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’s Ben Sheppard Hpt Austin Peay Belmont Basketball 28 /

2021-22 outlook for Belmont Basketball

Belmont should win the transitioning Ohio Valley Conference. Some top contenders, Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State have left the conference for the Atlantic Sun. Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, and UT Martin have new coaches.

Defending tournament champion Morehead State returns the OVC’s surprise player Johni Broome, but three of MSU’s top six players are gone. While second-leading scorer Devon Cooper left via transfer, starting power forward James Baker graduated and the team’s second most effective passer K.J. Hunt has departed. Head coach Preston Spradlin has recruited well, but the Eagles are a team in transition.

Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois Edwardsville, Tennessee Tech, and Tennessee State should all be improved, but the OVC is Belmont’s to lose.

Next. Preseason top-25 power rankings for 2021-22. dark

Taking advantage of their non-conference opponents will provide an opportunity for a postseason cushion, but winning the tournament title in Evansville in early March is still their best chance of participating in another NCAA Tournament.