MVC Releases Men's Basketball Preseason Poll & All-Conference Teams

ST. LOUIS - - Belmont University men's basketball has been picked sixth as the Missouri Valley Conference released its 2022-23 preseason poll and all-conference teams Wednesday.
 
Senior Ben Sheppard was named Preseason First Team All-MVC.
 
"These are interesting times for Belmont," said Belmont head coach Casey Alexander. "We're in a new conference, with a lot of new players, facing a lot of great teams also integrating new players. We're excited to see how we measure up. As for Ben (Sheppard), any time you're the best offensive player and the best defensive player on a good team, that warrants special recognition. Ben Sheppard is that guy for us."
 
Sheppard established himself as one of the most impactful two-way players in college basketball last season. 
 
Named All-OVC First Team, Sheppard averaged a team-leading 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
 
Sheppard ranked among OVC leaders in 14 statistical categories, including first in 2-point field goal percentage in league games (.663), second in effective field goal percentage (.626), third in 3-point field goals (72) and fourth in points (536).
 
Joining the likes of NBA Bruins Dylan Windler and Ian Clark with 500 or more points in a single season, Sheppard posted a team-high 30 double figure scoring games.
 
He scored a career-high 41 points at Tennessee Tech (2/5/22) - the OVC single-game scoring high last season, becoming one of only 20 players to post a 40-point game in 2021-22.
 
His 25-point performance vs. MAAC champion Iona led Belmont to the ESPN Events Invitational championship game.
 
Sheppard also limited SEC leading scorer Scottie Pippen, Jr. to two made field goals in the Postseason NIT.
 
The Bruins return one of their top eight scorers – Sheppard - from last season's team which won 25 games and played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
 
Belmont has finished first or second in conference standings 17 consecutive seasons (12 regular season conference championships, five second-place finishes).
 
The last time Belmont was tabbed to finish sixth or lower in a conference preseason poll was 2001-02, as the Bruins were picked seventh in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason poll – Belmont's first season in an NCAA Division I conference.
 
Drake was selected as the preseason favorite, earning first-place votes on 52 of 54 ballots of head coaches, sports information directors and media.
 
Bradley, Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Northern Iowa rounded out the top five.
 
Tucker DeVries of Drake was tabbed MVC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
In total, Belmont will play up to 13 games against postseason teams from 2021-22, and up to 17 games against teams with Q1/Q2 rankings from the 2022 NET rankings.
 
Belmont's 77 victories since the start of the 2019-20 season rank fifth nationally - behind only Gonzaga, Kansas, Houston and Baylor.
 
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 15 of the last 17 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 has won 20 or more games in 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon). Belmont is one of only five NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 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

2022-23 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish