Six home games, two regular-season tournaments and at least five contests against opponents that finished in the top three of their respective conference highlight the 2021-22 Bradley basketball non-conference schedule, announced by head coach Brian Wardle Wednesday.
 
"We are really excited to share our 2021-22 non-conference schedule," Wardle said. "As always, our goal is to schedule opponents that will both challenge us and best prepare us to contend for another Valley title. We will have an opportunity to face a high number of teams that will contend for postseason bids and conference titles, allowing our program to peak in a highly-competitive Missouri Valley Conference this season. Our team is excited to get started and we can't wait to play in front of the best fans in the Valley once again at Carver Arena."
 
The Braves will be challenged right from the start in 2021. After a home exhibition against Illinois-Springfield (Nov. 2), Bradley officially opens the campaign with a road contest at South Dakota State – who has won at least the Summit League regular-season or tournament title in each of the last seven seasons. It will mark the first time since 2009-10 against BYU that Bradley begins its year against a defending conference champion.
 
Bradley then plays its first two regular-season games of the season at Carver Arena against Howard (Nov. 13) and Missouri S&T (Nov. 16) before playing in its first of two regular-season tournaments at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. The Braves open against Colorado State on Nov. 19 with the Rams coming off a 20-8 campaign and a 14-4 record in the Mountain West. The three-game tournament wraps up on Nov. 22 with Brown, Creighton, Colorado, Duquesne, Northeastern and Southern Illinois as potential opponents in the final two rounds.
 
The Braves return to the mainland with back-to-back home games against Maine (Nov. 27) and SIU Edwardsville (Dec. 4). Bradley then travels to face Toledo (Dec. 7) – the defending regular-season MAC Champions – before hosting Atlantic 10 foe Saint Joseph's on Dec. 18.
 
BU is then set for its second in-season tournament of the campaign, competing at the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas – marking the first time since 2014 that Bradley will feature in two regular-season events. The Braves open against Sam Houston State on Dec. 21 – who is coming off a 19-9 season – before playing either host UTEP or North Carolina Central on Dec. 22.
 
Bradley wraps up its non-conference campaign on Dec. 29 against Bellarmine. The Knights enter Carver Arena after a strong second-place finish in the Atlantic Sun one season ago before Bradley turns its attention toward the Missouri Valley Conference schedule in 2022.
 
"Coming off last season, there were many challenges in scheduling," Wardle said. "So many teams played partial or very limited schedules – including three of our opponents who played 12 or fewer games – making it very difficult to forecast the level of competition. Our road games and two tournaments should be extremely challenging as we play a number of quality teams that will contend for conference championships. Our home campaign is highlighted by two teams in Saint Joseph's and Bellarmine that are veteran and experienced programs with a high ceiling this year."
 
Braves' season tickets are currently on sale, starting at just $125. Deposits can be made online here until Wednesday, September 15. Those that make or who have already made deposits, will be contacted by a Bradley Ticket Office representative after September 15 to select their preferred seats. Renewal deadlines have also been extended to September 15. 

Fans can renew or purchase tickets at the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office at Renaissance Coliseum (309-677-2625 or BradleyTicketOffice@bradley.edu) with the ticket office open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Mini packs and single-game tickets can be purchased later in the preseason.

If you have any questions regarding the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office, please submit an inquiry here to be contacted by a member of our staff.
 
The Braves have won two of the last three Missouri Valley Conference Tournament crowns and qualified for its respective NCAA Tournament. Bradley returns two starters and eight letterwinners from last season, while adding eight additional newcomers for the 2021-22 campaign.