Bradley will look to snap a two-game skid when they host their longtime rival, the Drake Bulldogs. Bradley and Drake are the two oldest rivals in the Missouri Valley Conference, with this upcoming matchup marking their 170th all-time meeting. The two programs have combined for 16 regular-season titles, both programs rank in the top three among active MVC schools, according to the MVC media guide. Since the 2022-23 season, when the conference expanded with the additions of Belmont, Murray State, and UIC, Bradley and Drake have amassed 94 and 86 wins, respectively, totals that exceed every other MVC program during that span.

The Valley
Three unbeaten teams remain in league play after one-quarter of the MVC schedule, with Murray State, Illinois State, and UNI holding the top three spots. Belmont and Bradley sit close behind at 3-2 in conference play. The top five teams at the end of the regular season will earn first-round byes to Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.

The matchup between Bradley and Drake will feature two of the conference's top teams at forcing turnovers and taking care of the ball. Bradley ranks first in the MVC and sixth nationally in turnover margin, while Drake ranks fourth in the league. The MVC's top two scorers will also be in action Wednesday night, as Drake's Jalen Quinn and Bradley's Jaquan Johnson rank first and second in the conference in points per game.

The Bradley Braves
While the last two games have not gone the way Bradley would have liked, Braves fans still have reason to feel optimistic as the team moves through January. Bradley has defended its home floor well at Carver Arena, posting a 7-1 record that ranks second-best in the MVC while outscoring opponents by an average of 13 points. Since the 2022-23 season, Bradley has won 84.75 percent of its home games, the second highest mark in the MVC over that span. Opponents have also struggled to stay organized in Peoria, as the Braves force an average of 17 turnovers per game at Carver Arena. Jaquan Johnson ranks among the MVC's best for scoring (2nd), steals (1st) and assists (7th) while Alex Huibregste ranks second in the MVC in three point percentage and third in total made three-pointers. 

The Drake Bulldogs
The Bulldogs enter Wednesday's matchup with an 8-7 overall record and a 2-2 mark in conference play, looking to build on their most recent outing, a 74-72 win over Indiana State. Eric Henderson leads the Bulldogs in his first season as Drake's head coach after spending five years at South Dakota State, where he compiled a career record of 137-67. On the floor, Drake has relied on a trio of double-digit scorers in Jalen Quinn (17.3 points per game), Okku Federiko (12.6), and Jaehshon Thomas (12.0). As a team, the Bulldogs rank third in the MVC in scoring defense and fourth in opponent field-goal percentage.

History Says!
History says fans should be in store for another high-caliber game that comes down to the wire. Bradley holds the edge in the all-time series at 94-75 overall and 55-25 in Peoria. However, Drake has had the upper hand recently, winning seven of the last 10 meetings. Since 1942, 53 matchups have been decided by five points or fewer, with Bradley holding a 27-26 edge in those games. With a Bradley win, head coach Brian Wardle would tie Joe Stowell for second all-time in program history with 197 victories.

The game will be availble for viewing on ESPN+ and is set for a 8:00 p.m. start time from Carver Arena. Fans can also tune in to 1470 WMBD to listen to Dave Snell and Chad Kleine on the Bradley radio broadcast.