising to the occasion on college basketball’s grandest stage, the Bruins cemented their place in March Madness lore. Though Gerald Henderson’s driving layin allowed the Blue Devils to escape with a 71-70 victory, Belmont received universal praise for its spirited play and sportsmanship.

In 2011,Belmont received a No. 13 seed and faced perennial Big Ten stalwart Wisconsin at the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The Bruins led much of the first half and limited the Badgers to only 10 points in the paint.

This past year,the Bruins faced two-time defending Atlantic Coast Conference champion Virginia in Charlotte, N.C. The Cavaliers boasted the top defensive team in the country, but the Bruins were unfazed and matched Virginia shot for shot. In fact, Belmont led much of the first half, and behind an electrifying, game-high 25 points from Craig Bradshaw, the Bruins were within two points with under four minutes remaining. But the Cavaliers closed well to keep Belmont from becoming the eighth 15 seed to win in the NCAA Tournament.

In 2014, following a fifth consecutive conference championship, Belmont earned entry into the Postseason NIT. The Bruins defeated Horizon League champion Green Bay andNortheast Conference champion Robert Morris to advance to the NIT Quarterfinal Round. Belmont would get 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists from Craig Bradshaw in a stirring performance at ACC mainstay Clemson.

This past season, following another OVC championship,Belmont faced Georgia of the SEC in the Postseason NIT. Despite sinking 14 3-pointers and sporting five double-figure scorers, the Bruins dropped a hard-fought 93-84 decision on ESPN2.

The Bruins also played at Austin Peay in the 2004 Postseason NIT.

Belmont played in the 2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, burying a season-high 17 three-point field goals in winning at Missouri Valley Conference stalwart Evansville.

Championship Tradition

Belmont Basketball has won 15 conference championships (eight regular season, seven tournament) since 2006 – including the 2016 OVC Championship. Nationally, only Gonzaga and Kansas have won more conference championships over that span.

Over the last 11 years,Belmont is an NCAA-best 22-4 during Championship Week, including five Atlantic Sun Conference tournament titles and two Ohio Valley Conference tournament titles. That includes the2015 OVC Championship, which the Bruins’ claimed in heartstopping fashion onTaylor Barnette’s game-winning three-pointer with 3.2 seconds remaining.

In 2014, Belmont joined an exclusive fraternity of programs to win five straight regular season conference championships. Since the Bruins became an NCAA Division I member institution in 1996-97, only Belmont, Butler, Cincinnati, Duke, Gonzaga, Harvard, Kansas, Nevada and Xavier have won five straight conference regular season championships.

Moreover, thanks to victories over North Carolina, Holy Cross and Hofstra, Belmont won the 2014 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament Championship.

This past season, the Bruins recorded wins overMarquette, South Alabama and Kennesaw State to claim the Legends Classic title.

The Bruins won the OVC regular season and – thanks toKerron Johnson’s dramatic game-winning shot - tournament championships in their inaugural since in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2013.

In 2008, Belmont Basketball became the first school in Atlantic Sun Conference history to win three consecutive conference tournament championships. In fact,the Bruins won all five Atlantic Sun Tournament championships away from home.

Back in 2006, Justin Hare scored a career-high 32 points – including a game-tying three-point play in the final seconds of regulation – asBelmont defeated Lipscomb, 74-69 in overtime, to claim its first NCAA Tournament bid.

Belmont Basketball won Atlantic Sun Conference Regular Season Championships in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

During its tradition-rich NAIA era, Belmont Basketball won numerous conference and district championships. Coach Byrd led the Bruins to back-to-back NAIA Final Fours in 1995 and 1996. The 1995 Bruins won 28 straight games were ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Sustained Excellence

Under Coach’s Byrd leadership, Belmont Basketball has been marked by far-reaching success and unparalleled consistency.

Belmont was ranked as the No. 11 program in the nation by Basketball Times for the decade of 2003-12.

And more recently, Bleacher Report/Turner Broadcasting ranked Belmont as ‘One of the Top 7 Mid-Majors Programs’ of the last 20 years.Forbes Magazine also tabbed Belmont as the No. 6 men’s basketball program ‘For the Money’ in all of NCAA Division I.

Belmont leads the nation with 220 conference victories (includes tournament) since 2003.

Belmont has won 273 games over the last 10 years – far and away the best among middle Tennessee area Division I schools, including Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky.

And when it comes to playing at their best come championship time, few programs can duplicate the Bruins’ track record of winning during the most important time of the year. Over the last decade, Belmont has won nearly 80 percent of its games once the calendar turns to February – only Gonzaga has a better winning percentage over that span.

Belmont is one of only 13 NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games each of the last 11 years, joining Akron, BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, San Diego State, VCU and Wisconsin.

Belmont is also one of only 7 non-Power 5 programs to receive national Top 25 poll votes and post a Top 100 RPI each of the last six seasons.

One of the Bruins’ greatest sources of pride is a trademark of the top college basketball programs - consistent success away from home.Belmont’s remarkable 132 road/neutral victories since 2006 ranks sixth nationally, ahead of the likes of past National Champions Florida, Kentucky and Michigan State.

The Ian Clark NBA Experience

Few players in the history of Belmont Basketball have made a greater impact than Ian Clark. And even fewer have paved a more unique path to the NBA than the former Bruin All-American.

In 2013, after leading Belmont to a third consecutive NCAA Tournament and earning All-Tournament Team honors at the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational pre-draft event, Clark was selected to play for the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat in the Orlando Summer League.

Clark shined for the Heat, leading the team in scoring, three-point field goal percentage, steals and minutes played in earningAll-Orlando Summer League honors.

National media coverage soon followed, with prominent features on NBA.com, SI.com, YahooSports.com, andThe Jim Rome Show, among others.

Two days later, fielding a number of NBA offers, Clark signed a multi-year contract with the Utah Jazz, returning to Salt Lake City – site of his final collegiate game in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

After shooting 36 percent from three-point distance in 46 game appearances with the Jazz over two seasons, Clark finished the 2014-15 campaign with the Denver Nuggets.

With the team from the Mile High City, the Memphis native again stole the show during NBA Summer League, averaging 13.4 points per game while showcasing the same focus and attention to detail that earned him Defensive All-America honors as a Bruin. Clark, who alsosank a dramatic game-winning shot to beat the Heat, was named the best shooter of NBA Summer League by ESPN.com.

Days later, Clark agreed in principle to join the World Champion Golden State Warriors, reuniting with former teammates Brandon Rush and Draymond Green.

Golden State then enjoyed the greatest regular season in NBA history, posting a league-record 73 wins en route to a berth in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Clark averaged 3.6 points per game in 66 appearances during the regular season.

He scored indouble figures in four straight games in December and ranked fifth in the NBA in three-point shooting for a two-month period from late November to late January, behind only J.J. Redick, Devin Harris, Kawhi Leonard, and Omri Casspi.

In fact,Clark's player efficiency rating (PER) through the first two round of the NBA playoffs (14.50) ranked 11th among all participating shooting guards, ahead of decorated players such as C.J. McCollum (Portland), Nicolas Batum (Charlotte), and DeMar DeRozan (Toronto).

In July,Clark agreed to terms on a deal to return to the Warriors, beginning his fourth season in the NBA.

Committed Coaching

With 731 career victories, Belmont head coach Rick Byrd ranks sixth among all active NCAA Division I head coached in career wins. He is also first among all active non-BCS head coaches in career wins. Byrd ranks 22nd all-time in NCAA Division I in career victories, passing coaching legends John Wooden, Gary Williams, Denny Crum, Don Haskins, Ray Meyer, and Norm Stewart in the last three years.

With 639 career victories at Belmont, Coach Byrd is one of only six active NCAA Division I head coaches with 500 or more career wins at their current school (Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, Oakland’s Greg Kampe, Davidson’s Bob McKillop, and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo are the other five). Only three active head coaches have been at their current school longer than Byrd’s 30 years of service at Belmont and only four men have coached more games.

Moreover, Byrd has accounted for nearly 69 percent of the total victories in program history – ranking first in America when placed by percentage of schools’ all-time wins.

Coach Byrd and his staff have been profiled in respected national media outlets such as ESPN, Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Sporting News, NPR, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Blue Ribbon, Athlon, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, and Lindy’s.

In 2012, Rick Byrd received theNCAA Bob Frederick Award for exhibiting a lifelong commitment to sportsmanship and ethical conduct, leading by example, and promoting positive fan involvement in and out of competition.

Byrd is a 13-time District or Conference coach of the year.

Universally respected – simply listen toCoach K,Tony Bennett andSean Miller – Coach Byrd is known for his passion, loyalty and unshakable commitment to his players.

Annually ranked among the top coaches in America - in a recent poll of his coaching peers conducted by ESPN.com - Byrd was ranked as theNo. 9 tactician in the nation, while a similar poll on CBSSports.com placed Byrd among the nation’s top offensive minds.

Prior to the season, Byrd was named as the No. 7 most-influential sports figure in middle Tennessee byThe Tennessean.

Byrd was chairman of the NCAA Basketball Rules Committee from 2013-15, and formerly served as an ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Coaches’ Poll voter.

21 former players, assistant coaches, graduate assistants, or managers are currently coaching basketball.

Committed Coaching(cont.)

“They’re very good. Watching them on tape they looked really good. Watching them in person, they’re better. The way Coach Byrd has handled his team, it’s about 10 kids who have starters’ mentalities. That’s a heck of a thing. It’s a really good concept…Hopefully the people at Belmont take that as a real compliment, because they should be complimented…I think they’re one of the better teams…I think they can play against anybody…The depth and maturity of their team is unbelievable. Coach Byrd is a tremendous coach. He’s one of the best coaches in the country.”

Mike Kryzewski - Head Coach, Duke University
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee

“Congratulate Rick and his club, they really did some nice things. J.J. Mann made plays, 11 points in the last 2:35. Rick is a really good friend and a really good coach and I’m happy for him.”

Roy Williams - Head Coach, University of North Carolina
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee

“Let me say this, I’ve said it publicly and I’ve known Rick for a number of years now, I can tell you he’s not a good coach, he’s a great coach. He could coach wherever he wanted to coach. To build a program, to take it from where it was to beating North Carolina and all the NCAA Tournament games…To mold a team, getting kids to come together and play how they have to, to win…I have the utmost respect for him.”

John Calipari - Head Coach, University of Kentucky

“I’ve got a ton of respect for Coach Byrd. I just think he’s as good of a coach as there is. His system is such that they lose guys like the two guys they lost in Johnson and Clark and they just keep rolling. You don’t do that (nation’s longest home court win streak) without sustaining excellence and that’s what Coach Byrd and his team have done here.”

Shaka Smart - Head Coach, University of Texas

“We have incredible respect for Belmont. Rick Byrd is one of the great coaches in our game, and their style is a nightmare when you watch it, because they have such an ability to shoot the three, but that’s not all they do.”

Sean Miller - Head Coach, University of Arizona

“Rick is as good as there is. Nobody would think about it, but they could be as hard as any non-conference game we play. They can stretch it. They take advantage of ball-screen matchups and they’re superbly coached.”

Bill Self - Head Coach, University of Kansas

“Tonight was a 15-round fight…Belmont’s a terrific team, they make you pay for your mistakes. They’ll be one of the better teams we’ll play all year…They’re very well-coached, they space the floor, Bradds is good, that’s why they’re in the NCAA Tournament and why they’ll probably be a 30-win team again this year.”

Steve Wojciechowski - Head Coach, Marquette University

“I have a lot of respect for Belmont, their players and coach. Rick and I have known each other for many years, and I have a lot of respect for the way his kids play. They competed as hard as anybody we played this year. Belmont has unbelievable skill level and toughness…An outstanding shooting team…they really know how to play, great spacing, play with great pace. And a very confident team, one that plays with a swagger, and that’s what you would expect with what they’ve done.”

Brad Brownell - Head Coach, Clemson University

“They showed their experience and poise. They made shots when they needed to make them. Give them credit.”

Johnny Dawkins - Head Coach, Stanford University

“As anybody in the country, I really respect Coach Byrd for what he’s accomplished, what he does with his teams, and how they play. They play tough, they play the right way, they compete, and they’re unselfish. They seem like really good guys.”

Greg Lansing - Head Coach, Indiana State University

Facilities

There may be bigger on-campus facilities, but there is not a better place to play and train in America than Belmont University’s Curb Event Center. The 52 million dollar, 90 thousand square foot masterpiece is a state-of-the-art facility, capable of hosting everything from Bruin Athletics to an historic Presidential Debate. The CEC is maintained and operated by fully digital, computerized systems and represents the highest quality of production capabilities. The addition of two Daktronics video boards in 2007 has greatly enhanced the gameday experience. The main arena floor expands to three full regulation courts – ideal for practices, individual training sessions, and summer camps.

The adjacent Beaman Student Life Center houses the general campus fitness center, racquetball courts, a two-story rock-climbing wall and meeting rooms. It also houses the Belmont Rec Gym, a pristine and intimate practice setting for the Bruins all year long.

The 1600 square foot Belmont Weight Room also gives the Bruins a significant edge. Under the leadership of strength and conditioning head coach Lee Rowland, Belmont student-athletes make use of three power stations with customized platforms, customized dumbbells, a wide variety of free weights and machines and top-of-the-line speed, agility and plyometric equipment.

The Bruin locker room areas are first-class; featuring the same fine amenities located throughout the rest of the facility and in many other popular sports entertainment arenas. All the lockers are spacious and made from the finest cherry. In the front of the locker room is a giant cherry cabinet that holds a big screen television and DVR. The unit is cable ready, giving the team an outstanding facility to breakdown film and scout opponents. Most recently, the Belmont Basketball locker room and hallway areas have been personalized with visual displays, encapsulating many of the great moments in Belmont Basketball history.

Homecourt Advantage

From its grand opening, the Curb Event Center has gained a national reputation as being one of the finest new facilities in college basketball. Since the inaugural 2003-04 season, Belmont is 146-24 (.859) at the CEC – those 146 wins representing the most home court wins in the Atlantic Sun Conference and Ohio Valley Conference over that span. Moreover, the Bruins are an astounding 106-13 (.891) in league games at the Curb Event Center.

From the day it joined the OVC, Belmont went 1,730 days before losing a conference home game, and is 31-1 overall in OVC home games.

Moreover, the Bruins are 78-5 at home in their last 83 games at the Curb Event Center, with only Kentucky and Kansas posting better home court winning percentages over that span. Taken further, Belmont has only dropped two home games since 2011 with its starting lineup intact.

Belmont held the nation’s longest home court win streak (23) during the 2013-14 season and nation’s longest conference home court win streak (35) during the 2015-16 season.

With the Bruins’ formula of uncompromising success, high-scoring action, and vigorous, loyal support from ‘The M.O.B.’ –Belmont’s boisterous student section – attendance has increased 102 percent since 2005. That is the greatest percentage increase in attendance among all Nashville area sports teams – college and professional.

National Media Exposure

From relative unknown to media darling, Belmont Basketball burst on the scene in 2006 and has remained a fixture ever since. Aside from traditional local print, radio and television coverage, the Bruins have gained universal acclaim on and off the court - profiled onnational television and radio, as well as featured inrenowned magazines, newspapers, online publications, digital platforms and social media.

Belmont has secured aprogram-record 63 televised games over the past four seasons, becoming a fixture in digital media and in national polls. Aside from its unparalleled exposure in seven NCAA Tournament appearances since 2006 – includingthree ‘Live Look-Ins’ in the last six years on the CBS Selection Show - Belmont is front of mind whencollege basketball experts look for perspective and comparative analysis. In fact, this past year the Bruin program received prominent national features fromESPN,USA Today andNPR, among others.

CBSSports.com was granted an all-access, behind-the-scenes look at Belmont Basketball during the 2013 NCAA Tournament, andcurrent Golden State Warrior guard Ian Clark became a national sensation with his sterling play in the 2013 NBA Summer League.

And Belmont’s award-winning broadcasts and athletic website have given Bruin fans around the globe a front row seat.

What they're saying about Belmont Basketball

"Belmont is used to winning, they’re used to championships, they’re used to postseason play. The have a bunch of guys who share the ball and that’s really hard to play against."

Jay Bilas - ESPN

“You have seen a coaching clinic in the final 2 minutes of this game.”

Fran Fraschilla - ESPN

“Belmont is one of the most efficient offenses in college basketball. They can shoot the 3 from all five positions and put so much pressure on defenses with their ability to drive and kick. They never let up.”

Sean Farnham - ESPN

"This has been a rapid-rising program from its NAIA roots in the 1990s. Belmont is one of the top 10 overachieving programs in college basketball."

Pat Forde - YahooSports.com

“The hands-down, set-your-DVR mid-major to watch is Belmont. Rick Byrd’s Bruins play an exciting, up-tempo style and are battle-tested.”

Seth Davis - CBS Sports/SI.com College Basketball Analyst

“People on the outside don’t realize how different Belmont is. When you learn these things (impact on player’s lives off the court), you realize all the more impressive Belmont’s success has been.”

Matt Norlander - CBSSports.com

"If you are a coach, or you want to be a coach, you need to watch this game. Rick Byrd in my opinion is one of the top 10 offensive minds we have in the college game."

Jimmy Dykes - Former ESPN College Basketball Analyst
Head Coach, University of Arkansas Women's Basketball

“Rick Byrd has built the best men’s basketball PROGRAM in America…on the court, off the court, in the classroom. Rick is the next Hall of Famer to educate the world about. No current coach deserves it more. A winner and an EDUCATOR. A lot of people have heard of Wichita State and Belmont is right there. When you look at somebody who compares to Ron Baker, Craig Bradshaw fits the mold.”

Mark Adams - ESPN/ASN College Basketball Analyst

National Media Exposure (cont.)

NOTABLE RECENT MEDIA HITS:

• CBS Sports NCAA Selection Show, Three-time Host School
• USA Today, cover story
• ESPNSportsCenter
• ESPNPardon the Interruption
• ESPNCollege Gameday
• ESPNFirst Take
• ESPN RadioGameNight
• ESPN.com
• NBA.com
• Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo
• The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Tim Brando Show
• The Doug Gottlieb Show
• The Jim Rome Show
• National Public Radio
• CBSSports.com All-Access
• Sports Illustrated/SI.com
• Yahoo! Sports
• FoxSports.com
• Bleacher Report
• Sporting News
• NBCSports.com
• Associated Press
• ABC Sports/IntersportRace to March Madness
• FoxSports Radio GameTime Live
• YahooSports Radio
• Sirius/XM Radio
• New York Times
• Los Angeles Times
• Washington Post

Signature Victories

November 23, 1998

In one of the biggest victories in the history of Striplin Gymnasium, Belmont outlasted Butler, 60-58. Dougie Webb’s short jumper with two seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner as the Bruins rallied from a 15-point first half deficit. Freshman Wes Burtner scored a team-high 13 points. The Bulldogs were coaches by current Butler athletic director Barry Collier.

December 30, 2003

Belmont Basketball scored the biggest victory in program history, knocking off perennial Big 12 Conference power and 22nd-ranked Missouri, 71-67, at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. Steve Drabyn led four Bruins in double figures with 16 points. The Bruins hit 13 3-point field goals and used a 17-3 run early in the second half to seize control. It was the Bruins’ first victory over a Top-25 opponent. Missouri would have five members of its roster go on to play in the NBA.

November 9, 2007

Belmont Basketball opened its historic 2007-08 campaign with a convincing 86-75 victory at Big East Conference stalwart Cincinnati. With NBA legend and former Cincinnati All-American Oscar Robertson on hand, the Bruins showcased their outside shooting prowess and unselfish, uptempo play in controlling the Bearcats throughout. Justin Hare scored a game-high 23 points, while eventual All-American Alex Renfroe would score 13 points off the bench in his collegiate debut.

November 19, 2007

A week and a half after its win at Cincinnati, Belmont Basketball recorded another monumental victory over major conference opposition,defeating ultra-talented Alabama of the Southeastern Conference, 85-83, at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Bruins shot 53 percent in the first half in racing out to a 50-44 halftime lead. Justin Hare’s pullup jumpshot with 2.2 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner. Belmont became just the second mid-major program to win at Alabama since 1996.

November 18, 2012

Belmont Basketball confidently walked into Maples Pavilion anddefeated Pac-12 mainstay Stanford, 70-62. The Bruins held the Cardinal to 31 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers in the virtual wire-to-wire win. After building a 14-point lead early in the second half, Belmont rode the hot hands of Ian Clark and Kerron Johnson down the stretch. Stanford entered the game as the defending NIT Champions, and holders of the nation’s longest active home court win streak.

November 17, 2013

Senior J.J. Mann hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the final 1:02 of regulation asthe Bruins defeated six-time National Champion North Carolina 83-80, at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. Behind the shooting of Mann and fellow senior Drew Windler, Belmont led much of the way – including by 11 with 15 minutes remaining. Belmont would snap the No. 11 Tar Heels’ 66-game home court win streak against non-conference opponents dating back to Nov. 29, 2005.

November 13, 2015

Belmont buried 12 3-pointers and led most of the way in defeating storied Marquette of the Big East Conference. Craig Bradshaw scored 12 points in the opening seven minutes, including a flurry of electrifying highlights. Evan Bradds scored a game-high 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting, but his charging foul drawn on freshman All-American and future NBA draft choice Henry Ellenson with 14 seconds remaining proved to be the play of the game. Austin Luke, making his first career start at point guard, handed out nine assists on only one turnover and buried three free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Marquee Games

Belmont annually takes on the nation’s top teams and plays in some of college basketball’s most storied venues. In recent years, the Bruins have faced the likes of Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, Michigan State, Georgetown, Florida, Ohio State, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Xavier, VCU, Butler, Kansas State, Cincinnati, Purdue, Washington, Notre Dame, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Marquette, Stanford, Missouri, Vanderbilt, BYU, Tennessee, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia.

The Bruins also have played in a number of premier early season tournaments, including the AdvoCare Invitational, Legends Classic, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout, the EA Sports Maui Invitational, the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, the 2K Sports Classic Benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer, and the CBE Classic.

In summer of 2016, it was announced that Belmont will gain main draw entry in a future multi-team event conducted by ESPN.

Academics

Academic excellence is one of the cornerstones of Belmont University Athletics. More specifically, Belmont Basketball has anunrivaled track record of academic achievement,standing among the elite programs in all of college basketball and the NCAA.

Belmont Men’s Basketball Historical Academic All-Conference.

Program Highlights

• 16 consecutive years of team GPA 3.0 or higher
• 140 Academic All-Conference honorees since 2002
• One of three NCAA Division I programs to earn academic distinction in NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) all 11 years of existence
• Recorded perfect APR score of 1000 seven straight years
• Champion of theInsideHigherEd.com 'Academic Bracket' two of the last four years
• 14 Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American honorees since 2001
• Most in the nation
• 12 NCAA Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team honorees
• Most in the nation
• 30 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court honorees since 2011
• Most in the nation in 2016
• Seven Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year honorees
• Five National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) National Scholar-Athletes of the Year
• Five Senior CLASS Award honorees
• Three NABC Allstate Good Works Team honorees
• Conference All-Academic Trophy 13 of the 15 years (athletic department)

Battle of the Boulevard

Two schools less than three miles apart. Zip code and conference affiliation aside, these proud institutions share glorious basketball histories, much of which is intertwined. Games become memorable events. Simply put, few rivalries in college basketball supply the passion, intensity, and drama of Belmont-Lipscomb.

The schools first met December 11, 1953 in venerable McQuiddy Gym, which played home to Lipscomb from 1949 to 2001. Belmont won the inaugural meeting, 72-53, and went on to claim victory in the first six encounters. Stoking the fires, Belmont traveled to Lipscomb five times in one single season, back in 1955-56 season. The teams’ initial postseason game came in 1958, as the then-Rebels defeated Lipscomb 87-84 in the VSAC Tournament. Two years later, Lipscomb returned the favor in the NAIA District 24 Tournament.

From 1964 to 1976, Belmont won 17 of 25 contests, including eight in a row from 1967 to 1971. In the 1980’s, the rivalry grew exponentially - as both programs evolved into perennial NAIA powerhouses. With Belmont sporting decorated players like Joe Behling, Scott Corley, Scott Speedy, and Greg Thurman; and Lipscomb countering with Darren Henrie, Philip Hutcheson, Jerry Meyer, and John Pierce, many local basketball fans and historians characterized this as the ‘Golden Age’ of the rivalry. On March 4, 1989, Belmont defeated then-No. 1 Lipscomb, 105-98, in the NAIA District 24 playoffs to earn its first-ever trip to the national tournament. Behling scored 58 points in victory – a program record that will likely never be broken.

Then on February 17, 1990, nearly 16,000 fans packed Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym for another classic duel. Lipscomb won 124-107, in what remains the largest-attended basketball game in NAIA history. The legendary coaching personalities - Belmont’s Rick Byrd and Lipscomb’s Don Meyer - and the arenas - Belmont’s Striplin Gym and Lipscomb’s McQuiddy Gym - gave games flavor and truly defined the matchup.

The relationship ended for a stretch in 1996, as each program transitioned from NAIA to the NCAA. But in 2004, with each now boasting magnificent new facilities, the rivalry was renewed. As Atlantic Sun Conference foes, Belmont won 10 times – including 84-58 at Allen Arena in the final conference meeting. The ‘Battle of the Boulevard’ has become a must-attend event and a staple of the Nashville sports landscape; attracting sellout crowds and regional television audiences.

But no single game in the storied 62 year history of the rivalry had as much on the line as the 2006 Atlantic Sun Championship in Johnson City, Tenn. Belmont and Lipscomb - co-champions during the regular season - advanced to the final with a first-ever berth to the NCAA Tournament at stake. Behind the heroic play of Tournament MVP Justin Hare, the Bruins won 74-69 to punch their ticket to the ‘Big Dance.’

In 2012, ESPN.com named the ‘Battle of the Boulevard’ the best non-BCS rivalry in college basketball. Then in 2013, the series took another turn, into non-conference play, with Belmont University joining the Ohio Valley Conference.

And even more intrigue entered the series in 2013, as Coach Byrd faces new Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander, who played and coached at Belmont for two decades.

Belmont has now won nine consecutive games in the series with Lipscomb, the longest series streak of the NCAA Division I era.

Game Highlights

Belmont University

Belmont University sits on 75 historic acres two miles southwest of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, a thriving metropolis known worldwide as Music City. In the mid-1800s, the land the university now occupies was known as Belle Monte, the Victorian home of one of Tennessee’s wealthiest couples, Joseph and Adelicia Acklen, but the property has been the site of higher education since the founding of the original Belmont College in 1890.

Since becoming Belmont University in 1991, Belmont has grown not only in size but in quality. The historic mansions, gardens and statues of Belmont's past now sit side-by-side with state-of-the-art facilities equipped with the best technology and teachers to train today's students with the right tools for real world success.

Ranked No. 6 in the Regional Universities South category and named as a “Most Innovative” university by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University consists of more than 7,700 students who come from every state and more than 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. With more than 90 areas of undergraduate study, 19 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon. For more information, visitwww.belmont.edu.

The university’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs, a fact made evident in the University’s hometown, Nashville, where students, faculty and staff served more than 243,000 hours of community service (valued at more than $5 million) during the last academic year. Belmont is also one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, doubling enrollment and investing nearly $500 million construction projects in the past 13 years.

Belmont serves on an international stage, welcoming some of the world’s most accomplished and distinguished leaders of faith, politics, diplomacy, industry, and the arts to campus annually. Such dignitaries as Colin Powell, Shirin Ebadi, Maya Angelou, David McCullough, and Tony Campolo have spoken in recent years.

Additionally, Belmont is a universally respected fixture in the Nashville entertainment scene, with an undeniable presence in performance, production, business and public relations. Aside from scores of award-winning artists, Belmont has emerged as the “go-to” place for

recording, concert sound checks, promotional shoots, music videos and award shows. Popular programs such as American Idol, Nashville, and Rachael Ray have visited campus.

There is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon.

Nashville

Quick Facts

• Capital of Tennessee
• Nicknames: ‘Music City,’ ‘Athens of the South’
• Market size: DMA #29 - Nielsen Ratings
• Ranked #1 ‘America’s Smart Places to Live’ -Kiplinger
• Ranked #1 ‘Hottest City in America for Relocation & Expansion’ byExpansion Management
• Ranked #1 ‘America’s Friendliest City’ & 'Destination of the Year' –Travel & Leisure
• Ranked 'Top 10 Travel Destination in the World' -Lonely Planet
• ‘Best Places for Business and Careers’ - Forbes
• Metro population of nearly 1.9 million
• Home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans
• Home of the NHL’s Nashville Predators
• Features four NCAA Division I campuses
• 3-5 hour drive of St. Louis, Memphis, Atlanta
• Cornerstone of the Mid-South economy
• Notable Landmarks & Attractions: Music City Center, Parthenon, Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, The Hermitage, Grand Ole Opry, Opryland Hotel, Honky Tonk Highway

Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and the entertainment, cultural, and commercial center of the Mid-South. With a metropolitan population of more than 1.9 million, Nashville is one of the fastest growing markets in the country. In the past decade alone, the population of the Nashville area has grown by nearly 30 percent. In fact, by 2035, the Nashville region will be larger than the size of the current day Denver region.

‘The Music City’ can best be described as a pleasant mix of big city entertainment and "down home" friendliness. Nashville is located in the heart of our nation’s bustling core. Major cities such as St. Louis, Cincinnati, Memphis, Atlanta, and Birmingham can all be reached by car within 3-5 hours. And when going from work to play, Nashville has it all. The city offers a multitude of sporting events, recreational opportunities, restaurants, parks, and shopping malls.

The sports landscape in Nashville has changed dramatically over the past decade with the introduction of major professional sports into the area. The arrival of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans in 1998 brought instant credibility and excitement to the Mid-State. The Titans have won two division titles and one conference championship. Tennessee represented the AFC in Super Bowl XXXIV, playing the St. Louis Rams in one of the most memorable games in NFL history. With former Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Marcus Mariota at the controls, the future looks bright for the powder blue and white. Home for the Titans is Nissan Stadium, a 68,000 seat, state-of-the-art facility located on the east bank of the Cumberland River across from downtown. Aside from the NFL, Nissan Stadium also plays host to several major concerts and sporting events, including the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl - which now pits teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conferences each December.

Not to be outdone, the Nashville Predators have introduced the thrills of the National Hockey League to Middle Tennessee. In 2012, the Predators advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a seventh time, reaching the Western Conference semifinals. The Preds skate in one of Nashville’s downtown landmarks, Bridgestone Arena. The 18,000 seat Bridgestone Arena is a regular venue for touring groups and international artists, such as Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Coldplay.

Another constant among Nashville professional sports over the past two decades has been the Nashville Sounds. The Sounds, who have called Music City home since 1978, compete in the Pacific Coast League as the Class AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. In recent years,

Nashville(Continued)

players like Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Yovani Gallardo, and Ricky Weeks have used Nashville to jumpstart MLB stardom. The 2006 PCL Champion Sounds played at Greer Stadium, located just minutes from downtown and the former longtime home of Belmont Baseball. In 2015, the Sounds opened in First Tennessee Park.

Though the Nashville Superspeedway took a final bow in the summer of 2011, middle Tennessee remains a hotbed for NASCAR and IRL racing. Furthermore, Nashville has established itself as the ideal place to host a major sporting event. In the past decade alone, the city has hosted events such as the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournament, the SEC men's and women's basketball tournaments, numerous AAU national championships, international soccer matches, and the U.S. Swimming Championships. Recently, Nashville hosted the 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four to universal praise and will host preliminary rounds of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Moreover, Nashville annually hosts the popular Country Music Marathon, one of the nation’s top distance races.

Recreation is second-to-none in Nashville. Located in the picturesque hills of Middle Tennessee, Nashville boasts thousands of acres of public parks and offers a variety of outdoor activities like golf, boating, fishing, and hiking. Belmont has been named among top colleges in the nation for outdoor enthusiasts.

Known as "Music City USA", Nashville is a city whose musical tastes range from country to rock to gospel. The city has several major concert venues and many big-name concert tours consider Nashville a “must-stop.” The city also serves as home to the Grand Ole Opry, the nation's longest running weekly radio show, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Nashville has long been the mecca of the country music industry and is one of the top recording centers in the world. All of the music industry's major recording labels have a presence in Music Row, just north of the Belmont campus.

The nightlife in downtown Nashville offers something for everyone. Amidst the savory sights and sounds of historic Second Avenue sit some of the most venerable hot spots anywhere. From Wildhorse Saloon and Hard Rock Cafe to Famous Dave’s BBQ and The Pancake Pantry, it is not uncommon to bump into stars of stage and screen in Nashville.

Nashville's cultural environment earned the city its other nickname, the "Athens of the South." Nashville is well known as a major education center. The area's 10 accredited four-year and postgraduate institutions, including Belmont, are an integral part of the economic and cultural

identity of the area. In addition to its educational institutions, the city offers numerous cultural and artistic venues. It is home to nine performing arts facilities, including the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. TPAC is the home to a wide range of events, including Broadway musicals and performances by the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and the Nashville Symphony. The city is also home to seven art galleries, including the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. The Frist Center, housed in the city's old main post office, presents a wide assortment of visual arts exhibitions. Nashville boasts 25 museums (including the Tennessee State Museum), numerous historic sites (like The Hermitage - home of President Andrew Jackson, an exact replica of the Parthenon, and the Natchez Trace Parkway), and an upgraded public library system that includes a new $50 million downtown library.

Lastly, the newest addition to the downtown landscape, the magnificent Music City Center convention center opened Spring 2013 and further cements Nashville’s place as a desired international meeting place.

Simply put, Nashville is the cornerstone of the Mid-South economy. It has become a leader in printing and publishing, music and entertainment, finance and insurance, healthcare management, automobile and other related industry, manufacturing and tourism. Internationally known companies like AT&T, Bridgestone/Firestone, Caterpillar Financial, Dollar General, HCA, Louisiana Pacific, Nissan, State Farm, Tractor Supply Co., and UPS have significant operations in the city.

Sporting a mild climate with distinct changes in season - warm summers, colorful autumns, brisk winters, and beautiful springs - no two days are alike in Nashville.

Overseas Trips

This past August,Belmont Basketball visited England and Ireland as part of a foreign tour. The NCAA permits member institutions to play against international competition once every four years. Moreover, NCAA rules allow teams up to 10 days of practices prior to their departure.

The Bruins played three games against local professional competition, earning convincing victories over Dagenham Dragons, Thames Valley Cavaliers, and Swords Thunder Club. Belmont was able to explore the heart of London, and such landmarks as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Wembley Stadium. Belmont also took in all that Dublin has to offer, including Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, and the historical bike tour.

In August 2011,Belmont Basketball toured Italy. While in Bel Paese, the Bruins toured Milan, Florence, Rome, Siena, Pisa, Bellagio, Vatican City, Lake Como and southern Switzerland, and played three games against professional teams.

“These foreign tours provide opportunities of a lifetime for our players,” Coach Byrd said. “This is an example of athletics really giving young men terrific educational experiences. We hope to improve our basketball team during the trips, and in the games we play, but this is much more about experiencing another culture than it is about playing basketball.”

In 2007, Belmont Basketball visited England and France as part of a foreign tour. While in England, Belmont visited a number of noted tourist attractions, including the Thames, Covent Garden, the House of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Madam Tusauds, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Globe Theatre. France afforded the opportunity to see countless historic sights as well, including the Seine, Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Pantheon, Orsay, and the Champs-Elysees.

Much like making the NCAA Tournament, Belmont Basketball captured lifetime memories.

Future foreign tours are scheduled

Service/Mission Trips

Service is at the heart of Belmont University’s mission statement, and in keeping with that tradition, earlier this decade the Bruin athletic program initiated an annual sports evangelism mission trip. This past May, two groups of men’s basketball student-athletes took part in mission trips –one group served in Grand Goâve, Haiti and one group served in Red Cloud, South Dakota.

Men's basketball Assistant Coach Mark Price served as the mission leader for the eight student-athletes in Haiti.

“What’s great about Belmont is that there really were no hoops to jump through to make this trip happen. It’s a part of Belmont to help serve as an extension of Christ to both the community of Nashville and all other areas, even outside of the United States,” remarked Price. “We’ve got a ton of support because causes like this are very easy to get behind.”

For many, it was a return trip to South Dakota from a year prior. Working with the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Red Cloud School, the Bruins provided help for infrastructural needs, while also sharing their personal testimonies and leading small groups.

"It was just a feel-good experience overall.  The trip was just as educational and informative as it was spiritually impacting," Bruin forward Amanze Egekeze said.  "I bonded with everyone on the trip including the kids we met at the schools.  It was especially hard leaving the kids at Red Cloud.  They will always have a special place in my heart."

Back in 2014, Men’s basketball student-athletes Reece Chamberlain, J.J. Mann, Jeff Laidig, and Spencer Turner conducted basketball and soccer clinics for children at schools and orphanages, while also volunteering to repair roads and local infrastructure.

Reflecting on the trip, Laidig said, “In Haiti I learned to serve God and awaken a movement inside myself, to really be bold in my faith. Instead of standing on the fence of being a Christian, I decided to make the jump and really give my life up to being a Servant of Christ.”

Belmont groups have also travelled to the Naples, Italy, the Republic of Malta, Kiev, Ukraine, Porta la Cruz, Venezuela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Cape Town, South Africa in recent years.

Belmont Basketball also participates in a number of service projects throughout the year, either through campus groups or Belmont’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), including the ‘Battle of the Bruins’ talent show benefitting Special Olympics.

The Bruins have also partnered with Wounded Warrior Project (@wwpinc) to honor service members and their families during home games as part of the team’s Honorary Military Captain program.

Bruins From Behind The Arc

Few programs in college basketball have been more closely associated with the 3-point line than Belmont. Coach Byrd expertly utilizes the 3-point shot as a key weapon in the Bruins’ winning formula. Whether in halfcourt or on the fast break, Belmont has proven to be among the nation’s best from long distance. As North Carolina State head coach Mark Gottfried put it, “Belmont doesn’t have shot takers, Belmont has shot makers.” You might say Belmont has turned Nashville intoSplashville.

NCAA Division I Men's Basketball

Made 3-Point Field Goals since 1996-97

• Belmont Basketball has ranked in the Top 10 nationally in 3-point field goals made per game 13 of the last 18 years. The Bruins ranked fourth nationally in 2015-16.
• Belmont Basketball 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.
• Belmont Basketball has ranked Top 5 nationally in effective field goal percentage each of the last five seasons.
• Belmont established a new Curb Event Center record by going 17-for-24 from 3-point distance in defeating Jacksonville State, 103-82, Jan. 29, 2015.
• Seven Bruins made double figure 3-pointers in 2015-16, with five players making 40 or more.

• Taylor Barnette’s 3-pointer to win the 2015 OVC Championship was named the ESPN/Capital One Impact Performance for the month of March.
• Craig Bradshaw (’16) scored 1,698 career points – 747 of them from 3-point field goals.
• Drew Windler (’14) led the OVC in 3-point field goal percentage (.460) in 2013-14.
• J.J. Mann (’14) made three consecutive 3-point field goals in the final 1:02 of regulation as Belmont defeated No. 11 North Carolina, 83-80, Nov. 17, 2013. Mann made 234 career three-point field goals.
• Ian Clark (’13) graduated as the program’s NCAA era career leader in made 3-point field goals (340). He also ranked third nationally in 3-point percentage in 2012-13, earned a spot in the Hampton Hotels National 3-Point Championships at the 2013 Final Four in Atlanta, and set the Great Alaska Shootout single-game record for made 3-point field goals with nine against Northeastern. As fate would have it, newly named Director of Athletics Scott Corley (’90) made 420 career 3-pointers.
• Andy Wicke (’09) ranks second in Atlantic Sun Conference history with 303 3-point field goals. He also holds the Curb Event Center single-game 3-point field goal record with 10 (vs. Gardner-Webb, 2/15/07).
• Four of the Top 15 3-point shooters in Atlantic Sun Conference history played at Belmont: Ian Clark (’13), Andy Wicke (’09), Josh Goodwin (’07), Steve Drabyn (’04)
• Josh Goodwin (’07) holds the Atlantic Sun Conference single-game 3-point field goal record with 11 (at East Tennessee State, 12/1/05).
• Belmont has twice made 19 3-point field goals in a game (at Valparaiso, 1/10/00, at Troy, 12/2/04). The Bruins made 17 3-point field goals winning at Evansville in the 2009 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
• The Bruins made 12 first-half 3-pointers en route to a 94-67 victory at East Tennessee State for the 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship.

Athletic Training

The Belmont Athletic Training staff is primarily responsible for the delivery of quality healthcare to all student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletic programs at Belmont University. This care will be provided by the guidelines of the NATA through prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses sustained during any practice or game.

The Belmont Athletic Training department is housed in an 1860 square foot space within the Curb Event Center. The facility is fully-equipped with a hyrdoroom, taping area, treatment and rehabilitation area, as well as physician’s office. Belmont’s 17 varsity sports are staffed by eight National Athletic Training Association certified athletic trainers through Vanderbilt Sports Medicine.

After 15 seasons of faithful service from Head Athletic Trainer Paul Malloy, Belmont Basketball welcomes Kim Anderson as point of contact in 2016-17.

Coach Byrd on Belmont Athletic Training Staff: “From Paul Malloy and now to Kim Anderson, our student-athletes could not be in better hands in regards to injury prevention and rehabilitation. To our athletic training staff, nothing is more important than the care and welfare of our players.”

What's Next

"Choosing to play at Belmont was one of the best decisions of my life. My teammates and coaches became family to me and playing in two NCAA tournaments fulfilled a childhood dream. I also appreciated the support that we received from the students, professors and athletic administration, who also helped push me in my business endeavors. Playing for a legendary coach like Coach Byrd was invaluable. He taught me a ton, both on and off the court. He's a basketball purist that is all about doing things the right way and is a coach that is truly there for you, which I still appreciate to this day."

Drew Hanlen
Class of 2012
CEO, Pure Sweat Basketball
NBA Strategic Skills Coach & Consultant

"I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to play for a legendary coach like Coach Byrd and at an amazing school like Belmont, all during a time when the university was making great strides to be considered among the upper echelon of schools both athletically and academically. My time at Belmont and playing for Coach Byrd was very memorable, and to this day I am thankful to have been able to attend such a great university and to have been around such great people, while furthering my education and playing the sport I love."

Henry Harris
Class of 2009
Investment Consultant
Northwestern Mutual Financial

Notables in the Pros

Former BruinIan Clark (’13) is beginning year four in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After spending time with the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets over his first two seasons,Clark is starting his second season with 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors.

Former BruinAlex Renfroe (’09) continues a stellar professional career, having agreed to terms on an extension withBayern Munich of the German Bundesliga. This past season, Renfroe averaged 11 points and nearly six assists per game on 55 percent shooting, 41 percent from behind the arc. Renfroe earned all-league honors for Alba Berlin in 2015, leading the side toa stunning victory over the 2014 NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Global Games exhibition. He played 2013-14 for Laboral Kutxa Baskonia in Spain. He signed a contract with Enisey Krasnoyarsk of the Russian Professional Basketball League. He won pro league championships in three consecutive seasons from 2011-13. Renfroe spent the 2012-13 season for Brose Baskets in Germany, after time with CB Valladolid in Spain. After a 2011-12 championship campaign for Enel Brindisi of Lega Basket Serie A in Italy, Renfroe earned a workout with the NBA Golden State Warriors. Renfroe was named to the Eurobasket.com Croatian A1 League All-Imports Team for 2010-11 after a successful season for KK Zagreb. Renfroe, a 2009 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America and Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, was named the MasterCard Baltic Basketball League (BBL) Most Valuable Player in 2010 playing for VEF Riga in Latvia.Moreover, Renfroe is playing for the national team of Bosnia & Herzegovina in the FIBA 2015 EuroBasket championships.

Former BruinKerron Johnson (’13) has signed a professional contract with MKS Dabrowa Gornicza of Polska Liga Koszykowki (PLK) in Poland. Last season, Johnson split time with SPO Rouen of the French Professional League and MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Professional League. Johnson averaged 11 points and five assists per contest, on 49 percent shooting and 81 percent free throw shooting. Johnson was named BBL All-Star in 2014-15 for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg of the German Bundesliga,scoring 38 points in his league debut. He played for the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL in 2013-14.

Former BruinJ.J. Mann (’14) has signed a professional contract with Belfius Mons-Hainaut in Beligum. Last season, Mann averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game for Phoenix Hagen of the German Bundesliga (BBL). Mann shot 50 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point distance, and 91 percent from the free throw line. Mann averaged 13.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and a league-leading 2.0 steals per game on 41 percent three-point

shooting for Redwell Gunners Oberwart in Austria last season. Mann originally signed with King Wilki Morskie Szczecin in Poland.

Former BruinCraig Bradshaw (’16) has signed a professional contract with Crailsheim Merlins of the German Professional League. Fourth on Belmont's NCAA Division I era scoring list with 1,698 points, Bradshaw helped the Bruins to 94 victories, four consecutive postseason appearances, national Top 25 poll votes four straight seasons, and marquee road victories over North Carolina, Stanford, and Marquette, among others.

Former BruinDrew Windler ('14) has signed a professional contract with Baloncesto Oviedo in Spain. As a senior, Windler led the OVC in three-point field goal percentage (.460). He was an integral part of Belmont's 26-10 campaign, that included an OVC regular season championship, an NIT Elite 8 appearance, and a victory at six-time National Champion North Carolina.

Former BruinTrevor Noack (’13) signed a professional contract with Svendborg in Denmark. Noack played the 2013-14 season for BV Chemnitz 99 in Germany.

Former BruinJoe Gaines (’72) was selected by the Portland Trailblazers in the 1972 NBA Draft. Gaines, who played from 1969-72, averaged a staggering 17.2 rebounds per game for his career and remains the program’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,895.

Former BruinAdam Sonn (’03) played professionally overseas and in the ABA. He is currently the head men’s basketball coach at University School Nashville.

Former BruinBoomer Herndon (’07) played five years professionally, with stints in the NBDL, ABA, PDL, Spain and Romania.

Former BruinMick Hedgepeth (’12) played the 2013 season for Aurteneche Maquinaria Euskadi in Spain. Hedgepeth worked out with Athletes in Action in the summer of 2012.

Notable Supporters

Belmont Basketball is fortunate to have great fans, several of which are household names. Among the list of regular attendees of Bruin home games are Grammy Award-Winning artists Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Restless Heart lead singer Larry Stewart, Tennessee Titan Marc Mariani, former NFL All-Pro Cortland Finnegan, Nashville Predator and Olympic gold medal defenseman Shea Weber, and former Hawaii head football coach Norm Chow have attended games in recent years. Eight-time major golf champion Tom Watson, whose daughter is a Belmont grad, spent time with the Bruins during their trip to Kansas in Dec. 2009. And in 2013, cast members of the ABC hit series Nashville attended the Bruins’ nationally-televised victory over Ohio. Famous Belmont alumnae American Idol Melinda Doolittle and Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith also make games when they are in town.

All-Americans

• Robert Barnes (1956)
• Adam Sonn (2003)
• Alex Renfroe (2009)
• Ian Clark (2013)
• J.J. Mann (2014)
• Evan Bradds (2016)

Academic All-Americans

• Wes Burtner (2001, 2002)
• Justin Hare (2007, 2008)
• Adam Mark (2002, 2003, 2004)
• Andy Wicke (2009)
• Scott Saunders (2011, 2012)
• J.J. Mann (2014)
• Craig Bradshaw (2015, 2016)
• Evan Bradds (2016)

Resources

Quick Facts

2016-17 Season Outlook

Player Bios

Coaches Bios & Support Staff

Bruin Flashback - 'The Comeback in the Creek'

2015-16 Year in Review

Ohio Valley Conference

Opponent Information

Record Book

History & Tradition

University & Administration

Media Information