Belmont Bruins men's basketball

Belmont Bruins
2019–20 Belmont Bruins men's basketball team
University	Belmont University
Head coach	Casey Alexander (1st season)
Conference	Ohio Valley
Location	Nashville, Tennessee
Arena	Curb Event Center (capacity: 5,085)
Nickname	Bruins
Colors	Navy, white, and red
Uniforms
Home Away
NCAA tournament appearances
2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019
Conference tournament champions
2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020
Conference regular season champions
2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
Conference division season champions
2003, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

The Belmont Bruins men's basketball team represents Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Belmont joined the Ohio Valley Conference in July 2012, leaving behind their previous home of the Atlantic Sun Conference. They play their home games at Curb Event Center and are currently coached by Casey Alexander. The Bruins made their eighth appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2019.

Coaching staff

• Casey Alexander – Head Coach
• Brian Ayers – Associate Head Coach
• Tyler Holloway – Assistant Coach
• Sean Rutigliano – Assistant Coach
• Mick Hedgepeth – Director of Basketball Operations

Awards

All-Americans

• 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

Since 2001, the Belmont Bruins lead the nation in Academic All-American selections with 16.

• 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**

(*) Denotes 1st team
(**) Denotes 2nd team
(***) Denotes 3rd team

Ohio Valley/Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year

• Adam Sonn – 2003
• Alex Renfroe – 2009
• Ian Clark – 2013
• J.J. Mann – 2014
• Evan Bradds – 2016, 2017

Ohio Valley/Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year

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

Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award

• Rick Byrd – 2011

NCAA Bob Frederick Sportsmanship Award

• Rick Byrd – 2012

NACDA Scholar-Athlete of the Year

• Adam Mark – 2004
• Justin Hare – 2008
• Mick Hedgepeth – 2011
• Craig Bradshaw – 2015

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 (VSAC) (1953–1986)
1953–56	Larry Striplin	58–42 (.580)			1955 NAIA Playoff
1957–62	George Kelley	58–71 (.450)			1960 NAIA District 24 Tournament
1962–64	Ken Sidwell	14–23 (.378)
1964–66	Wayne Dobbs	35–19 (.648)	4–4
1966–67	Jack Young	9–16 (.360)	3–5
1967–72	Dewey Jones	69–76 (.476)	17–25
1972–74	Ken Sidwell	22–30 (.423)	5–12
1974–78	Dick Campbell	48–68 (.414)	14–28
1978–86	Don Purdy	116–138 (.457)	54–62		1982 & '83 NAIA District 24 Tournaments
First 8 Coaches:		429–483 (.478)	97–136
Belmont Rebels/Bruins (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
1988–89	Rick Byrd	25–10	12–4		NAIA National 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 (NCAA Independent) (1996–2001)
1996–97	Rick Byrd	15–11
1997–98	Rick Byrd	9–18
1998–99	Rick Byrd	14–13
1999–2000	Rick Byrd	7–21
2000–01	Rick Byrd	13–15
Belmont Bruins (Atlantic Sun Conference) (2001–2012)
2001–02	Rick Byrd	11–17	8–12	T–7th
2002–03	Rick Byrd	17–12	12–4	1st (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
2014–15	Rick Byrd	22–11	11–5	T–1st (East)	NCAA Round of 64
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	1st	NCAA Round of 64
Rick Byrd:		730–348 (.677)	378–110 (.790)
Casey Alexander (Ohio Valley Conference) (2019–present)
2019–20	Casey Alexander	26–7	15–3	T-1st	Postseason not held
Casey Alexander:		26–7	15–3
Total:		1185–838 (.586)
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 cancelled 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
2019	#11	First Four First Round	Temple Maryland	W 81–70 L 77–79

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
2014	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Green Bay Robert Morris Clemson	W 80–65 W 82–71 L 68–73
2016	First Round	Georgia	L 84–93
2017	First Round Second Round	Georgia Georgia Tech	W 78–69 L 57–71

CIT Results

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
2009	First Round Quarterfinals	Evansville Old Dominion	W 92–76 L 62–70

NAIA Division I Tournament

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1989	First Round	Hastings	L 76–89
1993	First Round Second Round	Findlay Minnesota-Morris	W 87–73 L 59–66
1994	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Hawaiʻi-Hilo Pfeiffer Oklahoma Baptist	W 91–83 W 99–80 L 76–89
1995	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Spring Arbor Geneva The Master's Birmingham-Southern	W 94–75 W 85–65 W 91–72 L 80–90
1996	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals	Westminster (PA) Life Cumberland (KY) Oklahoma City	W 54–57 W 74–73 W 65–60 L 77–80

Bruins in professional leagues

Current

• Alex Renfroe, Alba Berlin (Germany), Laboral Kutxa Baskonia (Turkey), Enisey Krasnoyarsk (Russia), Brose Baskets (Germany), CB Valladolid (Spain), Enel Brindisi (Italy), KK Zagreb (Croatia), BK VEF Rīga (Latvia)
• Ian Clark, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz
• Kerron Johnson, SPO Rouen Basket (France), MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (Germany), New Zealand Breakers (Australia)
• J.J. Mann, Oberwart Gunners (Austria), King Wilki Morskie Szczecin (Poland)
• Austin Luke, VEF Rīga (Latvia)
• Dylan Windler, Cleveland Cavaliers

Current roster

2018–19 Belmont Bruins men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Michael Mayernick (W) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) RS Fr Christ Presbyterian Academy Nashville, Tennessee G 1 Mitch Listau 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Waunakee High School Waunakee, Wisconsin G 2 Grayson Murphy 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) RS Fr Independence High School Thompson's Station, Tennessee F 3 Dylan Windler 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Perry Meridian High School Indianapolis, Indiana G 5 Adam Kunkel 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Randall K. Cooper High School Hebron, Kentucky F 10 Caleb Hollander 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Fr Nashville Central Christian School Nashville, Tennessee G 11 Kevin McClain 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sr Hamilton County High School Jennings, Florida G 14 Nick Hopkins 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 160 lb (73 kg) RS So Fayetteville High School Fayetteville, Tennessee G 20 Tate Pierson (W) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Fr Brentwood Academy Brentwood, Tennessee F 21 Derk Sabin 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr Slinger High School Slinger, Wisconsin G 24 Michael Benkert 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) RS Jr Center Grove High School Greenwood, Indiana F 25 Mack Mercer 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) RS Sr Plymouth High School Plymouth, Indiana C 33 Nick Muszynski 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Fr St. Charles Prep Pickerington, Ohio G 35 Garrett Suedekum (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 160 lb (73 kg) So Brentwood Academy Brentwood, Tennessee C 50 Seth Adelsperger 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Peru High School Peru, Indiana	Head coach Rick Byrd (Tennessee) Assistant coach(es) Brian Ayers (Lipscomb) James Strong (Vanderbilt) Tyler Holloway (Murray State) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Record book

Retired jerseys

Belmont Bruins Retired Jerseys
No.	Player	Pos.	Career
15	Robert Barnes	C	1953–56
54	Joe Behling	SG	1986–90

Individual career records

See also: Belmont Bruins men's basketball statistical leaders

Points

NCAA-Era

1. Evan Bradds - 1,921
2. Ian Clark – 1,920
3. Wes Burtner – 1,833
4. Justin Hare – 1,761
5. Dylan Windler - 1,576

All-Time

1. Joe Behling – 2,823
2. DaQuinn Goff – 2,487
3. Robert Barnes – 2,305
4. Troy Hall – 2,105
5. Kerry West – 2,098

Rebounds

NCAA-Era

1. Dylan Windler - 999
2. Adam Sonn – 821
3. Adam Mark – 722
4. Mick Hedgepeth – 692
5. Matthew Dotson – 508

All-Time

1. Joe Gaines – 1,895
2. Robert Barnes – 1,123
3. Dylan Windler - 999
4. DaQuinn Goff – 969
5. Joe Behling – 947

Assists

NCAA-Era

1. Austin Luke - 681
2. Kerron Johnson – 515
3. Brian Collins – 452
4. Drew Hanlen – 423
5. Steve Drabyn – 411

All-Time

1. Scott Speedy – 1,164
2. Kerry West – 745
3. Casey Alexander – 582
4. Kerron Johnson – 515
5. Scott Corley – 511

Steals

NCAA-Era

1. Kerron Johnson – 206
2. Brian Collins – 178
3. Andy Wicke – 170
4. Adam Mark – 164
5. Ian Clark – 162

All-Time

1. Kerry West – 284
2. Scott Corley – 244
3. DaQuinn Goff – 217
4. Casey Alexander – 215
5. Scott Speedy – 214

References