Bradley University Athletics

Valley Unveils 2022-23 Conference Slate

Men's Basketball 9/15/2022 10:00:00 AM

The Missouri Valley Conference released its men's basketball schedule on Thursday, completing the 2022-23 Bradley slate.

Highlighting the Braves' home schedule is a January date with I-74 rival Illinois State, contests against the Valley's newest schools in Belmont, Murray State and UIC and a marquee game versus Drake in the regular-season finale. Overall, Bradley plays nine of the 11 Valley schools both home and away, while also hosting Evansville and traveling to face Indiana State.

Bradley will be challenged right from the start as the team opens the conference season Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Carver Arena against defending regular-season champion Northern Iowa. It is the second-straight season the Braves host the Panthers in the opener – BU earned a 71-69 victory last year – while also marking the first time in school history that the Braves play a conference game in November.

Bradley then hits the road to face last year's second-place team Missouri State on Dec. 3 before playing an additional four non-conference games.

The Braves return to Valley action following the holiday break with fans getting an immediate look at each of the newest conference schools. Bradley travels to face Belmont on Dec. 28, hosts UIC on Dec. 31 and plays at Murray State on Jan. 4.

Highlighting the month of January is a home date with rival Illinois State on Wednesday, Jan. 25 with additional games at Carver Arena against Valparaiso (Jan. 7), Evansville (Jan. 11) and Belmont (Jan. 21). The Braves also travel to face Drake (Jan. 14), Indiana State (Jan. 18) and UIC (Jan. 29) during the month.

Bradley opens the final month of the regular season with a home game against in-state foe Southern Illinois on Feb. 1, while also hosting Murray State (Feb. 11) and Missouri State (Feb. 15) before finishing the regular season at Carver Arena against Drake on Feb. 26 in a matchup of two of the conference's top-ranked teams in the early preseason rankings. The Braves also meet Northern Iowa (Feb. 4), Illinois State (Feb. 8), Southern Illinois (Feb. 19) and Valparaiso (Feb. 22) on the road during the month.

Overall, Bradley hosts 16 regular-season games at Carver Arena during the 2022-23 season in addition to one exhibition game. Braves' season tickets are currently on sale, starting at just $75, and can be purchased tickets at the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office at Renaissance Coliseum (309-677-2625 or BradleyBraves.com/Tickets) 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 beginning in October.

The Braves return nine letterwinners and three starters from a team that finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 17-14 overall record and an 11-7 mark in Missouri Valley Conference action – tied for its most wins in Valley play in the last 21 seasons.

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