It’s almost Bruin time.
Men’s basketball kickstarts its season Nov. 6 against Georgia State University at the Curb Event Center.
The Bruins travel to Greenville, South Carolina, on Nov. 10 to play Furman University.
Furman returns seven of its top players from a team that made the Round of 32 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament and defeated the Bruins 89-74 last season.
The Bruins’ most difficult game then happens on Nov. 17 when they travel to Tucson, Arizona to play the University of Arizona.
The biggest struggle for the Bruins will be First-Team All-Pac-12 center Oumar Ballo.
Ballo is 7-foot and 260 pounds and isn’t afraid to dominate opposing big men.
The Bruins will have to rely on sophomore center Malik Dia to control the paint.
Belmont is known to shock bigger opponents on the road, such as when it defeated the University of North Carolina in 2014.
Can the Bruins do it this year?
Immediately after returning from a tournament in Philadelphia, the Bruins will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to start Missouri Valley Conference play against the University of Northern Iowa on Nov. 29.
The Panthers are a favorite to win the conference as they return star players Bowen Born, who was Second-Team All-MVC, and Tytan Anderson, who led the MVC with 11 double-doubles.
The Bruins’ MVC home opener will be Dec. 2 against Valparaiso University.
The Bruins then pause conference play to participate in the heated Battle of the Boulevard against Lipscomb University on Dec. 6.
Belmont’s six-game winning streak over the Bison was snapped last season with some additional drama afterwards.
After winning off a Jacob Ognacevic game-winning layup, the Lipscomb student section stormed the court.
Will the Belmont student section do the same at the Curb Event Center this season if the Bruins win?
After being swept by Drake University last season, the Bulldogs enter the Curb Event Center on Jan. 7.
Drake retained Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year Tucker Devries, who averaged 18.6 points and 5.7 rebounds.
After barely losing to the University of Miami in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, there’s no doubt the Bulldogs will be hungry to make the tournament again.
On Jan. 31, the Bruins aim for revenge against Indiana State University.
In the 2023 MVC Tournament, Indiana State barely escaped with the victory, ending Belmont’s hopes at an automatic bid.
On Feb. 7, The Bruins will take on heated rival Murray State University at what should be a loud Curb Event Center.
Senior Day is on March 3 where the Bruins will honor senior guard Keishawn Davidson and graduate forward Jayce Willingham.
The next weekend, Belmont travels to St. Louis to compete in the 2024 Arch Madness.
With a couple wins, the Bruins could make their first March Madness appearance since 2019.
Can it happen?
Only time will tell.
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This article was written by Ty Wellemeyer