SIU opens Missouri Valley Conference play with a home game against preseason favorite Bradley on Tuesday.
Meet the Braves:
Bradley left the MVC offseason with the most continuity from last year. They lost Malevy Leons to graduation (he's played 6 NBA games this year) but brought back Zek Montgomery from Rhode Island. The Braves are 36th in the country in minutes continuity from last year (56.5%).
Bradley's lone loss this season came on the road against #103 Washington State. Their quality wins have been neutral site games against #145 Texas State, #139 Wright State, and #153 Middle Tennessee.
This Bradley team has been better this season on the offensive end compared to the defensive end. The Braves are 2nd in the country in effective field goal % (61.0%) and 4th in the country in 3 point % (43.9%). They're also 45th in the country in 2 point % (57.5%). One area of struggle on the offensive end for Bradley has been turnovers. They're 263rd in the country in turnover % (19.4%) and 330rd in the country in steal % on the offensive end (12.5%).
On defense, the Braves are 77th in the country in effective field goal % against (47.0%) and 40th in the country in 3 point % against (28.2%). Bradley has had trouble creating turnovers on the defensive end, they're 282nd in the country in turnover % (15.2%) and 261st in the country in steal % (8.3%).
The leading scorer for Bradley is 5-8 Senior Duke Deen averaging 14.2 points per game. Deen spent one year at Panola College (JUCO) before transferring to Troy where he won Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. In his 3 seasons at Bradley, Deen has started 77 of 78 games and was named to the All-MVC First Team last year. Deen came into this season named the MVC Preseason Player of the Year. Deen is 153rd in the country in assist rate this season (27.7%) and 135th in the country in free throw % (14-16, 87.5%).
The leading rebounder for the Braves is 6-9 Senior Darius Hannah averaging 6.2 rebounds per game. Injuries have limited Hannah throughout his first 4 seasons at Bradley but he's been a difference-maker when healthy. This season, Hannah is 6th in the country in effective field goal % (78.1%), 7th in the country in true shooting % (77.0%, and 31st in the country in 2 point % (34-44, 77.3%). Hannah is also 290th in the country in steal % (3.4%) and 371st in the country in block % (3.6%).
Returning for Bradley this year is 6-6 Senior Zek Montgomery. Montgomery spent his first 2 seasons at Bradley before transferring to Rhode Island last season. In his Sophomore season at Bradley, Montgomery was named to the MVC All-Improved team. This season, Montgomery is 23rd in the country in 3 point % (11-20, 55%), 318th in the country in effective field goal % (57.0%), and 272nd in the country in true shooting % (60.9%). Montgomery has gone from a 58.3% free throw shooter in his Freshman season to a 84.2% free throw shooter so far this season.
6-7 Senior Christian Davis continues to make big strides for the Braves. Davis is 14th in the country in 3 point % (12-21, 57.1%), 22nd in the country in effective field goal % (71.7%), and 13th in the country in true shooting % (75.7%). He's also 80th in the country in free throw shooting (18-20, 90%).
Links:
SIU Game Notes
Bradley Game Notes
I think it is going to be an uphill grind at least until we get Aligbe back
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Great news from the Luke and Rodney's Bradley game preview. Rolyns has been practicing and plans on being available tomorrow night. We need his size and athleticism against a team like Bradley. He may be somewhat limited, but a great sign regarding the severity of the injury!
Perusing the stats, Hensley has taken the third-most shots this season but is only shooting 40 percent from the floor overall and 27 percent from 3. Southern could really use more offense from him with Elliott out, especially from beyond the arc. Otherwise, other guys need to get some of those shots.
As a whole, if you're not going to be a good 3-point shooting team, you need to finish at the rim more efficiently than Southern did last week. That will be a challenge tomorrow given Bradley's usual length and athleticism. And I'm sure Bradley will pressure Sharp and Mayo to try and make turnovers an Achilles heel, so hopefully those guys are ready to go and can make them pay if they over-extend their pressure.
It will be tough, but a win over Bradley could change the feel of the season in a hurry.
Bradley is 3.5 point favorites. It's in line with KenPom but feels too low for me.
Sucks we won't get Deen vs Elliott. No idea who we're going to use on Deen, guessing it'll be a team effort.
Bradley by a million.
Bradley is 3.5 point favorites. It's in line with KenPom but feels too low for me.
Sucks we won't get Deen vs Elliott. No idea who we're going to use on Deen, guessing it'll be a team effort.
most likely Mayo
Have a feeling we are going to get spanked…need Mayo and Sharp to limit turnovers at PG and some guys to find their shooting stroke and for the love of God stop missing so many bunnies around the rim.
Just GO DAWGS!
Just watching the first few minutes, it's so obvious we need an inside presence on offense that we dont have. Any word on Aligbe?
He just came in - 100% I hope.
We’re a bad basketball team
Was kind of excited to watch this game. I can tell I will probably turning it off soon.
zero flow.
can’t shoot.
can’t handle the ball.
ugly.
Can’t make a layup. This is one ugly offensive team.
We’re a bad basketball team
exactly what I expected after 90% of the team left...we would not have been great if they had stayed .. minus Xavier Johnson. Losing EE was a huge blow to this team. Mayo has been a huge disappointment. Aligbe has been the opposite.
