Busting Brackets
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Byrd of the Belmont Bruins reacts in the first half while taking on the Arizona Wildcats during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on March 21, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Byrd of the Belmont Bruins reacts in the first half while taking on the Arizona Wildcats during the second round of the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on March 21, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Season Outlook

Belmont looks to rebound after a disappointing end to last season when they were left out of the NCAA and NIT tournaments. They will benefit from the return of their leading scorer Dylan Windler who is a candidate for conference player of the year. He along with Kyle McClain will make up on of the best backcourts in the conference and firmly puts the Bruins as one of the favorites to win the Ohio Valley.

Coach Byrd has again brought in some good freshman to compliment the experience they return. The non-conference part of their schedule sets up well for the young guys to mesh with the older guys. Outside of Purdue and UCLA, they should probably be a favorite in every non-conference game. If they can get off to a good start and maybe pull off an upset they could set themselves up well for an at-large bid if they fail to win the Ohio Valley.

Belmont should again be at the top of the conference and probably is the favorite to win the automatic bid. Murray State will pose the biggest threat to the Bruins and Belmont will look to avenge the conference championship loss.

Top 10 active mid-major head coaches. dark. Next

If Belmont can win the conference this year, they should be a tough out for any team in the tournament. They have the talent to make it to the second round and could be a sleeper for a sweet 16 berth.