LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University men's basketball team opens its 2026-27 campaign Monday night with a road matchup against No. 24 Vanderbilt. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Memorial Gymnasium with the game streaming on SEC Network+.

GAME INFORMATION
Bellarmine at No. 24 Vanderbilt
Date: Monday, Nov. 2
Time: 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)
Location: Memorial Gymnasium | Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: SEC Network+
Radio: BellarmineRadio.com
Live Stats: Follow Along

Bellarmine enters the season looking to build on an eight-win improvement in head coach Doug Davenport's first season at the helm. The Knights finished 13-19 overall and 7-11 in ASUN play in 2025-26, highlighted by an 82-79 victory over Jacksonville in the opening round of the ASUN Championship. The postseason win marked Bellarmine's first conference tournament victory since 2023.

Bellarmine returns eight players from last season, including redshirt junior guard Kenyon Goodin, who earned Preseason All-ASUN recognition. Goodin started all 31 games last season, averaging 11.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He ranked third on the team in scoring while shooting 48.5% from the field. Junior guard Tyler Doyle also returns after averaging 10.0 points and a team-best 3.8 assists per game. Doyle started 23 of his 26 appearances while shooting 52.5% from the field. Sophomore forward Sam Donald adds another key returning piece after starting 29 of 30 appearances as a freshman.

The Knights add seven newcomers, including transfers Julius Gizzi and Tucker Tornatta. Gizzi averaged 12.1 points per game at Indiana Wesleyan, while Tornatta previously earned All-GLVC Freshman Team honors at Indianapolis. The freshman class includes guards DeMarcus Surratt, Roland Swan and Max Meagher and forwards Evan Harrell and Brady Klopfenstein. 

Bellarmine was picked to finish fourth in the 2026-27 ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll. The Knights will look to carry their postseason momentum into a challenging nonconference schedule that begins with three consecutive road games.

BELLARMINE VS. VANDERBILT
Series History: First meeting
Scouting the Commodores: Vanderbilt enters the 2026-27 season following a 27-9 campaign in which the Commodores finished fourth in the SEC, advanced to the SEC Tournament championship game and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Vanderbilt defeated McNeese in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before its season ended with a second-round loss to Nebraska. The Commodores return their leading scorer in junior guard Tyler Tanner, who averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game last season. Tanner earned Associated Press Preseason All-American recognition and was named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team.