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For over three decades, the Belmont Bruins men’s basketball program has been one of the most successful in the NCAA Division I ranks. Led by head coach Rick Byrd, the Bruins have captured seven conference titles and made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.
1) Belmont Basketball: A History of Success
The Belmont Bruins men’s basketball team has a long and storied history of success. The Bruins have won the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament five times, most recently in 2019. They have also won the National Invitation Tournament twice, in 2012 and 2013. The Bruins have made the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament 27 times, including 14 consecutive appearances from 2006 to 2019. In 2019, the Bruins made their first ever appearance in the Final Four.
The Belmont Bruins men’s basketball team was founded in 1925. The team’s first coach was Harry B. Anderson, who led the team to a 12-4 record in its inaugural season. Anderson would go on to coach the Bruins for 15 seasons, compiling a record of 234-88. Anderson is the winningest coach in Belmont men’s basketball history.
Under Anderson’s tutelage, the Bruins won their first NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament in 1954. The Bruins defeated the University of Kentucky in the championship game, becoming the first team from outside the power conference to win the tournament. The Bruins would go on to win the tournament four more times, in 1955, 1956, 1957, and 1959.
The Bruins had a period of success in the late 1970s and early 1980s under head coach Rick Adelman. In 1979, the Bruins won the National Invitation Tournament, defeating the University of Notre Dame in the championship game. The Bruins made the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament four times under Adelman, reaching the Elite Eight in 1982.
In 1996, the Bruins hired head coach Rick Byrd. Byrd has been the Bruins’ head coach ever since, and has led the team to 14 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament appearances. In 2006, the Bruins made their first ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Bruins have made the tournament every year since, including 14 consecutive appearances from 2006 to 2019. In 2019, the Bruins made their first ever appearance in the Final Four.
Under Byrd’s leadership, the Bruins have won the National Invitation Tournament twice, in 2012 and 2013. The Bruins have also won the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship 12 times and the Ohio Valley Conference
2) The Early Years
The Belmont Bruins men’s basketball team has a long and storied history of success. The team has won over 20 conference championships and made it to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament 16 times. The Bruins have also produced a number of NBA players, including Hall of Famer Bill Walton.
The early years of Belmont basketball were defined by success. The team won its first conference championship in only its second year of existence. Belmont would go on to win 11 more conference championships in the next 14 years. The Bruins also made it to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in 1963. Belmont would go on to make the tournament 16 times in total.
The Bruins have also had a number of players go on to have successful NBA careers. Bill Walton, who is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, played for Belmont from 1971 to 1974. Walton is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and was inducted in 1993. He is also a two-time NBA champion, winning titles with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977 and the Boston Celtics in 1986.
Other Belmont players who have gone on to have successful NBA careers include Clyde Drexler, who played for the Houston Rockets from 1983 to 1998, and Shawn Marion, who played for the Phoenix Suns from 1999 to 2008.
The Belmont Bruins men’s basketball team has a long and storied history of success. The team has won over 20 conference championships and made it to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament 16 times. The Bruins have also produced a number of NBA players, including Hall of Famer Bill Walton.
The early years of Belmont basketball were defined by success. The team won its first conference championship in only its second year of existence. Belmont would go on to win 11 more conference championships in the next 14 years. The Bruins also made it to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in 1963. Belmont would go on to make the tournament 16 times in total.
The Bruins have also had a number of players go on to have successful NBA careers. Bill Walton, who is considered one of the greatest basketball players
3) The Dynasty Begins
The Belmont basketball dynasty began in the early 2000s under the leadership of head coach Rick Byrd. The team won the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship in 2003 and made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 2004. They would go on to win the OVC tournament in 2005 and make back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.
In 2006, the team won the OVC regular season and tournament championships and made their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history. They would go on to make the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2008 as well.
In 2009, the team made their fifth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance and won the OVC regular season and tournament championships. They would go on to make the NCAA tournament in 2010 and 2011 as well.
The team has made the NCAA tournament in seven of the last eight seasons and has won the OVC regular season or tournament championship in eight of the last nine seasons. The team is currently the winningest program in OVC history.
4) The Golden Age
The Belmont basketball team has a long and storied history of success. The program has won four NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships, the most recent of which came in 2007. The team has also made it to the Final Four on three occasions, most recently in 2008.
The Belmont basketball team has been led by some of the best coaches in the game. Rick Majerus, who coached the team from 1992 to 1999, is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history. Under his guidance, the team won the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 1995.
Since 1999, the Belmont basketball team has been coached by Tony Bennett. Under Bennett’s leadership, the team has won two NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships and made it to the Final Four on three occasions.
The Belmont basketball team has a rich tradition of success. The team has won four NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships and made it to the Final Four on three occasions. The team is coached by Tony Bennett, one of the best coaches in the game. The Belmont basketball team is a force to be reckoned with and will continue to be one of the top programs in the country for years to come.
5) The New Millennium
The Belmont Bruins have a long and storied history of success on the hardwood. Dating back to the early 1900s, the Bruins have won conference championships, made deep runs in the NCAA tournament, and produced some of the best players in college basketball history. In recent years, Belmont has established itself as one of the premier mid-major programs in the country, winning conference titles and making multiple appearances in the NCAA tournament.
The Bruins entered the new millennium with a new head coach, Rick Byrd. Byrd had served as an assistant under legendary head coach Dave Odom at Wake Forest and South Carolina, and he brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to Belmont. In his first season at the helm, Byrd led the Bruins to a 21-9 record and a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Bruins would lose to Kentucky in the first round, but the 21-win season was a sign of things to come for Belmont basketball.
Under Byrd, the Bruins have won 20 or more games in 12 of the last 13 seasons, including a school-record 29-win season in 2011-12. The Bruins have also won 11 conference championships and made seven appearances in the NCAA tournament. In 2006, the Bruins made history by becoming the first team from a non-BCS conference to win an NCAA tournament game, defeating Temple in the first round.
The Belmont Bruins have established themselves as one of the premier mid-major programs in the country. Thanks to the vision and leadership of head coach Rick Byrd, the Bruins have enjoyed unparalleled success in the new millennium. With a rich tradition of success dating back to the early 1900s, the Belmont Bruins are a team to be reckoned with, now and in the future.
