Final score: Belmont 63 Bradley 60

[Da Coach]

Next game: Bradley at Belmont, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 7 pm
This game is at the Curb Event Center on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville.
This will be the first ever meeting between these two teams

The game is on the MVC-TV Network, which includes:
NBC Sports Chicago Plus channel (a Bulls game is on the regular NBC Sports Chicago channel)
Bally Sports St. Louis (formerly Fox Sports Midwest)
Bally Sports Indiana, and Bally Sports Kansas City
It is also available on ESPN+ (will be blacked out in areas served by any of the above cable services)- https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/...d-9e2849713818
Live stats- http://stats.statbroadcast.com/mobile/?id=424483
Chat room- www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans
Radio/audio stream- WMBD 1470 AM or 100.3 FM

Belmont is 8-5, and they are 1-1 in MVC games. Bradley is 9-4, and 2-0 in the MVC
Belmont schedule/results- https://belmontbruins.com/sports/men...tball/schedule
Roster- https://belmontbruins.com/sports/men.../roster?view=1
Stats- https://belmontbruins.com/sports/men...ts?path=mbball

Belmont has been one of the most successful mid-major programs since joining Division I in the 1999-2000 season.
They have won 20 or more games 16 of the last 17 seasons, and the one season they did not win 20, they won 19 games.
They have averaged 21.4 wins per season in their 23 seasons in Division I, and 25.2 wins per season over the last 12 seasons.
Historical record- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/belmont/

Their leading scorer is 6'6" senior guard Ben Sheppard (18.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.8 apg, 39.5% from three).
He lead the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring last season, and was named to the 10-member 1st team All-OVC team.
He was also named to this season's 1st team Preseason All-MVC team, and his 18.5 ppg is 3rd in the MVC currently.
Other starters are:
6'7" freshman Cade Tyson- he is the 2nd leading scorer (13.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 42.9% from three), and top rebounder, and one of 5 regulars who shoot 39% or better from three.
6'9" junior center Even Brauns- He averages 6.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg, and he shoots 58.7% from the floor. He has not attempted a 3-pointer.
6'7" grad-student forward Drew Friberg- Grad-transfer from Princeton in his first season at Belmont. He averages 13.2 ppg and 3.1 rpg, and he is shooting 51.1% from three so far this season.
6'2" senior guard Keishawn Davidson- Transfer who spent 3 seasons at Tennessee Tech. He missed Belmont's first 6 games, but has started the last 7 games since returning from a shoulder injury. Averaging 8.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, and 4.4 assists per game. He is shooting 46.2% from three.
Top reserves-
6'0" freshman guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie- He started the first 7 games for Belmont, but has been a reserve since Keishawn Davidson returned from injury. He averages 24 minutes per game, 9.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, and shoots 27.8% from three.
6'4" senior guard EJ Bellinger- Averages 5.2 ppg in 9.6 mpg off the bench. Shooting a team-high 52.2% from three.

As a team, Belmont shoots 41.2% from three, which ranks 1st in the MVC and 4th best in the country.
Bradley is 2nd in the MVC in 3-point FG% at 36.5%.
They average 77.2 ppg on offense (2nd in MVC), and yield 73.0 ppg on defense (11th in MVC.
Bradley averages 69.2 ppg on offense (8th in MVC), and yields 59.5 ppg on defense (1st in MVC).
Belmont is currently ranked #147 in NET (Bradley is #65). Kenpom.com has Belmont at #131 (Bradley is #85)

Bradley stats- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...2/pdf/cume.pdf

Sortable MVC stats-
Individual- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...oints/dir/desc
Team- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...oints/dir/desc

[Da Coach]

Is anyone going to the game in Nashville?

[houstonbrave]

DC -I think you mean Belmont gives up 73 on defense. I got rather scared when I read 43 on defense and had to check. At least you know I read the notes……

[Cousins Cuts podcast]

Is anyone going to the game in Nashville?

I will be at the game with a few others. We will be loud

[Da Coach]

DC -I think you mean Belmont gives up 73 on defense. I got rather scared when I read 43 on defense and had to check. At least you know I read the notes……

Yes, thanks for catching that. I just corrected it to say 73 ppg. Glad to know someone actually reads my posts.
As noted, they are a terrific 3-point shooting team. They shoot 41.2% from three, which ranks 4th in D1-
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...alPct/dir/desc



They also pass the ball very well at all 5 positions. They have 3 players averaging more assists per game (Davidson 4.4, Sheppard 3.6, and Gillespie 3.4) than the top Bradley player (Duke Deen 3.2 apg)

And, despite their 8-5 record, this Belmont team is really good, and very well coached. They are very hard to beat at home, and have averaged just 1 loss per year at home over the last 12 seasons.
Belmont's home record:
2022-23- 4-1
2021-22- 13-1
2020-21- 11-1
2019-20- 13-1
2018-19- 13-1
2017-18- 14-2
2016-17- 12-1
2015-16- 11-1
2014-15- 12-2
2013-14- 13-1
2012-13- 13-0
2011-12- 13-1
2010-11- 12-0

[Nashville Cat]

Is anyone going to the game in Nashville?

I'll be there. Here is some advice for fans coming down:

1. Parking at Curb Center is sometimes challenging. Street parking is limited and the small parking deck adjacent to the arena fills up quickly. I wouldn't show up at 645pm for a 7pm tip. Caveat being that it's holiday break which may ease parking situation.
2. Curb Center doesn't sell beer at games so if you like a couple brews beforehand you'll have to look elsewhere. Flytes Brewpub in Pleasant View, TN. is 40 mns from Belmont easy off-on I24 is my favorite within steps of carry-in food (pizza, wings, Japanese and Mexican).

Go Braves!

[Da Coach]

Nashville Cat, or any other posters or visitors, my wife and I will be seated in the 4th row section 114 (behind the Bradley bench); feel free to drop by and say hello.

[Nashville Cat]

Nashville Cat, or any other posters or visitors, my wife and I will be seated in the 4th row section 114 (behind the Bradley bench); feel free to drop by and say hello.

Will do!

[NashvilleBU]

The Nashville alumni group will be having an alumni event before the game. Feel free to stop by and join other alumni.

Pre-game Party
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
M.L. Rose
2535 8th Ave #107
Nashville, TN 37204
Free to Attend
Appetizers Included | Cash Bar

[BRAVE82]

This will be our best opportunity to beat them at their place as they have 9 newcomers (7 freshmen) on their roster. It's a rebuilding year for them so it would be huge to get this one in Nashville. I think we beat them in Peoria. Need this one if we want to win the MVC.

[BraveBird]

Just for fun, predicting BU a 70-67 winner in Nashville. What does everyone else think?

[Nashville Cat]

Just for fun, predicting BU a 70-67 winner in Nashville. What does everyone else think?

I'm going 69-64 BU

[Dub]

Bradley is definitely capable of winning on the road at Belmont… but it will take more than just solid defense and rebounding. We will need to execute on offense as well. I look forward to seeing where we are at with mental toughness level right now, and the leadership level on the court. Should be fun.

[Da Coach]

It should be interesting to see if the best defense in the MVC (Bradley) can neutralize possibly the best offense in the MVC (Belmont).

Offense-
Belmont is 2nd in points per game (77.2 ppg), 2nd in FG% (46.8%), 1st in 3-point FG's made (135 total, 10.4 per game- ranks 8th in nation), and 1st in 3 point FG% (41.2%- ranks 4th in nation), and #1 in assists/turnover margin (15.46 assists/game to 11.62 to/game= 1.33).
Bradley is 8th in points per game (69.2 ppg), 6th in FG% (45.4%), 4th in 3-point FG's made (110 total, 8.5 per game), and 2nd in 3-point FG% (36.5%), and 10th in assists/turnover margin (13.15 assists/game to 14.00 to/game= 0.94)

Defense-
Bradley is #1 in points allowed (59.5 ppg), #1 in FG% allowed (38.5%), 6th in 3ptFG allowed (85, 6.5 per game), and 5th in 3ptFG% allowed (31.3%).
Belmont is #11 in pts allowed (73.0 ppg), #12 in FG% allowed (45.7%), 10th in 3ptFG allowed (97, 7.5 per game) & 11th in 3pt FG% allowed (36.7%).

I think the key to winning the game will be Bradley's ability to defend the perimeter, and hope their 3-point shooters don't get hot. Belmont gets a relatively low percentage of their points in the paint, while Bradley defends well in the paint. So Belmont will probably be depending on perimeter shooting to try to win the game..

[Nashville Cat]

BU must limit Belmont offensive rebounds and eliminate 2nd chance points.