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Belmont Basketball: 2022-23 season preview and outlook for the Bruins

By Harry Schroeder

Nov 22, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Belmont Bruins head coach Casey Alexander reacts to a play against LSU Tigers during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Belmont Bruins head coach Casey Alexander reacts to a play against LSU Tigers during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /
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Belmont Basketball guard Ben Sheppard Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Belmont Basketball guard Ben Sheppard Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports /

Belmont basketball has changed conferences but Bruin fans don’t expect any drop off in team’s success level.  Coach Casey Alexander is committed to building the Belmont way, but is realistic when looking at his team, a better league and the titantic changes in college basketball.

While college basketball has undergone a massive ‘portal pandemic’ the Bruins have their largest turnover of players in recent years or possibly ever. Belmont is known for recruiting high school players and then grooming them for long careers. Legendary players from last season, Nick Muszynski and Grayson Murphy redshirted their first season in Nashville.

“Moose” went on to be a four-year all-conference player and Murphy a two-time defensive player of the year and an all-conference player. The era of redshirting players and then having them play four years may be over, but Belmont will continue to focus mainly on prep players in their recruiting strategies.

But things change and Casey Alexander has two, key transfers on this year’s roster to help make up for the loss of last year’s graduates and the transfer of all-freshman team member Will Richard.

Belmont’s fast-paced offense will force other Valley teams to adjust their defensive approach and the talented Bruins will also have to figure out the ‘grind-it-out’ MVC style. Who can prevail when these conflicting philosophies collide will determine a great deal about Belmont’s success rate this season.

The Bruins are a highly efficient offensive team. They’ve made more three-point baskets than any team in Division 1 during their entire time in playing at that level. BU routinely leads the nation in two-point percentage and in assists per game, and they ALWAYS win 20 games and win titles.

It won’t be easy in the expanded Missouri Valley Conference, but don’t sell the Bruins short.