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Belmont Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Bruins

By Adam Childs

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 20: The cheerleaders of the Belmont Bruins watch on against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 20: The cheerleaders of the Belmont Bruins watch on against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 20: Teammates Craig Bradshaw #23 and Nick Smith #2 of the Belmont Bruins react late in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 20: Teammates Craig Bradshaw #23 and Nick Smith #2 of the Belmont Bruins react late in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images) /

Projected Starters

Dylan Windler

Windler returns for his senior year after having a great junior year. He averaged 17.3 points per game and was the team’s top three-point shooter percentage wise (43%). He will be the one looked upon to carry the scoring burden for the Bruins and all signs point to him being able to accept the challenge. He could be the best player in the OVC this year and will look to cement his place as one of the best to play at Belmont. The season will go how he goes. He has the ability to put the Bruins on his shoulders and carry them. Windler could easily average over 20 ppg this year and if he does the Bruins will be battling for the OVC crown.

Kevin McClain

McClain is another senior for the Bruins who brings a lot of experience to the team. McClain averaged 12.6 ppg last year and will team up with Windler to make a great one-two punch from the outside. He like Windler has the ability to score as he had numerous games last year over 20 points and has the ability to pick up the slack if Windler is having an off night. While he can’t carry the team, he is definitely a very good supportive piece.

Nick Hopkins

Hopkins will likely be the point guard for the Bruins this year. He showed flashes last year of being a great scorer but will need to find more consistency this year. At six-foot he is not a very big guy, but can shoot the ball from the outside better than average and can find the rim on the break. He did average just over seven points a game last year and with some scoring gone from last year will be counted on more to raise that average.

Seth Adelsperger

Adelsperger started 12 games last year and looks to be the one the Bruins will lean on down low this year. He has great length at 6’11” and could cause a lot of problems in the paint for opposing teams. He has not shown much of a scoring side yet, but that could change with more minutes this year. With the guards the Bruins have though, he may not need to be a scorer. He will be most valuable to them by controlling the boards and the paint.

Caleb Hollander

Hollander played in seven games last year before taking a redshirt. In his limited time last year he did score 11 points against Houston Baptist. At 6’8″ and 225 lbs he is a big guy that could pair up with Adelsperger to make a good combo down low. Combine that with some incoming freshman and Hollander could find himself in a rotation to make a good frontcourt for the Bruins. With the scoring around him, the Bruins probably again won’t need him to score much just be a big presence down low. Any amount of scoring from him and Adelsperger will be a bonus for Belmont.