Missouri Valley Conference Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2024-25
No. 5 – Belmont Bruins
The Bruins might land this high in our rankings just because of the name on the front of the jersey. Belmont has won at least twenty games, 14 years in a row and it is impossible for us to think of the Bruins being any lower than fifth.
Casey Alexander’s team lost more fire-power than any Valley team. Three all-conference players left for ‘power conference’ programs. All three (JaKobi Gillespie, Cade Tyson and Malik Dia all averaged over 16 points per game and won multiple postseason honors.
But they are gone.
Replacing them are a group of players that Alexander says is deeper, one through twelve, than any team he’s ever been with.
Two part-time starters return in guard Isaiah Walker and forward Brigham Rogers. Walker is a redshirt junior and knows the Belmont system better than any other player. Rogers showed flashes last season of being a legitimate Valley big man.
Alexander insists Belmont will build with high school players, but did reach into the portal for some key players. Carter Whitt was sixth in the Southern Conference in assists and fellow guard Brody Peebles scored 788 career points at Liberty. Alexander will be leaning on these grad transfers to help his younger team develop.
Two redshirt ‘bigs’ Sam Orme and Drew Scharnowski will be looked upon to help Rogers up front. 6’9 Jonathan Pierre was an outstanding Division 2 player, then participated in 19 games at Memphis last year. He could be a difference maker in the Bruin frontcourt.
Alexander says his team’s vaunted offensive system is right on schedule despite the heavy turnover and he insists his freshmen can contribute this season. Eoin Dillon, Jabez Jenkins and Cooper Haynes were all top-20 players in their respective states and at 6’9 Dillon, whose brother now plays at Bradley, could be a help up front.
Casey Alexander has won .733 of his games at Belmont and .610 during his 13 year, head coaching career. Don’t look for the Bruins to fall too far this season.