Belmont 2026–2027 Season Preview
The board’s been quiet lately, I figured I’d kick off a series of MVC season previews. The portal cycle is mostly if not fully wrapped, rosters are close to set, and summer workouts are getting underway—so it’s a good time to start looking ahead.
I’ll start with Belmont.
2025–2026 Recap
Belmont was arguably the best team in the Valley last year, finishing 26–6 overall and 16–4 in conference, earning the #1 seed heading into Arch Madness.
Then it all unraveled.
Belmont got run out of the gym by Drake in their first game in St. Louis (100–79), and things only went downhill from there. Shortly after, the coaching staff bolted for Kansas State, and most of the core followed suit—Tyler Lundblade, Drew Scharnowski, Brigham Rogers, Sam Orme, and Win Miller all departed to other destinations.
What went from a championship-caliber roster quickly turned into a full reset
Onward to 2026–2027
To their credit, Belmont didn’t sit around.
They brought in Evan Bradds as head coach—a former Belmont star with strong ties to the program, coming over from Duke’s bench. It’s a hire that makes sense culturally, but like any first-year HC, there’s going to be some growing pains.
Bradds did a solid job keeping a few pieces in place:
- Jack Smile
- Eoin Dillon
- Jebez Jenkins
- Isaiah West
They also held onto redshirts Cooper Haynes and Graydon Lemke, so there’s at least some developmental continuity.
From there, it was about rebuilding through the portal.
Key Transfers
Ethan Sage (So. 6-7, F/G – Pittsburg State)
A classic glue guy. Doesn’t need touches to impact the game. Efficient scorer (~52% FG), strong rebounder for his position, and active defensively. More of a connector than a creator, but fits well in a structured system. If his shot develops, he’s a legit rotation piece.
Matthew Zobrist (So. 6-5, G – Bradley)
More projection than production. Limited freshman minutes (1.5 PPG), but has size and some shooting indicators. Profiles as a developmental wing right now—needs strength and consistency before becoming a reliable piece.
Aleksa Ristic (So. 6-3, G – Indiana)
Interesting upside play. Barely saw the floor at IU, but has a strong international background and flashed shooting ability in small samples. Feels like a “buy-low” guard with legit skill—question is whether it translates with real minutes.
Vincent Neugebaur (Jr. 7-1, C – FAU)
True size always matters. He’s a rim-runner, low-usage big who finishes efficiently (65% FG). Not stretching the floor, but rebounds, protects the rim, and gives you a legit interior presence. Likely more of a role/rotation big than a focal point.
Kayden Fish (RSJr. 6-6, F – Ball State)
Probably the most plug-and-play addition. Physical, strong frame, and produced at Ball State (7.2 PPG on good efficiency). Brings toughness, inside scoring, and some versatility. Should factor into the rotation immediately.
Incoming Freshmen
- Eli Brown (6-2 G)
- Cooper Knowles (6-10 F)
- Charlie Gersmehl (6-8 F)
Hard to project freshman impact this early, but Knowles and Gersmehl at least bring some frontcourt size to develop.
What Is Belmont This Year?
That’s the big question.
Under Casey Alexander, Belmont had a clear identity—efficient offense, spacing, and experience-driven execution.
Now? It’s a mix of:
- Returning role players
- Developmental transfers
- A first-year head coach
This feels like a bridge year roster more than a finished product, but what roster isn’t these days?
There are some intriguing pieces here—especially if a guy like Ristic hits or Sage hit—but there’s no proven go-to option, and they lost a ton of high-level production.
Outlook
In this era, it’s tough to make firm projections this early—but on paper:
- They’ve got depth and some versatility
- They’ve got size that can compete in the league
- But they lack proven high-level production and star power (is this the Jack Smiley year)
That usually shows up over the course of an MVC season.
Pre-Season, this feels like a middle-of-the-pack team with some upside. If things click, they could push toward the upper half—but replacing that much talent isn’t easy.
Preseason range: 6–9 in the Valley
Final Thought
Belmont isn’t down long-term—it’s just a reset year. The Bradds hire could pay off, but 2026–2027 looks more like a “figure it out” season than a true title push.