2022-23 Belmont Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball head coach Casey Alexander released the program's 2022-23 non-conference schedule Tuesday.
Headlined by six Q1/Q2 games from last season's NET rankings – including the potential for three NCAA Tournament teams – and non-conference opponents who averaged 21 victories per team last season, the Bruins will again test themselves leading into league play.
"We are really excited about how the non-conference schedule came together," Alexander said. "From a destination event with a deep field to a number of quality opponents coming to the Curb, the challenge in front of us – including our first season in the Missouri Valley Conference - is significant."
For the second consecutive year, Belmont opens against Mid-American Conference perennial contender Ohio. The Bobcats went 25-10 last season and qualified for the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
Belmont then travels to Southern Conference stalwart Furman Nov. 11. The Paladins return a core nucleus from a 22-win team that was one possession away from the NCAA Tournament.
The Bruins play at Lipscomb Nov. 14 in the annual Battle of the Boulevard game. Belmont handed out 25 assists and made 17 3-point field goals in last season's victory at the Curb Event Center.
From there, Belmont heads to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands for three games as part of the Paradise Jam. The Bruins open with Tarleton State of the Western Athletic Conference before playing either Boston College or George Mason in its second game of the tournament.
Wyoming, Drake, Buffalo and Howard are on the other half of the bracket.
The field includes six programs in the Top 141 of the final 2021-22 NET rankings, with Wyoming (58), Belmont (79) and Drake (85) in the Top 85.
Belmont completes November with a trip to Atlanta to face Sun Belt Conference champion Georgia State. The Panthers led top-seeded Gonzaga in the second half of their first round NCAA Tournament game. The game will serve as a homecoming for Belmont senior all-conference guard Ben Sheppard.
December brings a meeting with area NCAA Division II program Trevecca Nazarene before Belmont hosts Middle Tennessee Dec. 10. The Blue Raiders won 26 games last season and reached the CBI Championship game.
Following semester exams, the Bruins play at Southern Conference champion Chattanooga. The Mocs won 27 games last season and nearly defeated Illinois in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Chattanooga welcomes first-year head coach Dan Earl, who spent the previous seven seasons at VMI. Belmont defeated Chattanooga, 76-68, last season in one of its most complete performances of the season.
The non-conference schedule concludes Dec. 21 vs. Samford. Belmont won last season's meeting in Birmingham.
Belmont will play two Missouri Valley Conference games the week of Nov. 28 – one game at the Curb Event Center and one game on the road.
Every game of the non-conference schedule will air on the ESPN family of networks.
The 2022-23 Missouri Valley Conference schedule, a complete listing of home tip times and schedule of televised games will be released in the coming weeks.
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).
Belmont's 77 victories since the start of the 2019-20 season rank fifth nationally - behind only Gonzaga, Kansas, Houston and Baylor.
Belmont men's basketball won 25 games last season and played in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Belmont women's basketball, ranked No. 19 nationally by The Athletic in its 2022-23 Way Too Early Top 25, reached its sixth NCAA Tournament in the last seven years. The Bruins defeated Gonzaga and Oregon in consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
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 six NCAA Division I programs outside the Power 5 to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (BYU, 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
