Bradley comes in as 7.5 point home favorites. KenPom has #102 Bradley beating #185 SIU 65-57.
Bradley's 2019-20 results from KenPom:
The Braves as a whole do a lot of things really well. They don't turn the ball over much at all, they're 57th in the nation in turnover %. The Braves get a lot of second chances on the offensive end as they're 30th in the country in offensive rebound %. Bradley is also 65th in the country in 3 point % and 66th in the country in block %.
The player to watch with Elijah Childs out for the Braves is Darrell Brown who plays the 81st most minutes in the country. The 5'10 guard does a lot of things well but his best attribute this year has been drawing fouls. He's 122nd in the nation in fouls drawn per 40 minutes with 5.7 and he's 139th in the country in free throw rate.
6'6 Senior Nate Kennell has been the Braves best offensive player this season. Kennell is 90th in the country in offensive rating and 57th in the country in 3 point percentage (42-92 from 3).
Another player to watch is Koch Bar, who is one of the most improved players in the Valley this season. The 6'11 Senior is 55th in the country in offensive rebound % and 161st in the country in block percentage. My guess is he's gonna give the Salukis a lot of problems in this one.
Links:
Did anyone else see that SIU is ranked #18th in the nation for scoring defense, and that we lead the Valley in defensive efficiency? I mean, we shouldn't be surprised since this is a Bryan Mullins-led team, but pretty awesome stat for halfway through year 1 of the return to Floorburn U.
As for Bradley, I don't see us getting our first road win there since they've proven to be a strong rebounding team where that is one of our biggest weaknesses. Nevertheless, if we want to avoid Thursday then the guys are going to have to win a couple games they weren't supposed to - this could be one of them.
Our rebounding number have gotten a little better in the last few games. I hope that continues.
One important stat to consider is the one that shows us winless when we give up more than 61 points.
I would love to pick off a win up there but we will need a big game from everyone. Carver has been a house of horrors for us for many, many years.
This would be a great road win, we are overdue to play a really good road game.
let’s hope it happens tonight!!
Cook is out again.
Bradley 6
SIU 4
15:32 1st
Really slow start on the offensive end
Pretty good defense. Can't get the short buckets to fall.
SIU 15
Bradley 11
12:26 1st
Couldn't ask for a better start on the road. Guys knocking down 3's and playing good D
Dawgs nailing some 3s now!
20-13 Lance makes 2 at the line
Suggs and Davis are aggressive in a good way, but they both will drive into 2 and even 3 men and then cause a turnover.
SIU 20
Bradley 17
6:46 1st
Effort is great so far. Benson with 2 fouls including an awful bail-out foul with 1 second on the shot clock. Really need him in games.
Too many drives have resulted in either a turnover or a blocked shot. Let's start kicking the ball out for some outside shots.
Defense looks better every game. Nice!
