Independents report

SportsLine.com Report
April 15, 2000

Expectations were high for the Nashville-based school, which finished over .500 in its first year in Division I and returned basically the entire team intact.

Although gaining an NCAA at-large bid without a conference affiliation would definitely be unlikely, an NIT bid wasn't too far fetched, and would be a coup for the university.

Things certainly didn't work out that way.

Rick Byrd's team finished with a .250 winning percentage, going 7-21 and leaving many, including big-time Belmont supporter Vince Gill, wondering what happened to the team which looked so promising the year before.

Wes Burtner, who led the team in scoring as a freshman, did so again as a sophomore, but did have a little of that famed second-year slump, suffering through a few off nights as his shooting percentage decreased.

The season did see the emergence of B.J. Proffitt, who was not a fast starter like Burtner as a freshman, but flourished as a sophomore, shooting his way into the starting lineup to finish second on the team in scoring.

The season started off great, with wins over Eastern Kentucky, Austin Peay, and Milligan sandwiched around a loss to area rival Vanderbilt. From there, the season turned sour, as the Bruins lost 12 in a row, dropping games to eventual NCAA Tournament participants Auburn, Hofstra, Samford, Butler, Valparaiso, and UNC-Wilmington. Stetson, Virginia, Navy, East Carolina, and Middle Tennessee also added to Belmont's woes.

After briefly snapping out of the funk by winning three of their next four, Belmont finished the season by losing seven of their final eight contests.

A glance at 2001

The Bruins will look to put last season's nightmare behind them. Burtner and Proffitt will again spearhead the team's offense from the perimeter. The team will have to replace its point guard and center for the past few years, as Dougie Webb and Jeremy Kees will be gone, meaning Byrd can set a new foundation after last season's disappointment.

The Coach

Byrd has been at Belmont for 14 seasons, and will be entering his 20th season as a collegiate head coach. He's won over 300 games for the Bruins and has great job security. This upcoming season, Byrd will gain his 400th win in the coaching ranks with the team's third victory next year.

Who'll Be Back

Burtner will be the centerpiece up front, and is versatile enough to be effective inside and out. Sophomore Omari Booker had a sound freshman year and becomes the team's top post threat. Redshirt freshman Scott Blackwell, a 6-foot-10 center, will garner more of a role next season, as will 6-foot-7 junior Adam Sonn. Swingman Jay Lannin figures to see a ton of time on the court, backed up by senior-to-be Michael Couey. Proffitt returns at the two guard, but may have to swing over to the point if Tyrus Doss, Matt Roberts or any newcomer can't step up. Wil Howard-Downs, a redshirt freshman from Nashville, will also add backcourt depth.

Who's Gone

Kees and Webb leave sizable holes in the starting lineup. Kees led the team in rebounding, while Webb paced the club in assists. Backup center Jason Lathrem is also gone, while Ryan Steger, Davey Upton, and Jared Karnes, swingmen who provided depth and versatility, graduated from the program as well.

Key Newcomers

The Bruins signed three during the early signing period, getting commitments from Steve Drabyn, Adam Mark, and Jese Snyder as the first wave of 2000 recruits in a critical class in this season of mass turnover.

Drabyn is a 6-0, 175 pound, point guard from LaPorte, Ind. who was named the South Bend Area Player of the Year. The finest prep free throw shooter in the nation, he averaged well over 90 percent over his past two years.

In addition to his deadly ability at the charity stripe, his range extends to the 3-point arc where he shot .419 on 81 of 193 shooting. This sharp-shooter scored 22.3 points per game while dishing out 5.5 assists per contest for the 18-5 Slicers. He also joined future teammate Adam Mark on the Junior All-State Team.

Mark, another Indiana high school product from Bremen, Ind., adds good size and a great shooting touch to the Bruins' post play. At 6-8, Mark shoots well and is a top rebounder.

Snyder, who plays for Lenoir City (Tenn.) High School, is another solid shooter that should fit in well with the Bruins long-range, motion offense. As a junior, he shot .420 from the 3-point line and averaged 14 points and five assists per game. In addition, the 6-3 guard shot .830 from the free throw line.