Peoria, IL. The Bradley Braves are getting set to take on the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Carver Arena.
Scouting the Redhawks
SEMO is off to a strong 3-0 start this season with wins over South Florida, Lyon College, and most recently Evansville. The Redhawks are led by preseason All-OVC guard selections Chris Harris and Phillip Russell. Both players have scored in double figures in all but one of their three games to this point in the season. Brad Korn enters his third season as head coach of the Redhawks, taking over in the 2020 covid season with a career record of (28-34). SEMO was picked 4th out of 10 teams in the OVC preseason poll. The OVC currently ranks 29th out of the 32 recognized conferences and group independent schools.
Scouting the Braves
Bradley leads the all-time series 9-2, with an 8-1 mark at home. The Braves received news that they will be without another starter in Zek Montgomery who suffered an injury to his right wrist in the game vs Eastern Michigan that will keep him out for 3-4 weeks. Montgomery was averaging a shade over 10 points for Bradley in his first season of starting action. BU is coming fresh off a win against Eastern Michigan last Tuesday that saw five different Braves tally double-figure scoring in a dominant 28-point win. Bradley's 3pt shooting may be the most improved phase for the Braves compared to last season. As a team the Braves shot just a shade over 33% from three last season, currently, Bradley has five different players with multiple made threes and shooting 38% from behind the arc as a team.
Home Sweet Home
Carver Arena has been anything but an easy place to play in recent years. Since the 2016-17 season, Bradley has won 73% of its home games going 68-25 in that 6-year span. The Braves are currently riding a 9-game home winning streak, and haven't lost at home since January 5th of last season.
Honoring past Braves
During halftime of the men's game, the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be honored, featuring women's golfer Bari Evans and the entire 2005-06 Men's Basketball NCAA tournament team that made it to the Sweet 16.
Where to Watch and Listen
Bradley vs SEMO can be streamed on ESPN+ or listened to on the radio with 1470 WMBD. The game is scheduled for a 3 pm tipoff after the women's game against McNeese State.
