Bellarmine Knights
2021-22 record: 20-13, 11-5 in the ASUN Conference
Head coach: Scott Davenport
Tenure at Bellarmine: 18th season
Career coaching record: 398-130
Home court: Freedom Hall
Starters: G Alec Pfriem, G Juston Betz, F Nick Thelen, F Curt Hopf, F Sam Devault
Bench: G Bash Wieland, G Garrett Tipton, F Langdon Hatton, F Eli Roberts, G Jaylen Fairman
Overview: Following its ASUN tournament championship, Bellarmine was the talk of the college basketball landscape last season as it was unable to secure NCAA tournament eligibility due to the four-year transition period from Division II to Division I. Although they did not touch the March Madness floor, the Knights turned heads around the country with strong play throughout the year. Perhaps their most impressive victory, a 53-50 win against Liberty, came in a tightly contested defensive battle that secured Bellarmine an ASUN tournament championship game appearance.
Coming into the 2022-23 season, Bellarmine is without its two leading scorers from last year in guards Dylan Penn and CJ Fleming; however, the Knights still return two starters in forward Curt Hopf and guard Juston Betz. The pair of returners combined for 14 points per game a season ago. In addition, Betz was named the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Team ceiling: Bellarmine, although tied for sixth in the ASUN preseason coaches poll, comes out of the gates hot and relies on its strong guard play to return to ASUN championship contention. However, with two years still remaining on their NCAA tournament ban, the Knights will not be playing in March Madness.
Team floor: Losing Penn and Fleming is too tough as Bellarmine struggles to win during conference play. A first-round defeat in the ASUN tournament throws head coach Scott Davenport’s team into a rebuild.
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