Can Bradley Repeat as Tournament Champs?

Dave Reynolds Says ‘Yes’

(St. Louis, MO) – Bradley is the defending Arch Madness champion and beat writer Dave Reynolds says the Braves can repeat as tournament champs. Reynolds says the return of Elijah Childs to the Bradley lineup gives them as good a chance as anyone to repeat their tournament title.

Childs’ surprising return to the Bradley lineup has resulted in two, 19-point performances and two straight wins. Bradley (17-9, 8-5) trails both Loyola and Southern Illinois by one game and is alone in fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.

They travel to Southern Illinois on Saturday.

The hall-of-fame sportswriter for the Peoria-Journal-Star and has covered the Braves for decades. Reynolds (@DaveReynolds2) says he was mildly surprised by Childs’ return to the Bradley line-up, but admits he makes them a significantly better team.

 

 

While the Braves have battled injuries, senior guard Darrell Brown has soldiered on. The program’s eighth leading all-time scorer can be hot and cold but he is a warrior and has learnd to take the big shots and carry a heavy load for coach Brian Wardle.

Reynolds says Brown came to Bradley when the program was down and has been a very good Bradley Brave.

 

 

Can They Repeat as Tournament Champs?

Reynolds says depth, which has been elusive to Bradley this season is finally on their side. The return of Childs gives them nine dependable players and Wardle has made masterful use of the players he’s had available.

The Valley veteran observer says Loyola University Chicago and the Braves have the kind of depth that could give league-leading Northern Iowa troubles in St. Louis.

 

 

While Brown and Childs are the headliners, Wardle has two rim protectors that clog the middle. Neither Koch Bar nor Ari Boya are big time scorers but both block shots and give energy to the defending tournament champions.

 

A Very Competitive League   

Saturday’s opponent has surprised people. SIU was picked tenth in the preseason poll and they are tied for second place. Likely ‘Freshman of the Year’ Marcus Domask has been quite a find. He is the Valley’s seventh leading scorer (14.9) and tenth leading rebounder (5.9) and is tied with Northern Iowa’s A.J. Green for minutes played (36.4).

League teams (other than winless Evansville) have won 48 of 58 home games (.827). Three of Bradley’s final five games are on the road.

Reynolds believes the Braves have a realistic shot at second or third place in the final standings.

 

 

The Braves lead the Valley in defensive field goal percentage and are in a three-way tie for most blocked shots. Wardle demands defensive effort and his team leads the conference in offensive rebounding percentage.

Reynolds says after last year’s success Wardle seems to be a more relaxed head coach, John Higgins is his favorite MVC referee and despite being a Midwesterner, he is a Yankees’ fan. Our entire interview with the hall of famer is available on all the usual platforms.

With Arch Madness approaching, Bradley has a great chance to repeat as tournament champs.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo courtesy of bradleybraves.com.