After an average season last year, the Bradley fans are expecting a breakthrough. With three seniors on the roster to lead the way, anything less than a top-3 finish in the Missouri Valley Conference will be a disappointment. Bradley’s tough non-conference schedule should prepare the team for the rigors of the Valley, as well as, help this team attempt to return to the NCAA tournament. Here is my breakdown:
Point Guard: Sam Maniscalco, SR, 6-0, 175 lbs (13.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Maniscalco is the heart and soul of the Bradley team. However, he is recovering from ankle surgery last summer, and it is unknown how much that will affect him. Nonetheless, Maniscalco has a great jump shot, plays solid defense, and gets to the board nicely for a point guard. If Maniscalco can return to full-strength, expect Bradley to be the team that reaches the highest expectations set for them.
Shooting Guard: Dodie Dunson, SR, 6-3, 210 lbs (10.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.2 apg in 2008-09)
Dunson broke his forearm in the second game last season, and used his medical redshirt. In the game that he was injured, Dunson had 16 points in the first half. However, Bradley will need him to provide senior leadership as well as being the lockdown defender for the Braves. He will probably have the task of guarding the other team’s best guard, which is a tall task and his offensive numbers could suffer through it, although it will provide a greater benefit.
Small Forward: Andrew Warren, SR, 6-6, 210 lbs (14.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Andrew Warren is the biggest scoring threat for the Braves, as his height and strength can overpower other guards from the three-point line all the way to the middle of the paint. Warren is another senior, whose leadership is going to be invaluable. If Warren can find his 15-20 points on a nightly basis, he will definitely help the Braves over the 67-point mark that they averaged last year.
Power Forward: Taylor Brown, JR, 6-6, 225 lbs (13.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg)
Taylor Brown was voted the Missouri Valley Most Improved Player last season, and he hopes to improve upon that by becoming more consistent. Brown holds tremendous potential on the offensive end, as he is built into a NBA small forward type role. To improve this season, Brown will need to focus more defensively and be more aggressive in the low post.
Center: Will Egolf, JR, 6-9, 239 lbs (7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Egolf battled foul trouble in a lot of games last season, but is going to have higher role this season. Bradley hopes to have Egolf double the numbers that he averaged last year, as he will be placed on the floor for most of the game whether its in the power forward or center role. Egolf is a much better jump shooter than most 6 foot 9 players, and he should use it to his advantage this season.
Bench:
SG – Dyricus Simms-Edwards, SO, 6-3, 205 lbs (5.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.7 apg)
PF – Jordan Prosser, FR, 6-9, 240 lbs (23.8 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 2.5 bpg in 2008-09 at Eureka HS)
SF- Jake Eastman, SO, 6-5, 210 lbs (2.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
PF – Milos Knezevic, SO, 6-8, 225 lbs (1.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg)
C– Anthony Thompson, JR, 6-10, 232 lbs (1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg)
PG- Walt Lemon, FR, 6-3, 185 lbs (19 ppg, 5 rpg, 6 apg at Julian HS)
PF- Andrew Davis, FR, 6-10, 220 lbs (9 ppg, 8 rpg at IMG Academy)
Simms-Edwards came along at the end of last season and transformed into a good backup point guard. Simms-Edwards can slash to the basket better than most guards and due to his huge frame, can absorb the contact that he faces over the long course of a season. Expect him to jump into a higher role on the team and potentially be the Most Improved player in the Missouri Valley.
Prosser is Bradley’s highest rated recruit in recent years, and after redshirting this season and being proclaimed the most improved player over the summer, the expectations are high for him. Prosser started in the exhibition game versus Quincy, and will see a lot of playing time at the power forward and center positions. Prosser has a lot of muscle and should be able to punish skinnier post players for tons of points and rebounds.
Jake Eastman came along last season, and is the player that coaches love to coach. He is the ultimate hustle player that can play positions one through three, as well as pick up key rebounds or hit key jump shots. Eastman will play much more than he did last year, and I expect him to improve upon his play as he gains experience.
Knezevic is a tall sharp shooter than provides tons of mismatches for the opposition, as they struggle to find big men that can cover Knezevic. Knezevic will receive more minutes this season, and fans should expect him to rain jumpers throughout the season.
Thompson has gained a ton of weight since arriving on the Hilltop and will hold a key role in guarding the paint when he is put into the game. Anything on offense will be a bonus compared to the defensive presence that Thompson holds.
Lemon and Davis are both freshman. Lemon is ultra-quick and should get some minutes at the point guard position, but the key for all freshman will be limiting turnovers and playing at their own speed compared to going too fast and out of control. However, as Bradley fans have already seen thus far in the season, Lemon has the athletic ability to play with anyone in the Valley.
Season Outlook
The Bradley Braves should set their expectations on a 22-25 win season, with a Missouri Valley top-3 finish and a possible chance to reach the NCAA Tournament. With three seniors in the starting lineup, this is their best chance in recent years to reach the Big Dance, and will all of the players that they possess, I wouldn’t say that it is out of their reach.
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