Belmont Basketball is playing in its final season in the Ohio Valley Conference, and this is a week to establish a reputation. After Monday’s 30-point loss to LSU, the Bruins participate in the ESPN Events Invitational against some high-level competition. This Florida-based multi-team event is the perfect setting for Belmont to reassert itself as a player on the national scene.
While the Bruins dropped the lopsided decision to an SEC team that is receiving votes in each poll, freshman Will Richard continues to shine. The 6’5 wing scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds, and handed out three assists. Richard is making waves earlier in Nashville than some predicted. The Georgia native tallied just four points in Belmont’s opener but has reached double figures in each of the next four games.
After scoring at least 80 points in its first four games Belmont made just 26 percent of their shots from deep and 32% overall. Grayson Murphy, Luke Smith, and Nick Muszynski combined to score just 11 points, making just three of 16 combined shots.
Casey Alexander’s team has to regroup before heading to the ESPN Events Invitational. Belmont’s ‘Big Three’ haven’t been the dominating force that many expected to this point of the season.
While ‘Moose’ leads the team I scoring (15 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 per game), Murphy (9.8) and Smith (8.8) are fourth and fifth on the team’s scoring list. 6’6 junior Ben Sheppard (14.8 ppg) and Richard (12.2) have slipped into those higher scoring roles.
As the Bruins prepare for a Thursday date with Drake and then a Friday encounter with either Iona or Alabama, there are improvements for Alexander and his veteran squad to address.