College Corner: Belmont, Vanderbilt, Tennessee Men’s Basketball

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Ben Sheppard Named To MVC Preseason Squad, Belmont Picked To Finish Sixth

Ben Sheppard. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont University men’s basketball has been picked sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll and senior Ben Sheppard was named Preseason First Team All-MVC.

“These are interesting times for Belmont,” says Belmont head coach Casey Alexander. “We’re in a new conference, with a lot of new players, facing a lot of great teams also integrating new players. We’re excited to see how we measure up. As for Ben, any time you’re the best offensive player and the best defensive player on a good team, that warrants special recognition. Ben Sheppard is that guy for us.”

The last time Belmont was tapped to finish sixth or higher in a conference preseason poll was 2001-02, as the Bruins were picked seventh in the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason poll–Belmont’s first season in an NCAA Division I conference.

Sheppard established himself as one of the most impactful two-way players in college basketball last season. Named All-OVC First Team, Sheppard averaged a team-leading 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Belmont starts its season against Ohio University on Nov. 7 at the Curb Event Center in Nashville.

2022-23 MVC Men’s Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish:

School (First-Place Votes) 
1. Drake (52)
2. Bradley (1)
3. Southern Illinois (1)
4. Missouri State
5. Northern Iowa
6. Belmont
7. Indiana State
8. Murray State
9. Valparaiso
10. Illinois State
11. UIC
12. Evansville

 

 

Vanderbilt Picked To Finish 12th In SEC Preseason Poll

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics 

Despite a successful 2021-22 season, the Vanderbilt men’s basketball team was picked to finish 12th in this year’s SEC Basketball Preseason Poll.

The Commodores are coming off a solid season where they finished 19-17 overall, 7-11 in conference and made it to the NIT quarterfinals where they fell to the eventual champions Xavier. Vandy finished 11th in the SEC standings.

Vanderbilt will look a bit different without their all-conference star Scotty Pippen Jr. who left school to pursue a professional career. However, players like Liam Robbins, Quentin Millora-Brown and Jordan Wright will be returning for their senior years.

The ‘Dores kick off their season against Memphis at Memorial Gym on Nov. 7 in Nashville.

 

 

Vols Basketball Ranked No. 11, Three Players Named To Preseason Team 

Featured (L-R): Josiah-Jordan James, Santagi Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler. Photo: Courtesy of Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee basketball is set to  start another fantastic season as they’re ranked No. 11 in the Preseason AP Top 25 and have been picked to finish third in the SEC Preseason Poll.

It marks the fourth time in the past five seasons that Tennessee has been ranked preseason and the 17th time in program history that the Vols have been ranked as a preseason top-25 team. The No. 11 ranking is UT’s highest preseason ranking since being ranked No. 6 prior to the 2018-19 season.

The Volunteers spent the entirety of the 2021-22 season—19 weeks—ranked in the AP Poll last season, including rising all the way to No. 5 in the final rankings of the season.

Along with the team accolades, All-SEC stars Josiah-Jordan James, Santagi Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler have been named to the SEC Preseason teams with Vescovi being named the First Team and James and Zelger being named to the Second Team.

Tennessee is scheduled to face at least six of the AP Preseason ranked teams during the regular season: No. 4 Kentucky, No. 10 Arkansas, No. 12 Texas, No. 15 Auburn, No. 17 Arizona and No. 20 Alabama. The Vols start their season on Nov. 7 against Tennessee Tech at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.

SEC Predicted Order Of Finish
1. Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. Tennessee
4. Auburn
5. Alabama
6. Texas A&M
7. Florida
8. LSU
9. Ole Miss
10. Mississippi State
11. Missouri
12. Vanderbilt
13. Georgia
14. South Carolina

Steven Boero
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