Men's Basketball Receives Vote in ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont men's basketball is among programs receiving votes in the Jan. 17 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."

Belmont women's basketball received votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll the weeks of Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, 2007 – the other instance that a Bruin team sport received votes in a national poll.

Ohio State ranks first in both the ESPN/USA Today Coaches and Associated Press Top 25 men's basketball polls this week.

Belmont (16-3, 8-0 Atlantic Sun) returns to action Friday, Jan. 21 at USC Upstate.