SIU heads to Peoria for a weekend showdown against the Gargoyles.
Bradley is #109 in KenPom and have a win at home against #101 Northern Iowa and a road win in their last game against #104 Drake. They also have a bad loss at home to #220 Howard. The Braves have played the 76th toughest schedule in the country so far this season.
Meet the Braves:
The Braves were a disaster down the stretch with injuries and off the court issues which led to a huge exodus of players including 3 of their leaders in possessions in Elijah Childs to Italy, Terry Nolan to Towson, and Sean East to John A. Logan. The Braves are 257th in the country this year in minutes continuity from last year (37.4%) and 237th in the country in experience (1.68 years). Bradley plays a pretty fast tempo as they're 59th in the country in average possession length on the offensive end (16.4 seconds).
On the offensive side, the Braves have been a good shooting team this season. Bradley is 93rd in the country in effective field goal % (52.1%), 82nd in the country in 3 point % (35.4%), and 124th in the country in 2 point % (51.4%). 35.3% of Bradley's total points come from 3 pointers, 83rd in the country. Teams aren't blocking Bradley much at all on the offensive end as they're 11th in the country in block % on offense (5.6%). The Braves are also 77th in the country in offensive rebounding % (31.9%). Bradley is really bad at taking care of the basketball this season. The Braves are 270th in the country in turnover % on the offensive end (20.3%) and 276th in the country in steal % on offense (10.3%). Bradley is also 334th in the country in free throw % (64.9%).
On the defensive side, the Braves like to grind out teams and they've been pretty effective so far this season. Teams against Bradley are averaging 18.5 seconds per possession on offense which is 345th in the country. Bradley is 46th in the country in effective field goal % against (46.3%) and 18th in the country in 2 point % against (44.1%). Bradley is also 63rd in the country in block % on the defensive end (12.1%). Teams are shooting 33.3% from 3 against Bradley which is middle of the pack in college basketball (178th in the country).
Bradley's leading scorer is 6'3 Junior Terry Roberts averaging 15.9 points per game. Roberts started his collegiate career at JUCO Florida Southwestern State College where he spent two years and finished as the school's all-time leader in steals and was 3rd all-time in assists. This season, Roberts has been an amazing addition for the Braves and is the likely MVC Newcomer of the Year. Roberts is 58th in the country in % of possessions when he's on the court (29.9%) and 69th in the country in % of shots when he's on the court (30.9%). Roberts is 379th in the country in 3 point % (29-76, 38.2%), 385th in the country in effective field goal % (53.9%), and 479th in the country in true shooting % (55.6%). Roberts is also 50th in the country in assist rate (32.5%) and 95th in the country in steal % (3.7%).
The Braves' leading rebounder is 6'9 Sophomore Rienk Mast averaging 8.1 rebounds per game. Mast came over from the Netherlands and was named to the MVC All-Freshman team last season and had some of his better games last season against SIU including 24 points in the Arch Madness loss. Mast is a big man that can shoot from outside, he's shooting 30% from 3 and has taken 60 3's this year. Mast is 210th in the country in offensive rebounding % (10.3%) and 149th in the country in defensive rebounding % (21.9%). He's also 259th in the country in block % (4.0%).
Bradley's best outside shooter this year has been 6'9 Junior Malevy Leons. Like Mast, Leons comes over from the Netherlands and played the first 2 years of his collegiate career at JUCO Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. At Mineral Area College, Leons was named NJCAA Division 1 Player of the Year last season and led his team to a 20-0 regular season before losing in the Elite Eight. This season, Leons is 91st in the country in 3 point % (28-63, 44.4%), 54th in the country in effective field goal % (62.9%), and 52nd in the country in true shooting % (65.0%). Leons is also 223rd in the country in block % (4.4%).
6'3 Senior Mikey Howell plays about 20 minutes per game but has given the Braves productive minutes. Howell played four seasons at UC San Diego (3 when they were D1) and graduated as the program's all-time leader in assists with 502. So far this season for Bradley, Howell is 81st in the country in assist rate (30.1%).
Past full Bradley/SIU games on YouTube:
1987:
1988:
2/29 Bradley 113 SIU 102 (Home)
1992:
2002:
2/25 SIU 84 Bradley 73 (Home) (Salukis win MVC)
3/2 SIU 66 Bradley 44 (MVC Tournament Quarterfinals)
2004:
2005:
2006:
3/5 SIU 59 Bradley 46 (MVC Tournament Finals)
2007:
3/3 SIU 53 Bradley 51 (MVC Tournament Semifinals)
2018:
2020:
2021:
3/4 SIU 73 Bradley 63 (MVC Tournament First Round)
Links:
Peoria Journal Star Message Board
Saluki Radio Rewind: Indiana State Win
Mike Reis interview with Kansas State Head Coach Bruce Weber
Bradley shot 59.6% at Drake (shot only 37.7%) - that will win a lot of games for you. Also had 10 more RBs.
Roberts and Mast will be a problem.
Excited about this one. Games at Bradley are fun.
Too bad it’s on at the same time as Green Bay/SF playoff game though.
Gonna be a tough game for the Salukis. Hope we can pull out a win.
Southern recruited Terry Roberts in the spring and it’s hard not to wonder what the team would look like with him in the mix. Hopefully Banks can continue his upswing and make that hypothetical less of an issue. Leons was another strong JUCO pickup for Bradley who has helped make them competitive.
I do think Henry’s injury absence for Bradley might open up better matchups for Domask as Henry is a bit like Murphy for Drake in terms of being a rugged, older wing defender.
Tough but winnable road game that would be really, really nice to get with the Ramblersx2 coming up next.
Can we please please please just win this one ? Please
Can we please please please just win this one ? Please
Surprised you’re not making that short drive over to Peoria for this one.
Should be a good one and this is hugely important for Southern.
3-6 in the Valley would be one hell of a hole for the Salukis to dig out of by the end of the week.
SIU needs to continue to take steps forward with it's consistency in effort and offensive output by others outside of Domask and Jones.
Can we please please please just win this one ? Please
Surprised you’re not making that short drive over to Peoria for this one.
Should be a good one and this is hugely important for Southern.
3-6 in the Valley would be one hell of a hole for the Salukis to dig out of by the end of the week.
I am at work or I would. We are at less than a skeleton crew right now
Almost time. I feel a big Jones/Domask game coming on. Those two gonna have to score a bunch.
Putrid start. One of the worst offensive SIU teams in a long time. JD is getting ate up by Mast.
Gargoyles shooting 90%
Of course lance falls on a layup and they come down and drain a 3. WTF.
Lance slips - cost us 2
KF misses 2 FTs - ouch
