Conference Ohio Valley Conference 2016–17 record 22–5 (15–1 OVC) Assistant coach Brian Ayers | Division East Division Head coach Rick Byrd (31st year) Assistant coach James Strong | |
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The 2016–17 Belmont Bruins men's basketball team represents Belmont University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bruins, led by 31st-year head coach Rick Byrd, play their home games at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee and are members of the Ohio Valley Conference in the East Division.
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Previous season
The Bruins finished the 2015–16 season 20–12, 12–4 in OVC play to win the East Division and the overall OVC regular season. They lost in the semifinals of the OVC Tournament to Austin Peay. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Georgia.
Preseason
In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head men’s basketball coaches and sports information directors, Belmont was picked to finish as regular season champions of the OVC for the third time in the last four years. Reigning OVC Player of the Year, Evan Bradds, was named OVC Preseason Player of the Year for the 2016–17 season. Taylor Barnette was also selected to the All-OVC Preseason Team.
Season
On February 16, 2017, the Bruins, with a win over Eastern Kentucky and a loss by Morehead State, clinched the OVC title outright for the fourth time in five seasons. The win also marked head coach Rick Byrd's 750th career win, 658 with Belmont.