PEORIA, Ill. – A new season of Bradley Braves men’s basketball is a little more than a month away.
This year’s team will feature numerous young faces to the program, with head coach Brian Wardle saying the Braves will feature eight freshmen and sophomores on the roster. Those include two local players; Deitrich Richardson of Peoria Manual and Matthew Zobrist of Metamora.
Last season, the Braves finished 28-9 overall and 15-5 in Missouri Valley Conference play, falling to Drake in the championship game of Arch Madness, and to Chattanooga in the NIT quarterfinals.
At Missouri Valley Conference Media Day on Monday hosted by Field of 68, Braves’ coach Brian Wardle says he’s excited to build the team and its culture back up.
“I do think it’s a one day, one week at a time with this team, and I think we’ll get better as the season goes on,” Wardle said.
The season starts November 3rd in South Carolina against Saint Bonaventure of the Atlantic 10 in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. Wardle says the opening game will help see how the team looks this year.
“That’s going to be a great test for us, first game of the year,” Wardle said. “They’re going to expose us, and that’s what you want in the early season for us.”
Wardle says he is still in the process of determining lineups and leadership roles on the team. He expects to have a good picture of the Braves’ potential by Christmastime.
A preseason poll has yet to be conducted.
Comments