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

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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Belmont Basketball’s JaCobi Wood Ovc Mball Belmont Vs Siue 31 /

Impact bench players for Belmont

Jacobi Wood (7) and Derek Sabin (8) have starting experience and Wood is the fifth double-digit Bruin scorer (11.3 ppg) while playing 23 minutes per game. The 6’2 sophomore is a former Tennessee Mr. Basketball with a huge upside.

A slashing athlete, he tied Muszynski for most made free throws at 91 due to his ability to drive the lane. Wood reached double figures, 20 times last season.

Sabin and 6’9 Evan Brauns were Alexander’s top frontcourt reserves. E.J Bellinger (St. Peters, MO) averaged 3.1 points per game while making 37% of his attempts from deep. The 6’9 Sabin played in 18 games as a true freshman and then red-shirted his second season in Nashville and last year participated in each Belmont contest.

Belmont fans are excited about incoming freshmen Will Richard and Isaiah Walker. Both rookies are 6’5 and were prolific high school scorers on outstanding winning programs. Richard was an all-state performer in Fairburn, Georgia and Walker was the 2021 Cincinnati Enquirer Player of the Year.