2021–22 Bradley Braves men's basketball team

2021–22 Bradley Braves men's basketball
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record17–14 (11–7 MVC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Drew Adams
  • Mike Bargen
  • Jimmie Foster
Home arenaCarver Arena
Seasons
2021–22 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Northern Iowa 14 – 4   .778 20 – 12   .625
Missouri State 13 – 5   .722 23 – 11   .676
Drake 13 – 5   .722 25 – 11   .694
Loyola Chicago † 13 – 5   .722 25 – 8   .758
Bradley 11 – 7   .611 17 – 14   .548
Southern Illinois 9 – 9   .500 16 – 14   .533
Valparaiso 6 – 12   .333 14 – 18   .438
Illinois State 5 – 13   .278 13 – 20   .394
Indiana State 4 – 14   .222 11 – 20   .355
Evansville 2 – 16   .111 6 – 24   .200
† 2022 MVC tournament winner

The 2021–22 Bradley Braves men's basketball team represented Bradley University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Braves, led by seventh-year head coach Brian Wardle, played their home games at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois as members of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). They finished the season 17–14, 11–7 in MVC play, to finish in fifth place. They lost to Loyola in the quarterfinals of the MVC tournament.[1]

Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Braves finished the 2020–21 season 12–16, 6–12 in MVC play, to finish in eighth place.[2] They lost to Southern Illinois in the first round of the MVC tournament.[3]

Offseason

2021 recruiting class

College recruiting information
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Connor Hickman
#10 G 		Bloomington, IN Bloomington South High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Nov 11, 2020 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:3/5 stars
Max Ekono
#2 G 		Bouffémont, France Scotland Prep 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Apr 26, 2021 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Zek Montgomery
#3 G 		Louisville, KY St. Louis Christian Academy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jun 12, 2021 
Star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: –   Rivals: –
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Bradley Commit List for 2021". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 11, 2021.

Roster

2021–22 Bradley Braves men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Terry Roberts 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Believe Prep
Florida SouthWestern 		North Amityville, NY
C 1 Ari Boya 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sr Scotland Prep Douala, Cameroon
G 2 Max Ekono 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Scotland Prep Bouffémont, France
G 3 Zek Montgomery 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr St. Louis Christian Academy Louisville, KY
G 5 Mikey Howell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) GS San Marcos HS
UC San Diego 		San Diego, CA
G 10 Connor Hickman 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Bloomington South HS Bloomington, IN
G 13 Sam Hennessy (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Benet Academy Naperville, IL
F 14 Malevy Leons 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Mineral Area IJmuiden, Netherlands
G/F 20 Jayson Kent 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) So Oak Forest HS Oak Forest, IL
G 21 Cade Hardtke (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Fr Glenbard South HS Lombard, IL
F 22 Ja'Shon Henry 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr Athol Murray College of Notre Dame Saskatoon, SK
G 23 Ville Tahvanainen 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Helsinki Basketball Academy Helsinki, Finland
G/F 30 Riley Burger 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Totino-Grace HS Orono, MN
F 34 Connor Linke 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So St. Charles North HS St. Charles, IL
F 35 Darius Hannah 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Milwaukee Academy of Science Milwaukee, WI
F 51 Rienk Mast 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) RS So Donar Groningen Groningen, Netherlands
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 18, 2024

Preseason

In the conference's yearly preseason poll, Bradley was picked to finish in sixth place. Sophomore forward Rienk Mast was named to the preseason all-conference third team.[4]

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 4, 2021*
8:00 p.m. 		Illinois–Springfield W 93–64 
Carver Arena (1,735)
Peoria, IL
Regular season
November 9, 2021*
8:15 p.m., ESPN+ 		at South Dakota State L 65–81  0–1
 Frost Arena (2,445)
Brookings, SD
November 13, 2021*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Howard L 64–76  0–2
 Carver Arena (3,814)
Peoria, IL
November 16, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN3 		Missouri S&T W 92–66  1–2
 Carver Arena (3,450)
Peoria, IL
November 19, 2021*
12:00 p.m., ESPN3 		vs. Colorado State
Paradise Jam tournament quarterfinals 		L 60–66  1–3
 Sports and Fitness Center (622)
Saint Thomas, USVI
November 20, 2021*
2:15 p.m., ESPN3 		vs. Brown
Paradise Jam Tournament consolation 2nd round 		L 62–65  1–4
 Sports and Fitness Center 
Saint Thomas, USVI
November 22, 2021*
12:00 p.m., ESPN3 		vs. Duquesne
Paradise Jam Tournament 7th-place game 		L 70–78  1–5
 Sports and Fitness Center 
Saint Thomas, USVI
November 27, 2021*
2:00 p.m., ESPN3 		Maine W 71–39  2–5
 Carver Arena (3,515)
Peoria, IL
December 1, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Northern Iowa W 71–69  3–5
(1–0) 		Carver Arena (3,551)
Peoria, IL
December 4, 2021*
2:00 p.m., ESPN3 		SIU Edwardsville W 80–55  4–5
 Carver Arena (3,685)
Peoria, IL
December 7, 2021*
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Toledo L 65–67  4–6
 Savage Arena (3,567)
Toledo, OH
December 18, 2021*
2:00 p.m., NBCSC 		Saint Joseph's W 77–73  5–6
 Carver Arena (3,827)
Peoria, IL
December 21, 2021*
7:00 p.m. 		Sam Houston State
Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational semifinals 		W 87–61  6–6
 Don Haskins Center 
El Paso, TX
December 22, 2021*
7:00 p.m. 		UTEP
Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational championship game 		W 73–66  7–6
 Don Haskins Center (4,082)
El Paso, TX
December 29, 2021*
7:00 p.m., ESPN3 		Bellarmine Canceled due to COVID-19[5] Carver Arena 
Peoria, IL
January 2, 2022
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Indiana State L 71–76  7–7
(1–1) 		Hulman Center (2,806)
Terre Haute, IN
January 5, 2022
8:00 p.m., CBSSN 		Missouri State L 69–71  7–8
(1–2) 		Carver Arena (3,756)
Peoria, IL
January 8, 2022
3:00 p.m., NBCSC 		at Loyola–Chicago L 71–78 OT 7–9
(1–3) 		Gentile Arena (3,092)
Chicago, IL
January 12, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Evansville W 79–47  8–9
(2–3) 		Carver Arena (3,606)
Peoria, IL
January 16, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Illinois State
I-74 Rivalry 		L 65–74  8–10
(2–4) 		Redbird Arena (4,072)
Normal, IL
January 19, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Drake W 83–71  9–10
(3–4) 		Knapp Center (2,724)
Des Moines, IA
January 22, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Southern Illinois W 70–62  10–10
(4–4) 		Carver Arena (3,987)
Peoria, IL
January 26, 2022
6:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Valparaiso W 71–56  11–10
(5–4) 		Athletics–Recreation Center (1,220)
Valparaiso, IN
January 30, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Indiana State W 67–52  12–10
(6–4) 		Carver Arena (4,554)
Peoria, IL
February 2, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Northern Iowa L 65–78  12–11
(6–5) 		McLeod Center (2,655)
Cedar Falls, IA
February 5, 2022
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Evansville W 76–41  13–11
(7–5) 		Ford Center (4,294)
Evansville, IN
February 9, 2022
8:00 p.m., CBSSN 		Loyola–Chicago W 68–61  14–11
(8–5) 		Carver Arena (4,450)
Peoria, IL
February 12, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Drake W 68–59  15–11
(9–5) 		Carver Arena (5,109)
Peoria, IL
February 15, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Southern Illinois L 57–65  15–12
(9–6) 		Banterra Center (4,432)
Carbondale, IL
February 19, 2022
1:00 p.m. 		Illinois State
I-74 Rivalry 		W 72–64  16–12
(10–6) 		Carver Arena (6,902)
Peoria, IL
February 23, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Missouri State L 67–83  16–13
(10–7) 		JQH Arena (1,831)
Springfield, MO
February 26, 2022
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Valparaiso W 79–55  17–13
(11–7) 		Carver Arena (5,660)
Peoria, IL
MVC tournament
March 4, 2022
2:30 p.m., MVC TV 		(5) vs. (4) Loyola–Chicago
Quarterfinals 		L 50–66  17–14
 Enterprise Center 
St. Louis, MO
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central.

Sources:[6][7]

References

  1. ^ "Braves' Season Ends in Arch Madness Quarterfinals". Bradley University Athletics. March 4, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "2021-22 Bradley Braves Schedule and Results". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "Southern Illinois vs. Bradley - Game Recap - March 4, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "Preseason Poll 2022 (PDF) - Missouri Valley Conference" (PDF). mvc-sports.com. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Bradley Men's Basketball Game versus Bellarmine Canceled". December 27, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "2021-22 Men's Basketball Schedule". Bradley University Athletics. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Bradley Braves Schedule 2021-22". ESPN. Retrieved October 18, 2024.