By Katie Vulich
A loss to Fairmont State in the Final Four of the NCAA Division II Championships ended last season, and it’s a hurt that lingers for returning Knights.
“Most difficult locker room I have been in in my life, and I have been in some difficult locker rooms, state championships, Final Fours at Louisville, Final Fours at Bellarmine and that was the most difficult locker room, but I bring that up not to be negative,” coach Scott Davenport said. “That hurt has fueled them for the last six or seven months.”
2017 All-American and 2018 preseason All-American Adam Eberhard said: “Last season’s results really don’t have much of an influence on this year’s team. If anything, it makes it tougher for us because we have a target on our backs. It’s a new team this year and we haven’t won anything. We try to accomplish our goals by getting better every day.”
Senior Brent Bach said: “We are taking it one game at a time because each are equally important. These things combined I have no doubt that we will be on the road back to the Final Four and hopefully bring home a National Championship.”
The team lost starters George Knott, Al Davis and Rusty Troutman but added Division I transfers Chivarsky Corbett and Parker Chitty and freshmen Juston Betz and CJ Fleming. Davenport said he is pleased that the newcomers are excited to become Bellarmine basketball players.
“My outlook on basketball has changed in the way that I don’t really look on my personal achievements but more at the team achievements. I’ve learned to enjoy playing basketball as a team more than individually,” Chitty said.
Corbett said: “Everyone here on the team loves one another, and we are all one. I am having fun playing team basketball and not individual basketball.”
2015 consensus All-American Jake Thelen also returns to Bellarmine as an assistant coach. Thelen played three years with Bellarmine and, in his final season, led the team to the Elite Eight. His responsibilities include recruiting, scouting, defense and coaching the post players.
“The best part about being back is being able to work without awesome student athletes,” Thelen said. “We have a great group of kids representing our basketball program and the university as a whole. We have 11 players back from a Final Four team. They know what it takes to win and set a great example for the newcomers.”
Bellarmine’s season started with an exhibition game against the Cincinnati Bearcats in Freedom Hall on Nov. 1. The game was historic because Cronin and Davenport coached under former University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino in his first season and all the team’s home games were played in Freedom Hall.
Davenport said planning started in May. Because Cincinnati is a Division I program, both schools had to clear the game with the NCAA. Normally, Division I teams are not allowed to play at a Division II venue. Because Freedom Hall is not on Bellarmine’s campus, the NCAA was willing to allow Cincinnati to play there.
“It allowed Bellarmine to grow its brand both as a university and as an athletic program on a grand stage,” Davenport said.
The Knights started the regular season with victories over Saginaw Valley State, Northwood University, Indiana University Southeast, Wayne State, Barry University, Lynn University and Lewis. The team’s current record is 6-0. The team is motivated and ready for the season ahead.
“We have small goals that lead to the bigger ones,” Eberhard said. “We try to get better every day and improve as a team. This leads to the bigger goals and accomplishments in this order: GLVC East champions, GLVC tournament champions, regional champions, and national champions. The motto for the team is family. We say [family] every day and it reminds us that everything we do, we do together.”
Bach said last year’s team was consistent, something this Knights squad is seeking. “We were overall a great basketball team, had great leaders and we all worked hard for the success we had. This year’s team is off to a wonderful start. Once we can get through an entire game with no letdowns, for example, turnovers and making all free throws, the sky’s the limit,” Bach said.