Blue Ribbon Yearbook Picks Men's Basketball Fourth in MVC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's basketball has been picked fourth in Missouri Valley Conference, according to The Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.

Belmont, which joins the Missouri Valley Conference after spending the past decade in the Ohio Valley Conference, has finished first or second in final regular season conference standings 17 consecutive seasons (12 regular season conference championships, five second-place finishes).

This dates back to the Bruins' time in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Belmont went 25-8 last season and earned at-large entry to the Postseason NIT.

Senior and leading scorer Ben Sheppard is the lone returning starter.

Belmont welcomes nine newcomers this season, including transfers Keishawn Davidson and Drew Friberg, and redshirt freshman Isaiah Walker.

Belmont has won 77 games since head coach Casey Alexander took the helm prior to the 2019-20 season; only Gonzaga, Kansas, Houston and Baylor have won more games during that span.

Drake was tabbed as the preseason favorite.

The 2023 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament – Arch Madness presented by State Farm – will be held March 2-5 in St. Louis.

BLUE RIBBON FORECAST
1.      Drake
2.      Southern Illinois
3.      Bradley
4.      Belmont
5.      Indiana State
6.      UNI
7.      Missouri State
8.      Valparaiso
9.      Illinois State
10.    Murray State
11.    UIC
12.    Evansville
 
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
F-Ben Krikke, SR, Valparaiso
F-Marcus Domask, SR, Southern Illinois
G-Tucker DeVries, SO, Drake
G-D.J. Wilkins, SR, Drake
G-Cooper Neese, SR, Indiana State
 
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tucker DeVries, SO, Drake
 
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Rod Perry, JR, Murray State

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 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