TCU Basketball Preview Series: Bradley

In just the second true road game of the season, TCU will travel to Illinois to face the Bradley Braves in a rematch from last year's Corpus Christi Coastal Classic. The Frogs prevailed a year ago, topping Bradley 57-49.

Game 11: Bradley Braves

Game Information

Date: Wednesday, December 23
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Carver Arena - Peoria, Ill.
TV: TBA

Know the Foe

Conference: Missouri Valley
Location: Peoria, Ill.
Head Coach: Brian Wardle

2014-2015 Record: 9-24 (3-15)
Postseason: None
Key Losses: G Warren Jones, G Tramique Sutherland, F Auston Barnes
Key Returners: G Ka'Darryl Bell, F Donte Thomas, F Mike Shaw
New Additions: F Scottie James, F Peter Hanley, G Ronnie Suggs

Summary

To say that the Braves had an eventful offseason is an understatement. The team's leading scorer, Warren Jones, transferred to Green Bay. Tramique Sutherland and Auston Barnes, the next best scorers, both graduated. Omari Grier transferred to Rugters. Josh Cunningham transferred to Dayton. Nate Wells transferred to Ball State. Xzavier Taylor transferred to Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne. Anthony Fields transferred to Liberty. And finally, Jermaine Morgan and Jackson Kane graduated. Oh, and head coach Geno Ford was fired. Got all that?

Ka'Darryl Bell, Donte Thomas, and Mike Shaw, who combined to average 10.5 points per game last season, are all that remains from last year's 9-24 team. New head coach Brian Wardle will have an unprecedented nine freshmen to work with during the 2015-2016 campaign. After productive high school careers, Scottie James and Peter Hanley are likely to highlight the massive freshman class for the Braves. It is possible that by the time TCU heads to Illinois, four or five of these freshmen could have worked their way into the starting lineup. In all likelihood, it's going to be a long rebuilding year for Wardle.

Prediction

TCU 74, Bradley 54

The good news for Bradley is that they have ten games on their schedule before TCU comes to town. In theory, the team should at least be familiar with each other by then. It's going to take some impressive performances from true freshmen for the Braves to be able to score enough against the Frogs' defense to make this game competitive.

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Opponent Team Previews:
Game 1: Southeastern Louisiana
Game 2: Houston Baptist
Game 3: South Dakota State
Game 4: Rhode Island
Game 5: Maryland /Illinois State
Game 6: SMU
Game 7: Colgate
Game 8: Washington
Game 9: Prairie View A&M
Game 10: Abilene Christian
Game 11: Bradley
Game 12: Delaware State (10/25)
Games 13 & 24: Oklahoma State (10/26)
Games 14 & 25: West Virginia (10/27)
Games 15 & 20: Texas (10/28)
Games 16 & 29: Baylor (10/30)
Games 17 & 23: Kansas (10/31)
Games 18 & 28: Texas Tech (11/1)
Games 19 & 27: Iowa State (11/2)
Game 21: Tennessee (11/3)
Games 22 & 31: Oklahoma (11/4)
Games 26 & 30: Kansas State (11/5)