2011-2012 Mid-Major Focus: Belmont

In preparation for the start of the 2011-2012 regular season on November 7, we’re running a series of preview pieces here on Busting Brackets where we profile certain teams and conferences. You can check out all of the pieces in our preview series by clicking here. Today, we begin taking a look at mid-major teams with high expectations for the upcoming season. First up, the Belmont Bruins.

GENERAL THOUGHTS

Belmont went 30-5 last season. Belmont went 19-1 in the Atlantic Sun. Belmont won the A-Sun tournament final against North Florida by 41 points.

Oh, and one more thing: Belmont returns four starters.

Needless to say, this is the year for Rick Byrd‘s Bruins to make it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They have the depth and they certainly have the experience to beat a lot of power conference teams. But in all honesty, this team’s expectations might be more than just winning a single game in the Big Dance.

The Bruins return a lot of key players and will without question be the favorites once again in the Atlantic Sun. If you thought their 19-1 conference mark last year was a surprise, well, this year it might be surprising if they actually lose a game in the conference. Yes, this team is that good.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Belmont will be led by junior guard Ian Clark, who will be in the running for A-Sun Player of the Year. Like a lot of players on this team, he’s a three-point threat than can also score inside of the arc. He averaged 12 points per game a year ago, and with Jordan Campbell and Jon House gone, his average probably goes up a little bit. But make no mistake, this a balanced team. Clark is gonna be the go-to-guy though.

Mick Hedgepeth will lead the way in the post, and he’s the kind of post player that every coach wants to have. He has all the fundamentals that a big man needs to succeed in the college game, and he’s just the kind of player that is going to find a way to beat you.

With such a deep rotation, you could also mention guys like Kerron Johnson, Scott Saunders, J.J. Mann, Blake Jenkins and Drew Hanlen here. There’s other players who will likely make an impact too. But this is a “team” in every sense of the word.

CONFERENCE STRENGTH

Even though Belmont should be the clear favorite in the A-Sun, there are some teams that return a lot of experience and talent on their roster.

Kennesaw State returns Markeith Cummings, who will likely lead the league in the scoring yet again. North Florida, who finished 15-19 last season despite the A-Sun tournament final appearance, has four starters returning and will be led by the duo of Jerron Granberry and Andy Diaz. Jacksonville is also in the four starters returning club, and should be another challenger for that second spot in the league.

Can any of these teams beat this loaded Belmont squad? Sure they can. But can any of them be more consistent than the Bruins on a night-in and night-out basis in the conference? That seems unlikely.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

While this team is certainly capable of winning 30 games for a second straight season, don’t be shocked if they start 0-2. Why? They open at Cameron Indoor against Duke, and four days later, head to the FedEx Forum to take on Memphis. Two Top 10 road trips in a span of four days isn’t exactly easy.

Then again, whose to say that Belmont couldn’t beat either one of these teams? If you think Byrd is gonna take his team in there and they’re just gonna lay down and take a 30-point beating, well then, you might want to rethink that. That’s not how this team operates. It’s not gonna be a walk in the park for either of these two national powers when they step on the floor with the Bruins. Belmont might not be a Top 10 team, but they could realistically be in the Top 25 at some point during the season.

The rest of the non-conference slate is nothing special, but then again, it doesn’t have to be when you start off with two games like that.

CONCLUSION

I’d be shocked if Byrd’s team doesn’t win the Atlantic Sun. And of course this depends on the draw, but I would not be surprised one bit if this team makes a Sweet 16 run. We’ve been saying for several years now that Belmont was the kind of team that you pick as your upset special.

Without knowing the draw, it’s tough to make that statement right now. But it’s not tough to say that this is one of Byrd’s best teams.

And after an incredible 2010-2011 season that featured a lot of these same players, you can bet that everyone knows it.

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