The college basketball offseason is here, and we decided to have some fun over the next few months, ranking ALL 364 teams in D1. Number 99 is Belmont basketball.
Before you say we’re crazy – or that all of this is up for debate, let’s go over the very intricate process of how we came to this conclusion. We took a very statistical approach – with the help of Chat GPT – taking into consideration everything from March Madness wins and finishes, to AP Poll appearances, to conference players of the year. And then, a good friend of ours, Scott Blanchard, took our approach to the MAX.
Click here to visit the FIRST article, which explains how the formula works!
Here’s the breakdown of Belmont basketball!
NCAA Tournament Success
- Championships: 0
- Finals appearances: 0
- Final Fours: 0
- Elite Eights: 0
- Sweet 16s: 0
- NCAA wins: 1
- Bids: 8
Consistency Over Time
- Wins per season: 21.5
- Bids per season: 0.30
- AP Polls: 0
Player Quality & Talent
- All-Americans: 0
- NBA players drafted & played: 2
- Conference Players of the Year: 7
Conference & Other Success
- Conference regular season titles: 15
- Conference tournament titles: 8
- NIT titles: 0
- Other tournament titles: 0
Overall scoop on Belmont basketball
Belmont basketball isn’t the gold standard of mid-major programs. They are the platinum standard.
In 27 seasons, the Bruins have averaged over 21 wins per season. Virtually since they got to Division I in 1999, the Bruins have been one of the most competitive mid-majors and have dominated their conference, whether it be the Atlantic Sun, OVC, or MVC. In fact, after starting out with three straight losing seasons, the Bruins have had winning seasons in 23 of the last 24 and 21 straight. They’ve had 20 wins or more in 16 straight seasons and 21 of the last 23. They have been nothing short of a dynasty at their level.
Of course, the Bruins have made sure it counts, going to eight NCAA Tournaments. Obviously, they’re not always going to win their conference tournament, but eight is still a solid number, as they’ve pretty much made it there once every three years since they became the dynasty they are today. In 2019, they picked up their first and only win in the NCAA Tournament, knocking off 11-seed Temple in the First Four. They fell by just two points to Maryland in the round of 64.
Belmont hasn’t made it back to the big dance since, which is surprising, considering Casey Alexander’s 166-60 record with them. Of course, he’s off to Kansas State now, so Belmont is still searching for their next Rick Byrd, who took them to all eight of their tourneys.
We have to highlight Byrd more because he got to Belmont in 1986, long before they made the transition to Division I. He took them to a couple of NAIA Final Fours, going 37-2 in 1994-95. Byrd retired with 713 career wins with Belmont, 805 in his career, and a 415-220 record with the Bruins in DI.
Despite all of that success, only two former Bruins were drafted and went on to play in the NBA: Dylan Windler and Ben Sheppard. And funny enough, Windler was drafted in Byrd’s final season as Belmont’s head coach.
But Belmont’s success is really found in their domination of whatever conference they find themselves in. Conference Players of the Year include Adam Sonn (2003, A-Sun), Alex Renfroe (2009, A-Sun), Ian Clark (2013, OVC), JJ Mann (2014, OVC), Evan Bradds (2016 & 2017, OVC), and Tyler Lundblade (2026, MVC).
But here’s the craziest stat to end on. Belmont has more Atlantic Sun regular season titles than any program in conference history, with six. The conference has been going on for 48 years, and they have been in it for 11. They’ve got eight OVC regular season chips, only being in that league for 10 seasons. Austin Peay has eight in 59 seasons, and Eastern Kentucky has the same number in 70 seasons. And in four seasons in the MVC, the Bruins already have one.
There may not be another mid-major program at Belmont’s level that is in the same playing field. And with 2x OVC POY Evan Bradds taking over as head coach, you have to think the Belmont way will continue for years to come.