First “BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR”

Bradley Hosts Northern Iowa

(St. Louis, MO) – Saturday brings us the BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR in the Missouri Valley Conference, well at least the ‘first one’. Media members tend to overhype games and think the sport we’re covering is so important that everyone is watching.

While the reality may be a tad different than that, for Missouri Valley Conference fans, this weekend’s game between Northern Iowa and Bradley is huge. These two are tied at the top of the league standings with Loyola and Bradley’s (13-5, 4-1) only conference loss came AT Northern Iowa.

The Panthers missed going to last Spring’s NCAA Tournament when Bradley came from behind to beat them to claim the Valley’s ‘Arch Madness’ crown and the league’s automatic bid to the national tournament.

Not only will one of these teams fall out of a tie for first place, but if UNI (15-2, 4-1) prevails, they would lead the Braves by one game and have a tie-breaker in hand. Neither team has played Loyola (12-6, 4-1).

How Do They Compare?

Both teams have explosive offensive capabilities. Northern Iowa is the highest scoring Valley team (76.9 points per game) and Bradley is third (73.2) and they both are elite defensive squads. They are the top two teams at defensive field goal percentage. While UNI is outstanding (.414), Bradley is off the charts (.379).

Only the Braves and Southern Illinois hold opponents under 30% from beyond the arc.

They are the league’s top two rebounding teams and both are efficient shooting the three.

How Are They Different?

Bradley is a league worst .430 from inside the three-point line while Northern is second at .484. The Braves lead the Valley in assist/turnover margin, while UNI is ninth in turnovers. Both play effective defense, but Bradley does it by blocking over four shots per game and the Panthers are Valley worst 1.9 blocks per game.

How The Bigs Compare

I can’t wait to watch the play in the paint. UNI’s Austin Phyfe and Justin Dahl will bang inside all night with Bradley’s Koch Bar and Ari Boya. Phyfe and Dahl are bangers, but they have some finishing skill. Bar and Boya are shot-blocking leapers. The Bradley duo doesn’t look to score as much as the pair of Panthers, but both teams will vary their offensive sets. There will be times when the post player plays at the top of the key and others when they post up down low. This will be an interesting chess match between Bradley coach Brian Wardle and UNI’s Ben Jacobson.

Phyfe (9.5 & 7.5) and Dahl combine to score over 14 points per game and haul down over ten rebounds. Bar (7.2 & 8.3) and Boya score just under ten points and grab 11.5 rebounds. Where this interior  battle is vastly different is in the style of play and the resulting shots that are blocked. Bar and Boya have combined to swat 43 shots away from the rim. UNI’s whole team has only blocked 32.

Wardle funnels offensive players into spots where his rim protectors can intimidate.

The efficiency of UNI’s ‘bigs’ is startling. Dahl (.703) and Phyfe (.618) are second and third in shooting percentage. How the shot-blockers fare against the finishers could determine this first place battle’s outcome.

Other Match Ups

Game changing guards will be on display. UNI’s A.J. Green (see Super Sophomore Sensations) leads the league in Valley only scoring. The Cedar Falls native is averaging 26 points while making 4.4 triples per game. He has been unstoppable. Bradley senior Darrell Brown has that capability too. He has led BU in scoring for three straight years and can get as hot as anyone in the country.

The ‘bombers’ will be fun to watch. Bradley senior Nate Kennell and Panther junior Trae Berhow are both converting 47% of their shots from long distance. Kennell, last year’s ‘Co-Sixth Man of the Year’ (UNI’s Spencer Haldeman was the other) has more overall treys than Green (54-51), but trails him during league play (22-18). Like Green, Kennell has unlimited range.

Berhow has struggled with his long distance shooting in league play. He’s made just five of 23 deep attempts. Perhaps he has broken out of the slump making three of six against Valparaiso. Make no mistake, these two can make waves with the shots they can splash home.

Explosive wings will make their mark. Formerly known as a defensive stopper, UNI’s Isaiah Brown has made himself into a viable offensive option. The 6’7 senior can run the point, go get rebounds and still plays nasty defense. He is averaging nine points, while making 44% from deep.

Bradley’s Ja’Shon Henry is our new favorite player. He does explode for dunks, he blocks shots, defends like a dog and does a lot of those little things you love in a player. The 6’6 Canadian sophomore is averaging 9.9 points and over six rebounds per game. He is fun to watch.

Home Court Advantage

Bradley is a perfect 10-0 at home and have won 14 straight dating back to last year. Ironically, UNI is 4-1 in true road games. While Bradley dominates at home, both of these teams are battle tested and the environment won’t rattle either team.

Bradley has defeated Kansas State and Toledo, compared to Northern’s victories over South Carolina and #23 Colorado. These are composed teams. Certainly, playing in Carver Arena is an advantage for the Braves, but the Panthers won’t roll over just because they are playing in Peoria.

Depth Could Be Key

Injuries have decimated the Bradley line up. Leading scorer and rebounder Elijah Childs is out with a broken hand. 6’9 freshman Rienk Mast has missed the entire season and fellow rookie Stephan Gabriel was removed from the team. Wardle has nine players at his disposal if walk on Sean Houpt responds after a recent injury.

Even assistant coach Jimmie Foster is hurt!

While Jacobson can roll out Dahl, Spencer Haldeman, Tywhon Pickford, Noah Carter and Antwan Kimmons, Wardle has Boya, Ville Tahvanainen and Danya Kingsby. ‘Load Management’ will be key for Bradley. Earlier this week Wardle told me they have to keep their practices short and efficient. He can’t have his players expending energy in practice they will need in games.

This is the BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR, until the next one, but this should be an outstanding contest to behold. These are well coached, veteran laden teams that know what they are trying to accomplish. They are not looking for an identity, they understand what causes them success.

The winner finishes the weekend no worse than tied with Loyola for the Valley’s top spot, but they are done playing one another. That’s why this is the (first of maybe a few) BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR.

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