Over the next several days, I'll be posting previews of each team in the Valley. Today I take a look at the Bradley Braves.
Bradley
2006-07: 22-13
(10-8 MVC)
NIT
02.16 at BRAD
03.01 at CREI
2006-07 REWIND: Jim Les' squad was the "other" MVC team to make the Sweet 16 in 2006; they just didn't squawk about it nearly as loud as Wichita State and thus were sort of forgotten. That year's dynamic duo of Patrick O'Bryant and Marcellus Sommervelle turned over the reigns to another duo last year in Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch. To everyone's surprise, they ran off a 22-win campaign that sets up the Braves as perhaps the second-best team in the league going into 2007-08.
The teams' first meeting took place in Omaha, where Creighton has won nine straight against the Braves. The Jays won 65-54, paced by 25 points from Nate Funk, and 10 points and 13 rebounds from Anthony Tolliver. It was Dana Altman's 250th career win.
Two weeks later, the teams rematched in Peoria. The Jays opened the game with a 16-0 run, featuring two three-pointers from Isacc Miles and one each from Dane Watts and Anthony Tolliver, and that was the deciding run of the game. Bradley never got closer than 9 points the rest of the way, as Creighton cruised to a 82-71 victory.
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Daniel Ruffin returns for his senior year as the nation's active leader in assists with 475. Not the Valley. The nation. A preseason candidate for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the best point guard in the land, he is also on the short list of candidates for MVC Player of the Year consideration. His game revolves on driving the lane, dishing out assists and making the other four players on the court better.
On the other hand, his backcourt mate Jeremy Crouch makes his living behind the three point arc. Crouch led the nation in three-point shooting percentage last season (an incredible 50%), hitting 83 of 166.
What both guards have in common is defense. Ruffin was a member of the All-MVC Defensive Team. Crouch led the MVC in steals most of the year, before falling behind when he missed five games due to injury.
The duo of Ruffin and Crouch might be the best one-two punch in the MVC. The challenge for Jim Les is filling out the rest of the lineup -- the departure of seniors Will Franklin, Zach Andrews and JJ Taui leaves 3/5 of the starting lineup to be replaced.
Three recruits 6'-10" or taller -- including 7-footer David Collins, who will try to become the second 7-foot Brave in three years to become an NBA prospect.
From the JUCO ranks, Les brings in 5'-10" junior Tyrone Cole-Scott and 6'-5" Theron Wilson. Cole-Scott's scouting report describes him as similar in talent and style to former Braves Tony Bennett and Will Franklin -- two guards who excelled in Les' offense. He hit an amazing 192 three-pointers in two junior college seasons. Wilson, meanwhile, plays bigger than his size and averaged a double-double in junior college with 20 points and 11 boards a game.
Also added to the Bradley team was former Evansville coach Steve Merfeld, who departed the Purple Aces after resigning in March. He joins Les' staff and adds experience from within the conference.
Certainly, Ruffin and Crouch form a pretty remarkable backcourt duo. If Bradley is to challenge for a league title, the newcomers will need to mature quickly. Ruffin's ability to be a floor general, and Crouch's proven scoring ability should take some of the pressure off the youngsters early. By January, this could be an extremely deadly team. By March, they should be an NCAA Tourney team.
PREDICTION: 24-6, Second in the Valley.
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