Nashville’s Belmont Bruins may have benefited from a pair of upsets by North Florida, who were clearly overmatched in the 2011 Atlantic Sun Tournament championship game. Belmont likely could’ve handled anybody the conference could’ve thrown at them, but a No. 6 seed?
Belmont won 87-46, forcing 20 more turnovers than they committed, to punch their ticket to the dance. UNF battled their way to the title game by surprising ETSU and Jacksonville, but the Bruins weren’t up for any surprises.
This will make the fourth NCAA Tournament trip for Belmont, and their fourth A-Sun conference championship. In 2008 they came one score short of one of the biggest upsets ever, losing 71-70 to the No. 2-seeded Duke Blue Devils.
Successful programs don’t tend to stay in the Atlantic Sun for much longer than 10 years or so. The Bruins have been around since 2001, dominating for the latter half of their stay. With runs like this, they might need a new home shortly.