Bellarmine Knights men's basketball

The Bellarmine Knights men's basketball team represents Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The Knights compete in the ASUN Conference and are currently transitioning to NCAA Division I. The team competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) from the conference's founding in 1972 through the 2019–20 season. They are currently led by head coach Scott Davenport and play their home games at Freedom Hall.

Bellarmine Knights
2022–23 Bellarmine Knights men's basketball team
UniversityBellarmine University
Head coachScott Davenport (16th season)
ConferenceASUN
LocationLouisville, Kentucky
ArenaFreedom Hall
(Capacity: 18,252)
NicknameKnights
ColorsScarlet and silver[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament champions
2011*
NCAA tournament Final Four
2011*, 2012*, 2015*, 2017*,
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
2011*, 2012*, 2015*, 2017*,
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
2009*, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2015*, 2017*, 2019*
NCAA tournament second round
1965*, 1989*, 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2015*, 2017*, 2018*, 2019*
NCAA tournament appearances
1963*, 1965*, 1969*, 1970*, 1977*, 1982*, 1984*, 1989*, 1991*, 2009*, 2010*, 2011*, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2016*, 2017*, 2018*, 2019*
*at Division II level
Conference tournament champions
GLVC: 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019
ASUN: 2022
Conference regular season champions
GLVC: 1991, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

History

The program began in 1950, coinciding with the opening of Bellarmine College.[2] The team played its first game on December 27, 1950, against St. Mary's College.[3] The team joined the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) in 1951 and remained in the conference until 1964. The Knights won the program's first conference title under Alex Groza when the team won the 1963 KIAC regular season and tournament titles.[4] In addition Groza was named the KIAC coach of the year.[4] That season also marked the first bid to the NCAA College Division, now Division II, basketball tournament.[5]

Over the past 10 years, BU became one of the country's premier NCAA Division II college basketball programs. The Knights won five Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) tournament championships in 2009–10, 2010–11, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 and won GLVC regular season champion in 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18. In NCAA postseason play, the Knights made 11-straight NCAA DII postseason appearances from 2009 to 2019, including four Division II Final Four appearances and won the 2011 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament.[5][6] The 2011 victory marked the first athletic national championship in the university's history.[7]

It was on March 26, 2011, that the Knights won their first NCAA Division II National Championship, led by guards Jeremy Kendle and Braydon Hobbs.[8] The Knights defeated BYU–Hawaii for the title, 71–68.[9] The championship game aired on national television on the CBS network.[9] An estimated 2,906 fans were in attendance for the championship game,[10] most of which were Bellarmine fans that had made the 900-mile (1,400 km) trip from Louisville to watch the Knights compete in the championship held in Springfield, Massachusetts at the MassMutual Center.

Division I transition

On June 19, 2019, the university's athletic program officially announced it accepted an invitation to join the ASUN Conference and transition to NCAA Division I beginning in the 2020–21 school year.[11] The transition has sent the Knights, a Division II perennial power during the first two decades of the 21st century, into a multiyear transition process.[11] During the four-year process to transition, Bellarmine is competing at the Division I level but cannot qualify for NCAA-organized postseason play (i.e., the Division I tournament and the NIT). The Knights can compete in postseason events not organized by the NCAA, currently the College Basketball Invitational and The Basketball Classic.[12][13]

After a preseason shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Knights ended up playing their first ever game at the Division I level on the road against the sixth-ranked Duke Blue Devils. It was a historic night for the program albeit in a quieter than usual Cameron Indoor Stadium. Despite staying close for the first half, Bellarmine ended up falling short to Duke, 76–54. Junior guard Dylan Penn entered the history books during the game, as he was responsible for scoring the first ever points in Bellarmine's history at the Division I level.

Two days after the loss to Duke, Bellarmine made a different kind of history for the program, which was undoubtedly more positive. On December 6, 2020, the Knights traveled to the doorsteps of Howard University and dismantled the Bison 84–63 to notch their first ever win at the Division I level.

Bellarmine had a very successful first season at the Division I level. They dropped their first two games of ASUN conference play to Lipscomb, but they did not let that deter them. The Knights rattled off 10 consecutive wins to send a strong message to the rest of the conference. They went undefeated on the road in conference play, with a 6–0 record. At one point, Bellarmine had the fourth longest winning streak in the country.

The Knights were so successful that their regular season finale against Liberty got moved to ESPNU, because it was a de facto winner-take-all game for the regular-season conference championship. Bellarmine fell short, 94–78, but they achieved a COVID sellout of over 2,700 fans.

The Knights were ineligible for the NCAA tournament and the NIT, but they were invited to the 2021 CBI Tournament. Held in Daytona Beach, Florida, Bellarmine defeated Army, 77–67, in the quarterfinals of the tournament, before falling short to Pepperdine, 82–71, in the semifinals.

After being picked to finish last in the conference during the preseason, Bellarmine finished their first Division I season with a 14–8 overall record, including a 10–3 mark in conference play that helped them finish second in the ASUN. They also recorded the first Division I postseason victory in program history. Forward Pedro Bradshaw and guard Dylan Penn were honored for their outstanding seasons, as Bradshaw was the runner-up for ASUN Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-ASUN First Team selection, while Penn also earned All-ASUN First Team honors.

Postseason

CBI results

The Knights have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their record is 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2021First round
Semifinals		Army
Pepperdine		W 77–67
L 71–82

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Knights have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 20 times; they have 1 National Title (2010), 4 trips to the Elite Eight and a record of 32-22 (.593)

Year Round Opponent Result
1963Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Oglethorpe
Austin Peay		L 49–57
W 96–86
1965Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		Norfolk State
Evansville		W 91–74
L 74–81
1969Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Alcorn State
Transylvania		L 75–76
L 64–65
1970Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Tennessee State
Transylvania		L 77–82
W 114–62
1977Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Eastern Illinois
Youngstown State		L 72–87
L 79–81
1982Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Central State
Wright State		L 61–63
L 86–87
1984Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Lewis
Cal State Bakersfield		L 87–93
W 81–71
1989Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		Ferris State
Kentucky Wesleyan		W 108–92
L 77–84
1991Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		Grand Valley State
Missouri Western State		L 73–78
W 94–83
2009Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		Kentucky Wesleyan
Lake Superior State
Findlay		W 76–65
W 92–83
L 86–89
2010First round
Regional semifinals		Central State
Quincy		W 70–66
L 61–66
2011Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National championship		Indianapolis
Northern Kentucky
Ferris State
Midwestern State
Minnesota State
BYU–Hawaii		W 84–70
W 87–82
W 86–66
W 70–64
W 81–74
W 71–68
2012Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Lewis
Findlay
Kentucky Wesleyan
Alabama–Huntsville
Montevallo		W 86–63
W 86–63
W 79–74
W 82–73
L 72–79
2013Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		Indianapolis
Southern Indiana
Drury		W 67–61
W 78–55
L 61–67
2014Regional QuarterfinalsIndianapolisL 75–80
2015Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Drury
Lake Superior State
Indianapolis
Minnesota State–Moorhead
Florida Southern		W 84–60
W 85–59
W 81–72
W 92–75
L 76–79
2016Regional QuarterfinalsFerris StateL 84–100
2017Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Wisconsin–Parkside
Quincy
Findlay
Colorado Mines
Fairmont State		W 72–61
W 93–64
W 84–66
W 92–72
L 68–79
2018Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals		Truman
Findlay		W 82–65
L 73–74
2019Regional Quarterfinals
Regional semifinals
Regional Finals		Walsh
Findlay
Southern Indiana		W 81–61
W 74–59
L 69–74

Record year-by-year
Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bellarmine College Knights (Independent) (1950–1951)
1950–51 Norb Raque 2–12
Bellarmine College Knights (Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1951–1963)
1951–52 Norb Raque 5–17
1952–53 Eddie Weber 9–13
1953–54 Eddie Weber 14–8
1954–55 Eddie Weber 8–14
1955–56 Paulie Miller 6–14
1956–57 Paulie Miller 13–11
1957–58 Gene Kenney 17–9
1958–59 Gene Kenney 6–18
1959–60 Alex Groza 7–15
1960–61 Alex Groza 11–17
1961–62 Alex Groza 11–11
1962–63 Alex Groza 21–61stNCAA DII first round
Bellarmine College Knights (Independent) (1963–1978)
1963–64 Alex Groza 13–12
1964–65 Alex Groza 15–8NCAA DII second round
1965–66 Alex Groza 13–8
1966–67 Jim Spalding 12–13
1967–68 Jim Spalding 13–12
1968–69 Jim Spalding 19–91969 NCAA DII first round
1969–70 Jim Spalding 17–101970 NCAA DII first round
1970–71 Jim Spalding 10–16
1971–72 Joe Reibel 9–17
1972–73 Joe Reibel 12–14
1973–74 Joe Reibel 12–13
1974–75 Joe Reibel 15–10
1975–76 Joe Reibel 18–7
1976–77 Joe Reibel 17–11
1977–78 Joe Reibel 16–101977 NCAA DII first round
Bellarmine College Knights (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1978–2000)
1978–79 Joe Reibel 14–124–4T–2nd
1979–80 Joe Reibel 17–97–32nd
1980–81 Joe Reibel 16–104–64th
1981–82 Joe Reibel 20–99–3T–2nd1982 NCAA DII first round
1982–83 Joe Reibel 13–145–7T–4th
1983–84 Joe Reibel 21–98–43rd1984 NCAA DII first round
1984–85 Joe Reibel 8–193–11T–5th
1985–86 Joe Reibel 13–147–9T–5th
1986–87 Joe Reibel 17–1010–6T–2nd
1987–88 Joe Reibel 11–176–10T–5th
1988–89 Joe Reibel 22–811–52nd1989 NCAA DII second round
1989–90 Joe Reibel 16–1110–8T–3rd
1990–91 Joe Reibel 24–614–4T–1st1991 NCAA DII first round
1991–92 Joe Reibel 17–1110–83rd
1992–93 Joe Reibel 7–204–14T–7th
1993–94 Joe Reibel 11–165–137th
1994–95 Bob Valvano 10–144–146th
1995–96 Bob Valvano 12–165–158th
1996–97 Bob Valvano 16–119–11T–4th
1997–98 Bob Valvano 17–1011–7T–5th
1998–99 Charlie Just 10–187–15T–8th
1999–00 Charlie Just 13–148–12T–5th
Bellarmine University Knights (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (2000–2020)
2000–01 Charlie Just 14–1311–9T–4th
2001–02 Charlie Just 12–159–11T–5th
2002–03 Chris Pullem 10–185–15T–7th
2003–04 Chris Pullem 9–186–148th
2004–05 Chris Pullem 9–184–169th
2005–06 Scott Davenport 14–1411–83rd (East)
2006–07 Scott Davenport 12–1511–85th (East)
2007–08 Scott Davenport 14–1411–8T–3rd (East)
2008–09 Scott Davenport 26–713–52nd (East)2009 NCAA DII Sweet Sixteen
2009–10 Scott Davenport 23–912–63rd (East)2010 NCAA DII second round
2010–11 Scott Davenport 33–217–11st (East)2011 NCAA DII National Champions
2011–12 Scott Davenport 29–416–21st (East)2012 NCAA DII Final Four
2012–13 Scott Davenport 24–812–6T–3rd (East)2013 NCAA DII Sweet Sixteen
2013–14 Scott Davenport 23–812–63rd (East)2014 NCAA DII first round
2014–15 Scott Davenport 31–417–1T–1st (East)2015 NCAA DII Final Four
2015–16 Scott Davenport 23–715–3T–1st (East)2016 NCAA DII first round
2016–17 Scott Davenport 32–417–11st (East)2017 NCAA DII Final Four
2017–18 Scott Davenport 29–316–21st (East)2018 NCAA DII Second Four
2018–19 Scott Davenport 28–514–42nd2019 NCAA DII Sweet Sixteen
2019–20 Scott Davenport 20–813–75th2020 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament
Bellarmine University Knights (ASUN Conference) (2020–present)
2020–21 Scott Davenport 14–810–32nd2021 College Basketball Invitational
2021-22 Scott Davenport 20-1311-53rd
Total:1084–812

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

  • Totals updated through 2020–21 season.[3][14]

Facilities

The Knights played their home games at Knights Hall in Louisville from the venue's opening in 1960 through the 2019–20 season. It has a capacity of 2,196 and also hosts the school's volleyball team.[15]

On November 2, 2020, the university announced a multi-year deal with the Kentucky State Fair Board to use Freedom Hall, located at the Kentucky Exposition Center near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, for men's and women's basketball home games. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Knights would have been able to seat only 300 at their on-campus facility. Freedom Hall's basketball capacity of 18,252 allowed Bellarmine to seat 2,700 for games in its first D-I season. Freedom Hall, which opened in 1956, is best known as having been home to Louisville Cardinals men's basketball from its opening until the 2010 opening of the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville, and was also home to the Kentucky Colonels of the old ABA.[16]

References
  1. Bellarmine Athletic Branding Draft (PDF). August 12, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  2. Kleber, John E. (1992). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 68–69. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  3. "Bellarmine University Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Bellarmine University. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  4. "OVAC Hall of Fame: Alex Groza". Ohio Valley Athletic Conference. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  5. "NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Records and Statistics: Division II men's basketball Championship" (PDF). NCAA. 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  6. Haeberle, Bennett (March 26, 2011). "Bellarmine Knights win Div. II basketball title". WDRB. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  7. Jung, Chris (March 24, 2011). "Bellarmine Will Play For National Title". Catholic Sports Net. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  8. "TRIO OF THE YEAR: Bellarmine's Benedetti, Hobbs, Kendle share College Notebook Male Athlete of the Year honor". News and Tribune.
  9. "Bellarmine Wins First National Championship". NCAA. March 28, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  10. Gallant, erik (March 29, 2011). "Your comments: D2 Elite Eight needed more time to grow in Springfield". MassLive.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  11. Hardwig, Greg (June 19, 2019). "What is the impact of Bellarmine joining the ASUN?". Naples Daily News. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  12. Sarah Ladd, and Tessa Duvall (June 19, 2019). "How will Bellarmine's leap to Division I impact the university's students?". Courier Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  13. Vannozzi, Russell (June 17, 2019). "Bellarmine set for jump to Division I, will join ASUN Conference". Mid Major Madness. SB Nation. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  14. "Men's Basketball Archive". GLVC. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  15. "Knights Hall". Bellarmine University. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  16. "Iconic Freedom Hall to become home for men's and women's basketball teams" (Press release). Bellarmine Knights. November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
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