‘Meet the Bruins’ at 6 Thursday

The men’s basketball team hits the court on Thursday, Nov. 5, for the second annual “Meet the Bruins,” beginning at 6 p.m. in the Curb Event Center. The event, presented by Pepsi, will showcase the 2009-10 Bruins for the first time this season as they compete in an open scrimmage with Head Coach Rick Byrd providing commentary.

“This will be a rare chance to gain insight about why Coach Byrd runs certain plays and his thoughts on the team while they play,” says Greg Sage, director of broadcasting and media relations.

In addition to seeing the male Bruins in action for the first time this season in the one-hour scrimmage, spectators can expect free T-shirts and prizes.

“As attendees arrive to the event Thursday night, they will be given either a blue or gray Belmont Basketball T-shirt, representative of support of either the Belmont ‘Blue’ Team or Belmont ‘Gray’ Team in the scrimmage,” says Sage. “Fans with the same color T-shirt of the winning team will receive a special prize from Pepsi.” Fans will also have an opportunity to shoot hoops with the team, as well as attend an autograph session after the scrimmage.

Sage says that although five seniors graduated last year, this season’s team is strong. “The Bruins possess size, quickness as well as their usual outside shooting prowess,” he says. The team will debut eight new members, including five freshmen.

Several hundred people are expected to attend this year’s event, and Sage predicts that additional students and faculty might come out as on-campus promotion has “significantly increased this year.” Future plans include a possible “Meet the Bruins” night for the women’s basketball team, which Sage says “has been discussed and will be reevaluated for next year.”