NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - On the heels of a 10th postseason appearance in the last 11 years, Belmont University men's basketball head coach Rick Byrd released the program's 2016-17 non-conference schedule Thursday.

Having won 15 conference championships since 2006 – third-most nationally over that span behind only Kansas and Gonzaga – Belmont has earned a reputation as one of the most respected programs in the country.

Annually playing one of the nation's most demanding schedules – Belmont's 132 road/neutral victories over the last 11 years ranks top 10 nationally – the Bruins' slate features 13 contests against postseason teams from a year ago and 10 against RPI Top 150 programs.

"It seems like I say this every year, but our pre-conference schedule will again present quite the challenge," Byrd said. "You hope playing tradition-rich programs in great basketball environments brings out your best, and provides memorable experiences for the players. Our scheduling philosophy has always been that challenging ourselves early in the season will better prepare us for OVC play – the most important part of our schedule."

Belmont faces Nashville neighbor and Southeastern Conference stalwart Vanderbilt Nov. 15 at venerable Memorial Gymnasium. The Commodores won 19 games a year ago, earning an NCAA Tournament at-large berth. The Bruins will be reacquainted with Vanderbilt first-year head coach Bryce Drew; Belmont faced Drew's Valparaiso-led squad twice in 2015-16. Belmont last played Vanderbilt during the 2010-11 season – a historic 30-5 campaign for the Bruins.

"We appreciate the opportunity to play Vanderbilt in the first of a two year, home-and-home series; it should bring a great deal of excitement to each campus and to the Nashville community," Byrd said.

The Bruins open their home schedule at the Curb Event Center Nov. 19 against Conference USA stronghold Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers, who won 18 games last season, welcome former Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury to the sidelines. This marks the third meeting of a four-game home-and-home series; Belmont won last season, 90-85, at the Curb Event Center.

Following the Thanksgiving holiday, Belmont travels to the Ocean State to face perennial Atlantic 10 Conference power Rhode Island. Led by E.C. Matthews and Hassan Martin, the Rams have been tabbed Preseason Top 25 by virtually every national publication, including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, and Yahoo. It marks the season straight season Belmont will face a team coached by a member of the Hurley family (Dan Hurley, Rhode Island; Bob Hurley, Arizona State).

November closes with the first of two meetings with Lipscomb in a one-week span. It will mark the ninth and 10th head-to-head meetings between Byrd and former Belmont player/assistant coach and current Lipscomb head coach Casey Alexander.

In between, Belmont heads west to the City of Angels to face Pepperdine of the West Coast Conference. The Waves won 18 games last season – including a season sweep of Saint Mary's (CA) - and earned postseason play in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

Following semester exams, the Bruins' rigorous examination continues with a Dec. 14 home date versus Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders won the Conference USA tournament championship and return all-conference forward Reggie Upshaw. In what has quickly grown into appointment basketball for area fans, Belmont has won seven of the last nine meetings in the series.

Belmont will then depart for Wisconsin, for road dates at Milwaukee and Green Bay of the Horizon League. The Panthers won 20 games last season – including a victory at Wisconsin – while the Phoenix won 23 games and reached the NCAA Tournament in head coach Linc Darner's first campaign.

The stretch closes with another Horizon League contest, as Cleveland State visits the Curb Event Center Dec. 22.

The Bruins will also take on two-time National Champion Florida. The Gators won 21 games in 2015-16 and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Postseason NIT. Head coach Mike White welcomes graduate transfer Canyon Barry, son of NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry.

Non-conference play concludes with NCAA Division II program and Nashville neighbor Trevecca Nazarene. The Trojans, where former Bruin standout Alex Renfroe ('09) began his college career, are led by longtime head coach Sam Harris.

Due to extenuating circumstances, dates for games against Florida and Trevecca Nazarene are still being finalized.

A complete listing of conference games, home tip times, schedule of televised games, and games with live video streaming on the OVC Digital Network will be released in the coming weeks.

For a 14th straight season, the live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.

Byrd enters the 2016-17 season ranked sixth among all active NCAA Division I head coaches in career victories with 731.

For more information on purchasing Belmont Basketball season tickets, contact the Curb Event Center Box Office at (615) 460-BALL or visit belmontbruins.com.

Belmont University men's basketball is one of only three NCAA Division I programs to earn seven automatic berths to the NCAA Tournament in the last 11 years (Gonzaga, Kansas). The Bruins have won 15 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has received national Top 25 poll votes and earned a Top 100 RPI each of the last six seasons. Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 14 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is one of only three NCAA Division I programs to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence.