Tuesday, January 11, 2011

BOSTON - For the fourth consecutive week, Belmont found itself in the CollegeInsider.com's Top 25 Mid-Major poll. The Bruins moved up two spots, to No. 18 on Monday, in a poll released prior their win against Jacksonville.

Their spot of No. 18 represents the highest ranking for the Bruins since the Nov. 17, 2008 poll placed them No. 15. Their highest ranking ever came at the end of the 2007-08 season when they finished at No. 11.

Belmont's No. 18 ranking ranks at the highest for an Atlantic Sun member since Mercer later in the 2008-09 season. Following early-season upsets at Alabama and Auburn, the Bears moved up to as high at No. 10 in the consecutive weeks, the Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 polls. They dropped to No. 16 in the Dec. 8 poll.

In this week's NCAA Tournament projections, Belmont landed in Joe Lunardi's bracket on ESPN.com. The Bruins claimed a No. 12 seed, facing fifth-seeded Texas A&M. In Jerry Palm's bracket on CollegeRPI.com and on CBSSports.com, the placed Belmont in a 4-13 matchup with Missouri. The Bruins and Tigers have history, meeting on Dec. 30, 2003 in Columbia, Mo. The Bruins stunned the No. 22 Tigers, 71-67.

Belmont next faces Lipscomb on Thursday in the latest installment of the "Battle of the Boulevard." The games airs exclusively on ESPN3.com, the Atlantic Sun's first-ever ESPN3 exclusive event.Dave Weekley will handle the play-by-play while former Vanderbilt sharp-shooter Barry Booker will provide the analysis.