Bellarmine's Division I debut delayed as program suspends activities

Bellarmine was set to make its Division I basketball debut next week, but they’re going to have to wait a little longer. The Knights just announced that “due to unforeseen circumstances,” their first three games will be rescheduled and they are pausing activities. (The press release doesn’t confirm what those unforeseen circumstances are, but I think we all know.)

Instead of opening the season against Chattanooga on Nov. 25, Bellarmine will start things off against Duke on Dec. 4 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Knights’ home opener in Freedom Hall, originally scheduled to be against Transylvania on Nov. 28, will now take place Dec. 9 vs. Chattanooga. The Transylvania game has been moved to Jan. 1, and trips to Dayton (originally scheduled for Dec. 1) and Chattanooga are being planned for December.

“This year has been a trying time for all of us,” said Bellarmine Director of Athletics Scott Wiegandt in a press release, “but 2020 has taught us that we have to adapt, and that’s what we have to do in this situation. Putting the health and safety of our student-athletes ahead of everything else is the right decision, and hopefully our fans cans adapt along with us.”

On Thursday, Bellarmine’s women’s team announced it is pausing activities — also due to those unforeseen circumstances — and hopes to tip things off in mid-December.