SIU heads back to Central Illinois to face Bradley for the first time this season.
Bradley started the year 3-3 without Rienk Mast but has gone 12-5 since. Their biggest win of the year by KenPom is a 74-55 home win over #117 Akron. Their worst loss is a 67-58 loss at #171 Murray State. Their only home loss this year is a 78-76 loss vs #129 Belmont.
Meet the Braves:
Bradley retained 57.6% of their minutes from last year only really losing Terry Roberts to Georgia.
The Braves play at the 264th ranked adjusted tempo in the country (65.6) and are 351st in the country in average possession length on the defensive end (18.5 seconds).
What Bradley does well:
Like SIU, Bradley wins with defense. The Braves are 69th in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (98.8) only behind SIU (57th in the country) in the Missouri Valley in defense. The Braves are 29th in the country in effective field goal % against (46.2%), 20th in the country in 2 point % against (44.8%), and 111th in the country in 3 point % against (32.4%). Bradley is also 70th in the country in turnover % on defense (20.7%), 64th in the country in steal % (11.0%), and 49th in the country in block % (12.2%). On the boards, Bradley is 46th in the country in offensive rebounding % against (25.0%).
The Braves back up their strong defense with good shooting on the offensive end. Bradley is 62nd in the country in effective field goal % (53.0%), 78th in the country in 2 point % (52.8%), and 92nd in the country in 3 point % (35.6%).
What Bradley doesn't do well:
On the offensive end, Bradley has had problems with turnovers. They're 200th in the country in turnover % on the offensive end (18.8%) and 303rd in the country in steal % (10.5%). If the game comes down to free throws, Bradley is 314th in the country in free throw % (66.6%).
Bradley's Key Players:
Bradley's leader in scoring and rebounding is 6'9 Junior Rienk Mast averaging 13.8 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. Mast came over to Bradley by way of the Netherlands and has been an impact player from his Freshman season on. Mast missed the first 6 games of the season with an injury but has been his usual productive self this season and has seen his minutes continue to rise as the Valley play has gone on. Mast is 277th in the country in 2 point % (86-146, 58.9%), 403rd in the country in offensive rebounding % (8.3%), and 28th in the country in defensive rebounding % (26.3%).
Mast gets most of the attention but 6'9 Senior Malevy Leons has arguably been Bradley's best player this season. Like Mast, Leons is from the Netherlands and started his collegiate career at Mineral Area College where he was named NJCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Player of the Year. Leons is 2nd on Bradley in scoring with 11.7 points per game but is also one of the top defenders in the Missouri Valley. This season, Leons is 264th in the country in 3 point % (33-83, 39.8%), 350th in the country in 2 point % (58-101, 57.4%), 147th in the country in effective field goal %, and 132nd in the country in true shooting % (61.5%). Leons is also 67th in the country in block % (7.1%) and 116th in the country in steal % (3.4%). Leons is currently ranked 5th on KenPom's All-MVC team behind Domask, DeVries, Sheppard, and Born.
With the loss of Terry Roberts to Georgia via the transfer portal, Bradley replaced him with 5'8 Junior Duke Deen. Deen spent his first collegiate season at JUCO Panola College before transferring to Troy University. At Troy, Deen won Sun Belt Freshman of the Year leading them to 20 wins and averaging 9 points per game. Deen has been the main 3 point threat on Bradley this season as he's 376th in the country in 3 point % (53-138, 38.4%). Deen is also 417th in the country in assist rate (20.2%).
Other players of note on Bradley include 6'9 Junior Darius Hannah. Hannah has received a much bigger role this season and is 145th in the country in 2 point % (56-90, 62.2%) and 47th in the country in block % (7.9%). 6'4 Senior Ville Tahvanainen out of Finland is 146th in the country in 2 point % (28-45, 62.2%). 6'6 Senior Ja'Shon Henry has battled concussion issues the last two seasons but has provided the Braves a spark in short stints off the bench.
Links:
SIU Game Notes
Bradley Game Notes
This one has me pretty worried. I'm not expecting a win, but I'm hoping they keep it close. Domask is going to have his hands full with Leons guarding him (6'9" and loooong). He always seems to struggle if they are able to put a taller/longer defender on him (especially in his post game). We are going to need some other guys to step up to alleviate some of that pressure. We are also going to need to crash the glass on defense...all 5 guys attacking the glass, forget the fast breaks, let's not give up 15+ offensive boards. They play 3 guys that are 6'9" and we play 3 guards that are 6'1" or smaller plus a 6'6" forward and 6'8" center.
We are going to need Scottie to play some minutes this game b/c I don't think Muila or Rupert are going to be able to handle Mast, let alone without fouling. I feel like Bradley is the team we match up the worst with in the Valley. Our blueprint is the Oklahoma State game (they had similar length to Bradley). Going to need a complete effort to pull this one out.
Yeah, Wardle is at the opposite end of the spectrum from Mullins in terms of favoring bigger lineups. Leons plays a lot of 3 and 4 for Bradley, so they like to go big/long, as they did when they had Childs and paired him with post players. Agree that rebounding will be especially key in this one. Bradley's guardplay is usually not overwhelming, so if Lance is having one of his better games and XJ is in good form, the Salukis should have an advantage there.
If you're going to win a regular season title, at some point you've got to do something a little special to earn it. Sweeping Bradley would qualify, as would winning in Des Moines. The margin for error is smaller after Sunday's loss, but it's still there for the taking.
Will we see a 2-big lineup tomorrow? I would think this would be the game to test it out because you know Bradley isn't going small.
Will we see a 2-big lineup tomorrow? I would think this would be the game to test it out because you know Bradley isn't going small.
I'd guess no. I think anyone hoping for major changes/lineup experimentation this late in the season is likely to be disappointed. If they wanted to, say, try Rupert at the 4 alongside Muila or Ebube, they likely would have tried that out much earlier. Mullins was also asked about that in an interview with Reis a couple weeks back and he did not sound very inclined to go that route.
Will we see a 2-big lineup tomorrow? I would think this would be the game to test it out because you know Bradley isn't going small.
I'd guess no. I think anyone hoping for major changes/lineup experimentation this late in the season is likely to be disappointed. If they wanted to, say, try Rupert at the 4 alongside Muila or Ebube, they likely would have tried that out much earlier. Mullins was also asked about that in an interview with Reis a couple weeks back and he did not sound very inclined to go that route.
I don't think you will see a 2 big lineup, but you might see Domask and D'Amico in at the same time with a big still in. They've done that a few times, they just don't tend to stick with it for very long. They may not have a choice depending on how Bradley plays. While Mast is on the floor, I don't think Mullins will have much of an option, but to play one of his bigs b/c Troy is not built to stop a guy that big (he also shouldn't have to be put in that position to begin with).
I think we should play all four of Rupert, Muila, Ebube, & Hornecker against this team. But what do I know?
If we somehow manage to miraculously sweep Bradley next month it will be beyond sweetly satisfying for this Saluki!
I know this will potentially give the hindsight gang (the few who don't post until after the game is over and seemingly only after wins) some ammunition but I would not only be surprised if SIU wins, but I'll be surprised if they keep it closer than 6pts, which is likely to be the line. That being said, I didn't think they would beat Indiana St on the road and they did. When this team plays 40 minutes of defense and is able to hit shots, they can beat anyone. This is one game, however, that I am not at all confident they can do that.
Will we see a 2-big lineup tomorrow? I would think this would be the game to test it out because you know Bradley isn't going small.
I certainly believe that with a month left in the season ( 8 conference games) we'll begin to see more and more of Scottie moving forward. As some folks here have mentioned, Big C at the 4 and Scottie at the 5 could prove to be quite beneficial. Clarence displayed excellent passing skills in last years NCAA Tourney. However, with this current staff, you must play defense and understand your assignments. See the ball, see your man, slide to help line, close out/box out on shots. Help on mismatches, get on the floor on loose balls.
It's going to be another MVC battle in Peoria. The Braves are extremely difficult to beat there, and will be looking to defend the home court. Marcus and Lance need some much deserved assistance. Whom will deliver it?
GO DAWGS!!!
Vegas says we lose. Most of you say the Dawgs will lose. I expect the loss also, but one thing about this team...they don't know when to quit, they fight back, they play well when behind and expect to win. We out-hustled ISU last Sunday, came back from 12 back and tied the game late. I don't expect that attitude to change. Banks, Jones and X put tremendous pressure on the ball and I love to see that Mullins tenacity out there from all the players. Go Dawgs. Prove Vegas and all of us are wrong. Go Dawgs!
This is such a tough position to be in after Sunday's fumble at ISU, but this is as close to a must-win as it gets if SIU has true title aspirations for the stretch run. Still tied at the top with Belmont, but now with Bradley and Drake (both of whom I think are better than Belmont) only 1 game back in the standings and 3 games remaining against both there's no margin for error.
Bring your lunch pails SIU, because this will be a physical, ugly battle, and it had better be, or our Salukis will have no shot of pulling this one out on the road.
--Insert something witty here--
It is easy to be negative after a bad loss. The thing is, look at our last 14 games or so, overall have been good. Bradley hasn’t looked all the great lately in my opinion. I’m scared of this one, but wouldn’t be surprised if we win. Let’s do it!
Some people have ideas for lineups and combinations that might lead to a victory and that is spectacular but this team that starts and the rotations that have changed at times depending on game situations has been pretty successful the last 14 games so I believe if the Dawgs come out focused they have a good chance to pull out the victory and if I remember correctly the starting 5 for the 2007 sweet sixteen team started a similar sized lineup and they were quite successful because the team now plays a similar style
