Tuesday, January 18, 2011

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Three wins by a combined 102 points saw Belmont move up to No. 16 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll and among programs receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.

The Bruins received one vote in this week's national poll, to place among 20 programs receiving votes outside of the Top 25.

This marks the first time since Belmont University became an NCAA member institution in 1996-97 that the men's basketball program has received votes in either the ESPN/USA Today Coaches or Associated Press national poll.

Belmont men's basketball head coach Rick Byrd, who is among the 31 member voting board for the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, did not cast a vote for his team Monday.

"For many programs, getting a vote for the top 25 in the country would not be newsworthy, for some it would even be disappointing," Byrd said. "When it is your first ever vote, however, it is a milestone to be noted, and I am happy for our players and for Belmont to just be considered in the same company as some of the top basketball programs in the country. It is a statement about what we have achieved thus far, but there is a lot of basketball left to be played, and we should be mindful of the task at hand this weekend at USC Upstate and ETSU first and foremost."

Their spot of No. 16 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll represents fifth straight of appearance for the Bruins as well as the highest ranking for the team 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. 16 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.