Aug. 13, 2009

Printable Schedule

NASHVILLE, TENN. - - 2008 National Champion Kansas and defending Pac-10 Champion Washington highlight the 2009-10 Belmont University men's basketball schedule, head coach Rick Byrd released Thursday.

The Bruins - fresh off their fifth 20-plus win campaign and fifth postseason appearance in the last six years - have earned a reputation for playing among the nation's toughest non-conference schedules. This year is no exception.

Belmont opens in the Emerald City of Seattle as part of the Athletes in Action Classic hosted by the University of Washington. The Huskies went 26-9 a year ago and boast one of the country's top backcourts in Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton and Abdul Gaddy. Rounding out the stellar field are two-time defending Big Sky Champion Portland State and perennial mid-major stalwart Wright State of the Horizon League.

The Raiders and Bruins renew a highly-competitive series, having met three times in the past four seasons. Wright State returns eight of its top nine scorers.

Belmont welcomes another 2009 NCAA Tournament participant - Alabama State - to the Curb Event Center November 21 for the home opener.

A week later, the Bruins face Eastern Illinois of the Ohio Valley Conference in the first of a home-and-home series. Valued area rivalries are preserved, as the Bruins host Tennessee State Nov. 30 and visit Middle Tennessee State Dec. 8.

As is tradition, the 11-member Atlantic Sun Conference commences regular season play in December. This year, the Bruins make the Georgia swing to Kennesaw State and Mercer to open league action.

Six years separated from one of the program's signature victories - a 71-67 triumph at nationally-ranked Missouri - the Bruins return to the Show Me State for a Dec. 16 contest against St. Louis. The Billikens are led by one of college basketball's winningest and most recognizable coaches, Rick Majerus.

The non-conference slate concludes with a trip to historic Phog Allen Fieldhouse and a Dec. 29 meeting with national power Kansas. Two years after cutting down the nets in San Antonio, the Jayhawks once again should compete for a championship. Behind All-America candidates Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, Kansas is ranked No. 1 in the country by many preseason publications. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

As further proof to the quality of its schedule, Belmont's nine non-conference opponents won a combined 178 games in 2008-09 - or an average of nearly 20 wins per program.

"Once again, our schedule is a demanding one," Byrd said. "From the beginning, our very young team will get indoctrinated into high level Division I basketball with three games in three days at the University of Washington Tournament. We have the utmost respect for Portland State, Washington and Wright State and anticipate great competition to start the season."

"Our trip to play Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse will be a memorable one, and we are pleased to continue series with Tennessee State and Middle Tennessee State for local interest," Byrd added.

Atlantic Sun Conference play intensifies following the holiday season. The annual `Battle of the Boulevard' series with Lipscomb opens at Allen Arena Jan. 11, with the return game at the Curb Event Center Jan. 27. In between, the Bruins host conference rival East Tennessee State Jan. 23.

During the stretch run, Jacksonville comes to Nashville Feb. 5, while the Bruins wrap up regular season play as part of Belmont University Homecoming Weekend with home dates against Mercer (Feb. 25) and Kennesaw State (Feb. 27).

The 2010 Atlantic Sun Basketball Tournament will be at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., March 3-6.

"The Atlantic Sun should be stronger than ever with many good teams returning all of their starters and several key reserves," Byrd said. "As always, I believe the tough early-season schedule will help our team improve quickly. That improvement is particularly important this season as our team is dominated by underclassmen."

For information on purchasing season tickets, contact the Curb Event Center Box Office at (615) 460-BALL or visit the Bruins Online at www.belmontbruins.com.