Belmont University has declined an invitation to participate in the NIT basketball tournament, the school announced Saturday, just one day following the departure of longtime head coach Casey Alexander to Kansas State.
The 53-year-old Alexander, who previously played at Belmont, recently signed a five-year deal to lead the Kansas State program after spending seven seasons guiding his former school.
Under Alexander’s leadership this season, the Bruins compiled an impressive 26-6 record and secured the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title in 2026. However, their postseason hopes were dashed when they lost to Drake during the conference tournament.
The university released a statement explaining their decision: “In light of recent developments, Belmont University men’s basketball has elected not to participate in the Postseason NIT. We appreciate the meaningful dialogue and consideration postseason tournament committees have extended Belmont throughout the year.”
