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Belmont Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for the Bruins

By Harry Schroeder

JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 21: Nick Muszynski #33 of the Belmont Bruins tries to get around Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins during the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - MARCH 21: Nick Muszynski #33 of the Belmont Bruins tries to get around Jalen Smith #25 of the Maryland Terrapins during the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on March 21, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Grayson Murphy Belmont Basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Grayson Murphy Belmont Basketball (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Projected starting lineup

Belmont returns every significant player from last year’s 26-win team. This will be a history-making team in many ways. Alexander’s 2020-21 team had five players start 24 or more games and they are back for another run at the OVC title.

While Belmont often runs a one-in/four-out offense, technically Alexander starts three guards a forward and a center.

Grayson Murphy – Point Guard

Grayson Murphy is one of the best guards in the nation. He is the OVC’s reigning ‘Defensive Player of the Year and is college basketball’s best rebounding guard. Murphy led last season’s team in rebounding (8.0 per game) while scoring just under 11 points per game.

The 6’3 senior is on the verge of becoming the program’s all-time leader in steals and assists and makes better than 58% of his field-goal attempts. Murphy is second all-time with 585 assists. He is third in steals (204) and needs just five thefts to become the program leader.

Luke Smith – Shooting Guard

During his first season at Belmont, Division III transfer Luke Smith led the OVC in three-pointers (78) and in three-point percentage (.394). Both he and Murphy finished in the top ten nationally in steals.

The 6’0 senior was one of Belmont’s five double-digit scorers (12.7 ppg) and was named the conference’s all-newcomer team. Smith led the Bruins in minutes played and converted .818 of his free-throw attempts. His 24 points catapulted the Bruins into the OVC Tournament finals.

Ben Sheppard – Wing

Sheppard is an outstanding on-ball defender. The 6’6 junior is athletic and versatile. He averaged 10.5 points per game and led the Bruins in scoring on seven separate occasions. The two-time all-stater in Georgia would be the best player on many collegiate teams but plays a support role at BU.

The Atlanta native was third on the team in rebounding, assists, three-pointers and second in minutes played. Sheppard is an explosive athlete and is ready to explode on the OVC scene.

Caleb Hollander – Forward

The 6’8 Hollander does a little bit of everything. A former homeschooled player, he averaged 9.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and at times spells Muszynski in the post. He will mix it up inside but is a capable three-point shooter (39 triples).

The Nashville native was a two-time winner and the nation’s top homeschooled player award. Hollander led the team in scoring four times, rebounding twice, and blocks once.

Nick Muszynski – Center

‘Moose’ is a three-time All-OVC performer. The 6’11 lefty is a load-down low and has the OVC’s best center the last three seasons. While leading the Bruins in scoring (15.0 ppg), was third in the league in blocked shots (44).

His 1,381 points are tenth best in the team’s NCAA era all-time list and are the program leader with 166 career blocks. Muszynski is the perfect center for the Belmont offense. He moves well, is a willing passer, and sets immovable screens.

It was Muszynski that sparked the Bruins to their most recent tournament title (2020) as the tournament MVP.