Duke vs. Bellarmine: 5 biggest storylines for 2020-21 matchup

3. The Knights have been a longtime national powerhouse at the Div. II level – and now, they will try to replicate that success at the Div. I level

I have already talked extensively about Bellarmine’s – now-former – status as a Div. II powerhouse and they will have their work cut out for them as they make the transition to Div. I.  Luckily, it is not completely out of the question for the Knights to be successful almost immediately.

Bellarmine will begin their Div. I tenure as a member of the Atlantic Sun, competing with the likes of Lipscomb, Liberty, Stetson, and North Florida – all teams that received first-place votes in the preseason ASUN poll.  In the coaches poll, Bellarmine was picked eighth out of nine teams, just ahead of Kennesaw State – while, in the conference’s media poll, they were picked to finish last.

If historic precedent is any indication, this does not really mean anything.  Merrimack – another Div. II power that made the jump to Div. I last year – won the NEC regular season in their first-ever year after being picked to finish last in the conference.  If Scott Davenport and his Knights know how to do anything, it is that they know how to win – and that should translate to the Div. I level with little to no issue.

In fact, the Knights almost enjoyed success against top Div. I competition as recently as last season.  They opened the 2019-20 campaign with back-to-back exhibitions against Louisville and Notre Dame – and lost by ten points in each game.

In the Louisville tilt, neither team led by more than six points over the first 38 minutes – and Bellarmine actually led at halftime, 35-33, before Louisville pulled away with a 75-65 win.  Against Notre Dame, the Knights were within three (54-51) at the 2:25 mark before the Fighting Irish closed the game on a 7-0 run to claim a 61-51 victory.

The Knights have knocked off Div. I competition during Davenport’s tenure – they upset Xavier, 63-61, in the exhibition game that began Bellarmine’s national title season in 2010 – and they have routinely come close since then, competing with the likes of Louisville, Cincinnati, and Indiana, among others.

Again, none of this is to say Bellarmine will absolutely upset Duke – but they should not be counted out.  They have lost significant members of last year’s 20-win squad, and they will have their work cut out for them – but it is erroneous to think that Davenport and the Knights will not compete.