2021-22 Belmont Men’s Basketball Schedule
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the heels of posting the most regular season victories in the nation, Belmont University men’s basketball head coach Casey Alexander released the program’s 2021-22 schedule Tuesday.
After going 26-4 last season and earning its 20th conference championship since 2006 – third-most nationally over that span behind only Kansas and Gonzaga – Belmont has earned a reputation as one of the most respected programs in the country.
Annually playing one of the nation’s most demanding schedules – Belmont’s 198 road/neutral victories over the last 16 years ranks fifth nationally – the Bruins’ slate features 11 contests against teams who received postseason invitations a year ago, including nine against NET Top 100 programs.
“Scheduling has become increasingly difficult for many reasons, but we’re thrilled with how this year’s non-conference schedule came together,” Alexander said. “We were able to create some balance between home, road, and neutral site games, as well as provide opportunities for our fans to support us whether we’re playing in the Curb (Event Center) or elsewhere.”
Belmont opens the season Nov. 9 at Mid-American Conference champion Ohio. The Bobcats, who return six of their top seven scorers, went 17-8 in 2020-21 and defeated Virginia to advance to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
From there, Belmont welcomes Evansville to the Curb Event Center Nov. 13 for the home opener. The Bruins got strong contributions from JaCobi Wood and EJ Bellinger in defeating the Purple Aces last season.
Two days later, the Bruins host Southern Conference stalwart Furman. One of the most formidable programs in the nation the last half-decade, the Paladins return 12 letterwinners from a 16-9 team that played Alabama and Cincinnati to the wire.
Belmont travels to Kennesaw State Nov. 19 as Ben Sheppard and Will Richard play close to home. The Bruins defeated the Owls at the Curb Event Center last season.
Thanksgiving Week presents one of the most eagerly-anticipated slate of games in program history.
Belmont heads to historic Pete Maravich Assembly Center to face LSU Nov. 22. The Tigers advanced to the SEC Championship game last season and defeated Saint Bonaventure in the NCAA Tournament. Alexander will face LSU head coach and Nashville native Will Wade for the first time in seven seasons. The Bruins and Bayou Bengals nearly met in the 2019 NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
The high-level competition continues Nov. 25-28 as Belmont takes part in the ESPN Events Invitational near Orlando. The Bruins open with Drake of the Missouri Valley Conference. The matchup features two of the nation’s premier programs outside the Power 5 conferences, as the Bruins and Bulldogs went a combined 52-9 last season.
Belmont will then play either reigning SEC Champion Alabama or MAAC Champion Iona on day two. The Crimson Tide finished the season No. 8 in the NET rankings and return All-SEC guards Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly. Iona features one of the biggest frontcourts in the nation, including Nelly Junior Joseph.
The Bruins complete play in the ESPN Events Invitational against either Kansas, North Texas, Miami (Fla.) or Dayton.
The calendar turns to December with the ‘Battle of the Boulevard’ and a Dec. 2 meeting with Lipscomb at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins have won 16 of the last 18 meetings, including an 81-71 victory last season.
Three days later, Belmont heads to Birmingham to play at Samford. The Bruins’ last trip to the Pete Hanna Center resulted in a dramatic 99-93 victory as Cleveland Cavalier Dylan Windler delivered 31 points and 11 rebounds.
Leading into semester exams, Belmont heads to the Gateway City to face Atlantic 10 Conference contender Saint Louis. Two seasons ago, the Bruins and Billikens played a highly-competitive game, with the Bruins leading in the final three minutes before falling on the game’s final possession. Saint Louis participated in the Postseason NIT last season.
Belmont hosts Chattanooga Dec. 15. The Mocs, who went 18-8 last season and 9-7 in the Southern Conference, are expected to contend for top billing in the league.
Non-conference play concludes Dec. 18 vs. Bethel (Ind.). Belmont welcomes back athletic hall of famer and Bethel head coach Steve Drabyn (’04) to the Curb Event Center. Drabyn served on Alexander’s staff from 2011-19. Former Bruin guard Garrett Suedekum is also a member of the Bethel team.
“Our Thanksgiving week at LSU and the ESPN Events Invitational will be a great test against a number of Top 50 teams,” Alexander said. “We have some familiar opponents, but new series with Ohio, Furman and Chattanooga will be exciting and challenging. Overall, the slate is full of programs expecting to participate in March Madness next spring.”
The 18-game Ohio Valley Conference regular season schedule opens Dec. 30 at SIUE.
Belmont’s OVC home opener is scheduled for Jan. 6 vs. Southeast Missouri.
A notable mid-January stretch includes home dates vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 13) and Murray State (Jan. 15) and a trip to Morehead State (Jan. 20).
Four of Belmont’s final six conference games will be at the Curb Event Center, including Feb. 26 vs. Tennessee State.
“I’m looking forward to the double round-robin conference schedule this year,” Alexander said. “Our players embrace the expectations and championship standard at Belmont.”
Belmont is 130-24 in Ohio Valley Conference games.
A complete listing of home tip times and schedule of televised games will be released in the coming weeks.
All Belmont home and away league games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks and digital platforms.
The live play-by-play call of new lead broadcaster John Freeman can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.
Belmont is one of only four NCAA Division I programs to win 20 or more games 11 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon).
Belmont joins Baylor, Gonzaga, Houston, Liberty and San Diego State as one of six programs to win 50 or more games the last two seasons.
Belmont season tickets – which include the entire men’s and women’s basketball home schedule – are on sale now at belmontbruins.com/tickets. Belmont fans can call or TEXT 615.460.BALL (2255).
To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.
Belmont University men’s basketball has earned postseason invitations 14 of the last 16 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 – third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont is one of only six NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 11 consecutive seasons (BYU, Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont is one of only four NCAA Division I programs to win 19 or more games 16 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont University men’s basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 17 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence.
