As Casey Alexander transitions to Kansas State as the new head coach, his old school will unfortunately take the fall.
Belmont will not participate in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), the team announced on Saturday.
"In light of recent developments, Belmont University men's basketball has elected not to participate in the Postseason NIT," the team's social media tweeted. "We appreciate the meaningful dialogue and consideration postseason Tournament committees have extended to Belmont throughout the year."
Belmont finished this season at 26-6 (16-4 in Missouri Valley Conference), topping the conference for the third time under Alexander. It was another successful season that showcased his success within the program, illustrating why the Wildcats were so adamant about reeling in the veteran coach.
"I'm incredibly excited to join the team at K-State and can't wait to get the journey started," Alexander said in his opening statement. "K-State has such a rich tradition and a wildly passionate fan base, and I'm grateful for the opportunity provided by Gene Taylor to be a part of it."
Alexander is 303-180 as a head coach, winning 73.5 percent of his games over seven seasons at Belmont and placing in the top four of the conference every season. He's gone 4-2 in NIT games with one Tournament appearance in his career.
Alexander joins a Kansas State squad that has finished in the bottom half of the Big 12 the last three seasons. It's been a rough ride with Jerome Tang over the past few years, going nowhere near the Elite Eight run he had in his first season. Alexander's consistency at the top is something the program hopes to replicate. He has a track record of developing players like Ben Sheppard and Ja'Kobi Gillespie. Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor expressed his excitement with the addition.
"What was evident throughout the search was the positive reputation of K-State basketball, and of the coaches we talked with, Casey emerged as the one who best fit our program," Taylor said. "He is known nationally as a tremendous evaluator of talent and one of the best offensive minds in the college game. He has built and maintained successful and winning programs at Stetson, Lipscomb, and Belmont, and his reputation of developing players and a strong culture all make him a perfect fit for us."
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