Women's Basketball Unveils Non-Conference Schedule

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Once more, the Belmont University women's basketball program and head coach Bart Brooks has put together one of the top non-conference schedules in the country. Announced Tuesday afternoon, the Bruins' 2024-25 non-conference slate features six, and possibly seven, power conference opponents.
 
Belmont will face at least six programs who won 20 or more games last year and all but three opponents posted a winning record in 2023-24. With the 2024 Elevance Health Fort Myers Tip-Off in Florida, the Bruins could potentially go up against seven programs who finished in the top 50 of the final 2023-24 NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.
 
"I'm extremely excited about the challenge and opportunity of this season's non-conference schedule," commented coach Brooks. "We get to compete against a variety of styles, players and coaches who will push us to get better as a program. I'm very thankful for the support we receive from our university and athletics administration to allow us the opportunity to compete in some amazing environments and bring some great teams to Nashville to compete in the Curb Event Center."
 
"We have a lot of work to do in preparation for this year's schedule and I'm loving how our team is approaching the opportunity and challenge of the upcoming season," continued coach Brooks.
 
No fewer than six national postseason teams from a year ago await Belmont in the non-conference, including five programs who earned a spot in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. With both Michigan and Virginia Tech in the Bruins' division of the Fort Myers Tip-Off, Belmont could see six NCAA Tournament teams from last year.
 
The Bruins will host a trio of home games in non-conference play highlighted by marquee matchups with reigning conference champions Ohio State and Middle Tennessee. The defending Big Ten Conference regular season champion Buckeyes visit the Music City on Sunday, Nov. 17 and Belmont welcomes the defending Conference USA regular season and tournament champion Lady Raiders to the Curb on Saturday, Dec. 7. Both Ohio State and Middle Tennessee reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last March.
 
The Bruins' home opener is set for Thursday, Nov. 14 against Kennesaw State.
 
Belmont's new campaign will tip off on Thursday, Nov. 7 in Manhattan, Kansas, at Big 12 Conference member Kansas State.
 
Three neutral-site games are also included in the Bruins' non-conference schedule with the Fort Myers Tip-Off held Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 28-30 in the Sunshine State at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College. Belmont also gets a neutral-site matchup with Southeastern Conference mainstay Mississippi State on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi. It marks the third consecutive year the Bruins will participate in a prestigious MTE (multi-team event).
 
The 78th Battle of the Boulevard versus nearby rival Lipscomb will take place at the opposite end of Belmont Boulevard on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Belmont has won 14 straight in the rivalry series.
 
at Kansas State (Thursday, Nov. 7)
2023-24 Record: 26-8 (13-5 Big 12)
National Postseason: NCAA Tournament Second Round (No. 4 Seed)
2023-24 Final National Ranking: No. 19/18
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 18
 
at Wichita State (Saturday, Nov. 9)
2023-24 Record: 10-22 (5-13 American)
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 212
 
vs. Kennesaw State (Thursday, Nov. 14)
2023-24 Record: 11-19 (7-9 ASUN)
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 258
 
vs. Ohio State (Sunday, Nov. 17)
2023-24 Record: 26-6 (16-2 Big Ten)
Big Ten Conference regular season champions
National Postseason: NCAA Tournament Second Round (No. 2 Seed)
2023-24 Final National Ranking: No. 16/14
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 9
 
at Duke (Thursday, Nov. 21)
2023-24 Record: 22-12 (11-7 ACC)
National Postseason: Sweet 16 (No. 7 Seed)
2023-24 Final National Ranking: No. 17/21
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 20
 
vs. Michigan (Friday, Nov. 29 in Fort Myers, Fla.)
2023-24 Record: 20-14 (9-9 Big Ten)
National Postseason: NCAA Tournament First Round (No. 9 Seed)
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 49
 
vs. Virginia Tech (Saturday, Nov. 30 in Fort Myers, Fla.)
2023-24 Record: 25-8 (14-4 ACC)
Atlantic Coast Conference regular season champions
National Postseason: NCAA Tournament Second Round (No. 4 Seed)
2023-24 Final National Ranking: No. 18/17
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 19
 
OR
 
vs. Davidson (Saturday, Nov. 30 in Fort Myers, Fla.)
2023-24 Record: 18-8 (8-7 A-10)
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 82
 
at Lipscomb (Wednesday, Dec. 4)
2023-24 Record: 17-13 (10-6 ASUN)
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 197
 
vs. Middle Tennessee (Saturday, Dec. 7)
2023-24 Record: 30-5 (16-0 CUSA)
Conference USA regular season and tournament champions
National Postseason: NCAA Tournament Second Round (No. 11 Seed)
2023-24 Final National Ranking: rv/rv
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 40
 
vs. Mississippi State (Saturday, Dec. 14 in Tupelo, Miss.)
2023-24 Record: 23-12 (8-8 SEC)
National Postseason: WBIT Quarterfinals
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 43
 
at Kentucky (Friday, Dec. 20)
2023-24 Record: 12-20 (4-12 SEC)
Final 2023-24 NET Ranking: No. 148
 
Eighth-year head coach Brooks will coach against at least five coaches who have earned conference coach of the year honors.
 
The Bruins have defeated an SEC team in three of the last four seasons and own 21 victories over current SEC members.
 
Belmont has secured four wins over current Big Ten members, including Northwestern, Oregon, Indiana and Nebraska.
 
The Bruins have also earned five victories against current Atlantic Coast Conference teams, including Louisville, North Carolina (twice), Wake Forest and Clemson, and hold four wins versus UCF, who is now a member of the Big 12.
 
The winningest program in the state of Tennessee over the last 10 seasons, Belmont has appeared in four of the last six NCAA Tournaments and reached the Round of 32 back-to-back years in 2022 and 2021. The Bruins are one of only 10 teams in the nation to have won 20 ore more games for nine-straight seasons.
 
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