An inside look at Bradley's conference schedule — and its path to contention in the MVC

PEORIA — Nets or nuts?

The Bradley Braves have their 2023-24 schedule in hand now, so the path ahead is set for the defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season men's basketball champions.

Some elements of the conference schedule and the overall outlook of a reloaded BU lineup could lead to nets being cut again next spring. And there are a few elements that offer a crazy challenge — nuts, if you will.

Nets: Illinois State a Saturday thing

Here's a cool footnote to this schedule: the Braves get rival Illinois State on a Saturday for both games in the series — Feb. 3 away and Feb. 24 at home.

"It's the first time in my career here that we've had both of our games against Illinois State on a Saturday," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. "I think that's really exciting for us, and for fans of both teams."

Nets: Braves will project high in Valley

The Braves will be a top-three pick when the annual Missouri Valley Conference poll is put together from media votes next month.

In the Valley, older and more experienced teams translate to contention. So Drake and Northern Iowa will likely be at the top, as well. The top five, on my ballot, also includes Missouri State and Indiana State.

More: Every game in Bradley's Missouri Valley basketball schedule, including one big showdown

Nuts: A wicked stretch in the Valley schedule

Bradley's season may well be defined by a wicked stretch in the conference that starts with a Jan. 27 game at Indiana State. Including that game, the Braves finish their final 11 conference games with six matchups against those teams projected to be among the top five in the Valley.

They get powers Drake and Northern Iowa twice each, plus Missouri State away and Indiana State away. And in addition, both games with rival Illinois State fall in that stretch.

So that's eight challenging games in their final 11 Valley outings.

"When I first read over that stretch run of the conference schedule, I lost some sleep on it," Wardle quipped. "Every season is a roller coaster ride. We got to be healthy and rolling and it's going to be interesting."

Nets: A team that should rise with time

By the time BU hits that stretch of games in the Valley, their six new players — we count 7-foot-1 Ahmet Jonovic among them because it will be his first full season — should be acclimated and improving.

Time is an ally to the Braves this season because they are younger after the departures of Rienk Mast, Ja'Shon Henry and Ville Tahvanainen. Minutes on the court and practice sessions with the program should make Bradley a team that rises as the season progresses.

"In our practices, we look young and less experienced than last year, it's showing," Wardle said. "Let me put it this way: I'm growing a beard right now, and I look more gray than you do."

For the record, we'll count that beard as both nets and nuts.

Nuts: No trip to Nashville

As some of the BU fanbase has lamented, the Braves play only one game against Belmont this season and it is at home in Carver Arena.

The return trip to Nashville is a favorite among Bradley followers and will be missed.

Nets: Games to circle on the schedule

Big games on the road for Bradley — both conference and nonconference — include the opener at UAB, and the Drake, Northern Iowa and Indiana State contests, too. Illinois State can be added because of the history between the two programs.

The games to circle at home? Nonconference tilts with Vermont and Cleveland State — two very good teams — Nov. 25 and Dec. 15, respectively.

In the conference, don't miss Drake here on Feb. 10. The Valley, by the way, is perhaps forecasting another conference title showdown game by pitting Bradley at Drake on the season's final day.

Other must-see home games include Northern Iowa on Jan. 31, Illinois State on Feb. 24, Indiana State on Dec. 2 and Missouri State on Jan. 6.

Former Bradley wing Jayson Kent — who transferred to Indiana State — will make his first appearance back in Carver Arena. The Sycamores did not play here last season.

Another former Bradley guard, Antonio Thomas, will make his return to the Carver arena floor, too, when he comes in with Evansville on Jan. 10.

More: These four players are projected to start for the Bradley Braves in 2023-24

Nuts: A tough sneak peek

The Braves start off with a challenging game in the Valley "sneak-peek" portion of the schedule, with a road game at Murray State on Nov. 29 and then a big game at home against Indiana State on Dec. 2. The Sycamores have Alabama and Michigan State on their schedule this season.

"Those first games are very big for us," Wardle said. "You have to hold your home court in this conference and win some road games, too."

Nets: The lineup takes shape

The Braves start up their first official practices next week.

Their projected starting lineup right now has Duke Deen at point guard, Connor Hickman at shooting guard, Malevy Leons at wing and Darius Hannah at the 4 spot.

The center role is still undecided and might remain that way into the season, as the team is looking at both Ahmet Jonovic and Christian Davis in that 5 spot.

Any of the newcomers could emerge as the season progresses and give BU lots of options.

Bravely Speaking

• The annual Bradley Basketball Spaghetti Supper, presented by Avanti's, is Oct. 10 at the Itoo Hall (4909 W. Farmington Rd). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner follows at 6 p.m. Braves radio icon Dave Snell will lead a program at 7 p.m. that includes BU men's coach Brian Wardle and women's coach Kate Popovec-Goss. Tickets are $25 for the public, $20 for Braves Club members and $15 for youth. They can be purchased at the Braves ticket office or by phone at (309) 677-2625 or online through the athletic department.

• Bradley's annual Red and White Showcase will be on a Saturday — Oct. 21 — with a 10:30 a.m. start at Renaissance Coliseum. The BU men's team will lead off at 10:30 a.m., with the women's team to follow an hour later. Both teams will have on-court activities and scrimmages. Last year, the men put on a dunk show and there was a shooting contest with both teams. The Bradley volleyball team will host Evansville later that night at 5 p.m.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley Braves MVC schedule analysis and role as contender in 2023-24