Bradley and UNI in the NIT

Valley Teams Looking for Postseason Success

(Wichita, KS) – The ‘Big Dance’ begins on Thursday but Bradley and UNI are playing postseason basketball on Wednesday. The Braves host North Alabama and the Panthers visit Southern Methodist in National Invitation Tournament play. Bradley is participating in its twenty-second NIT and UNI is involved in its fifth.

This is the seventh time Brian Wardle has guided a team into postseason play. His Green Bay teams participated in the CIT and twice went to the NIT. Bradley is playing in its third straight NIT after qualifying for the 2019 and 2020 (canceled) NCAA Tournament.

Ben Jacobson is taking his third team to the NIT. Jacobson is 2-2 in previous participation. Under the Valley’s longest tenured coach the Panthers are 10-8 in postseason play. ‘Jake’ is 4-4 in the NCAA Tournament and 4-2 in the CIT.

The Games

Bradley and UNI have formidable foes.

Northern Iowa’s date with SMU will be a challenge. The Mustangs (23-10) are a 10.5 point favorite and a top 50, Kenpom.com team. Coach Andy Enfield became a household name, coaching the ‘Dunk City’ Floria Gulf Coast team of 2012-13. After eleven seasons at USC, this is Enfield’s first in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

While the Mustangs finished fourth in the ACC, they struggled during the season’s closing weeks, winning four their last nine games. SMU is 39th nationally in scoring (80.0 ppg) and in rebounds per game (38.4).

Bradley entertains the ASUN’s North Alabama. The Braves (26-8) will be playing without starting guard Zek Montgomery who is sitting out postseason play. Initially, Darius Hannah was following a similar path, but Hannah changed his mind and will play Wednesday night.

North Alabama (24-10) was the ASUN co-champion and lost the tournament final.

Bradley tips at 7 pm and the Panthers start at 8 and both games can be seen on ESPN+.

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