Belmont returns 97 percent of its offensive production and minutes from last season. All-OVC performers Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy stand among the most accomplished players at their respective positions in college basketball.
Muszynski, named to the Lou Henson National Player of the Year and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Watch Lists, was named Preseason OVC Player of the Year by Lindy's Magazine.
Last season, Muszynski became the first Belmont player of the program's NCAA Division I era to earn first team all-conference honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
The Pickerington, Ohio native averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game on 59 percent shooting. The 6-11 center has 77 career double figure scoring games and is on pace to challenge Evan Bradds' NCAA Division I era career scoring record (1,921 points).
Muszynski's parents, uncle and cousin are Ohio University graduates.
Murphy, named Preseason OVC Player of the Year by Blue Ribbon, Athlon and the league office (co with Johni Broome of Morehead State), stands among the nation's most accomplished point guards.
Last year, the 6-3 floor general was named All-OVC First Team and OVC Defensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive season. Murphy averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game, leading the nation in rebounding from the point guard position for a second consecutive year.
In fact, Murphy joined the exclusive company of Anfernee Hardaway (Memphis) and Evan Turner (Ohio State) of point guards to average eight or more rebounds per game over the past three decades. Murphy ranked among OVC leaders in 12 statistical categories, including leading the league in assists per game, steals per game, defensive rebounds per game and triple-doubles.
Murphy posted the first triple-double of Belmont's NCAA Division I era with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Morehead State (2/13/21). Over the last three seasons, Murphy is the only player in college basketball to record at least 900 points, 550 rebounds, 550 assists and 150 steals. Murphy is on pace to become the OVC career leader in assists and steals.
Luke Smith came to Belmont after two highly-productive seasons at the University of the South (Sewanee). In 2019, Smith led Sewanee to a 22-7 record and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 21 years. Last season, Smith was named DC Paradise Jam Most Valuable Player and became the first player since Feb. 5, 2018 to earn OVC Player of Week and OVC Newcomer of the Week honors in the same week. Smith was named to the 2021 OVC All-Newcomer Team and 2022 Preseason All-OVC.
In fact, Muszynski, Murphy, Smith, Caleb Hollander and Tate Pierson comprise five Belmont graduate students all who earned their Belmont bachelor's degrees in May 2021. Murphy, Muszynski, Smith and Hollander are enrolled in the Belmont MBA program while Pierson is enrolled in the Strategic Communication & Leadership master's program.
Junior Ben Sheppard returns after being a key contributor to two championship seasons.
Ranking among the most talented and versatile two-way players in the OVC, the 6-6 guard scored a career-high 25 points and added 10 rebounds vs. Eastern Kentucky (2/11/21) and scored 22 points at Jacksonville State (1/16/21) en route to his second OVC Player of the Week honor.
Belmont has opened the season away from home 12 of the last 13 seasons. The most notable season-opening victory during the stretch was Nov. 13, 2015 at Marquette. Belmont defeated Howard, 95-78, in the DC Paradise Jam to open the 2020-21 season.
Belmont and Ohio were two of the most efficient offenses in the nation last season, ranking top 30 in 2-point field goal percentage, assists per game, raw offensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage, scoring offense, field goal percentage and assists as a percentage of total field goals made.
This marks the third meeting between Belmont and Ohio.
Belmont defeated Ohio, 83-81, Nov. 29, 2014. Craig Bradshaw ('16) scored a Belmont NCAA Division I era single-game record 42 points and hit the game-winning shot with 0.2 seconds remaining.
Belmont's 81-62 victory over Ohio at the Curb Event Center (2/23/13) was the final game in the ESPN BracketBusters series.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT from the Convocation Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. The live play-by-play can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network on Twitter. In-game updates will be available via Twitter @BelmontMBB.
Belmont at Ohio Game Notes
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 18 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
