Belmont isn't going to back down from a challenge. That's not what it's known for.

The Bruins have built a reputation on competing fearlessly, regardless of the opponent or the logo on the jersey across from them. That mentality has been on full display early this season, as Belmont has already faced a daunting slate that includes Oklahoma, Ohio State, Tennessee and Kentucky, with Duke still waiting on deck.

For most mid-major programs, facing even one or two Power Four opponents can be a lot. Belmont isn't one of them.

It understands and accepts the challenge, but even head coach Bart Brooks admits the stretch looks overwhelming on paper.

"Brief moments of insanity, probably,” Brooks said with a laugh as he mentioned what went into creating this schedule.

But there is a method to the madness.

The ultimate goal is an NCAA Tournament birth. For mid-major programs like Belmont, the path to March Madness is rarely straightforward. At-large bids are scarce, and the margin for error is razor thin. More often than not, winning a conference tournament feels like a necessity.

For Belmont, it wanted to give itself a chance outside of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament come March. That meant challenging itself against some of the best teams in the nation — even if the results didn’t always favor the Bruins.

"It's a challenge in the record column," Brooks said. "But what this does, is it prepares us. If we take care of our business and we play great in March and win our conference tournament, we're prepared. We're going to be very ready for whoever we play in the NCAA tournament."

The early losses haven’t shaken the belief inside the locker room. Instead, they’ve reinforced what Belmont believes it can become.

Senior guard Tuti Jones sees the demanding schedule as a reflection of the program’s identity rather than a gamble.

“We have a winning culture, we have great coaches, and a great group of girls that love to win,” Jones said. “So we just come out there and we compete every day.”

That mindset has been tested repeatedly against elite competition. In close games and physical battles, Belmont has shown it can match intensity, execution and effort, even if it hasn’t yet found a way to close out victories late.

Jones believes those moments, even as difficult as they are, are shaping the team in ways that will matter later in the season.

“We have to play together and we have to stay the course,” she said. “There’s going to be adversity, no matter who we’re playing. So we just have to play good basketball at the end of the day.”

Brooks shares that same outlook, emphasizing that the program refuses to define itself solely by wins and losses, especially in November and December.

“You can’t live and die with the results in this business,” Brooks said. “There’s growth that happens in a loss, and there’s growth that can happen in things that need to be fixed in a win.”

For Belmont, each game has become part of a larger process.

It's focused on improvement and an understanding on what it takes to win at the highest level.

“We would love to learn through winning,” Brooks said. “But we’re going to have to learn through these experiences and these moments where we’re not getting the job done on the scoreboard. We’re still finding areas of growth and celebrating some of the things that are happening."

The approach is intentional.

Brooks doesn't want to turn parts of losses into small wins, but he also understands that progress isn’t always reflected immediately. It isn't something that's linear.

“I'm not a moral victory coach,” he said. “But we’re still process-driven, and there’s a process to this. And we know we’re in the middle of that process.”

Still, the coach believes the schedule has revealed something equally important: belief.

“I think it does show that we’ve got a lot of players who believe we can play in these games,” Brooks said. “They came here to play against these teams and to play in these games.”

That belief fuels the excitement surrounding each matchup. Whether it’s Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Duke, Belmont takes advantage of the opportunity to measure itself against the best.

“There’s an excitement when we get to play against those teams,” Brooks said. “When you’re a competitor and you want to measure yourself against the best, getting a chance to play in these games is your ultimate measuring stick.”

The Bruins have been competitive, often within striking distance late, but Brooks acknowledges the next step is learning how to finish.

“We’ve been close, we’ve competed, we’ve battled,” he said. “We just haven’t found a way to get over the hump. That’s really our charge as a program. As a head coach, I’ve got to figure out a way to be a little bit better to get our kids an opportunity to win these games down the stretch.”

Jones believes that growth will come. The experience gained now will pay off when it matters most.

“It’s been really helpful,” she said. “I think the more you play hard teams, the better it will be at the end of the day and at the end of the year.”

For Belmont, the early-season gauntlet isn’t about moral victories or short-term validation. It’s about becoming tougher, sharper and more prepared for March, regardless of how difficult the road may be.

And backing down has never been part of the Bruins’ plan.