Bellarmine coach and players enjoyed historic journey

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Bellarmine players not only got to face returning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe in Rupp Arena, but they also played at UCLA and Duke. (Vicky Graff Photo)

I think as frustrated as many Kentucky basketball fans were at times with the Cats during Tuesday’s win over Bellarmine, I also think many UK fans appreciated the effort Bellarmine displayed in Rupp Arena.

For the Knights, it was part of a historic journey that has given players a chance to appreciate college basketball royalty.

Bellarmine has played UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium and Kentucky at Rupp Arena in the last two weeks. Think about that — games at UCLA, Duke and Kentucky. They also played at Louisville and beat the Cards.

Bellarmine coach Scott Davenport knew his team was facing an unbelievable challenge but thought it was worth doing.

“People say why, I said, ‘I believe that’s what a program is about.’ I don’t use the word culture. I use the word program because that means you have a plan,” Davenport said.

“Playing at the lights at Cameron and UCLA and Rupp Arena, that is a key component in playing because it puts your players first.”  

Bellarmine’s Juston Betz called it a “privilege” to play the games the Knights have in the last two weeks.

“From Duke to UCLA and then here at Rupp. We have definitely taken the history into account,” Betz said. ” At UCLA they have a hallway and Coach took us through it and it has all of their NBA players and their history. John Wooden’s pyramid of success is something we can all learn from and something we are striving to achieve in our program.

“It is an honor not only to play at these places but to play against the teams we’ve played because they have amazing players and amazing coaches, it is all first class.

“Our goal is to get better everyday as a program and as a university. There is no better way to do that than learn from Duke, UCLA and Kentucky.”

Appreciating basketball history is not something all young players, or fans, do today and to see a coach and team who understand the significance of what they got to do is refreshing.

One Response

  1. Pretty cool !! Grew up down the street and it’s a SMALL school ! UL fans will hear about that loss for decades !
    Like Centre beating #1 Harvard.

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