CBB Rank 2024: No. 98, Bradley Basketball

Last season, the Braves won 23 games, despite losing star forward Rienk Mast the previous offseason. The returning talent put together another outstanding season, which included wins over UAB, Utah State, Vermont, and Belmont.

Heading into this year, the Braves will look to turn a new leaf after losing Malevy Leons and Connor Hickman. The two starters combined for around 28 points per game and Leons was an all-around player, leading the team in blocked shots and rebounds.

However, there’s a reason Bradley basketball made our top 100 countdown. Wardle has built a consistent winning team and in the ever-changing Missouri Valley Conference, the Braves look to be the top team on paper. They have a senior-heavy starting lineup, led by Duke Deen, who could be one of the best point guards in mid-major basketball. Zek Montgomery transfers back and should start off-ball alongside Christian Davis. Darius Hannah and Ahmet Jonovic round out an experienced starting five.

The bench has the potential to be very good, but it will all depend on a few transfers coming up from Division II and community college. Almar Atlason looks to be the star of the second unit, but he started 19 games last season and could be interchangeable with Jonovic, depending on what lineup Wardle sees fit best.

Regardless of how Wardle decides to use his best players, the Braves have a group poised to pass the 20-win mark for the third straight season and potentially get an automatic bid in March.

Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Head coach: Brian Wardle (10th season at Bradley, 15th season overall)

2023-24 record: 23-12 (13-7)

2024 postseason finish: Lost to Cincinnati (74-57) in second round of NIT

Notable departures: 

•  Malevy Leons (13.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.5 SPG, 34.1 3P%)
• Connor Hickman (14.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40.2 3P%)

Notable non-conference games: 

•  vs. San Francisco
• Myrtle Beach Invitational

Projected Rotation

PG: Duke Deen (5-8, 170, Gr.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 13.9 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.2 RPG, 38.1 3P%

SG: Zek Montgomery (6-6, 210, Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 9.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.5 APG (Rhode Island)

SF: Christian Davis (6-7, 200, Rs.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 7.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.8 APG, 1.2 SPG

PF: Darius Hannah (6-9, 205, Gr.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 11.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 61.2 FG%

C: Ahmet Jonovic (7-1, 260, Jr.)

2023-24 stats: 3.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.4 APG

6: Almar Atlason (6-8, 230, So.)

2023-24 stats: 4.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.7 APG, 41.0 3P%

7: Demarion Burch (6-4, 200, So.)

2023-24 stats: 4.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 37.5 3P% (12-32)

8: Connor Dillon (6-2, Jr.)

2023-24 stats: 21.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 35.5 3P% (Winona State – D-II)

9: Corey Thomas (6-10, 210, Jr.)

2023-24 stats: 12.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 36.6 3P% (Cowley CC)

10: Connor Linke (6-9, 240, Gr.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 1.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, 12 GP

Bradley Basketball team MVP: Darius Hannah

While Deen is in position to lead the team in points and assists, Hannah’s game is too well-rounded to ignore. He’s going to be the leader in the paint and it isn’t a foregone conclusion that he won’t wind up leading Bradley in points per game.

Offensively, Hannah makes quick decisions getting to the bucket and can finish with his right and left hand. At 6-foot-9, he doesn’t have the height of a traditional center but plays bigger than he is and as a fifth-year player, understands how to battle against taller opponents.

Defensively, Hannah brings length and figures to lead the team in rebounding this season. He’s been described as a glue guy, but this season he could be the guy for Bradley basketball.

Bradley Basketball make-or-break player: Zek Montgomery

We know that Deen and Hannah will be the one-two punch but could Montgomery’s return give Bradley a much-needed third piece? Montgomery had a nice sophomore season but opted to transfer to URI where he set career highs in PPG, RPG, and APG.

This offseason, Montgomery decided Rhode Island wasn’t for him and is back in the midwest for a second run with the Braves.

Throughout his career, Montgomery’s been an efficient player and as a sophomore, shot well over 40% from deep. He struggled from outside with URI, so maybe that part of his game didn’t see greener pastures. Coming back to Bradley could be a blessing for the senior as he should be counted on to replace a lot of the scoring this team lost. And with so many questions about the Bradley bench, having a surefire starting five can limit the height of the expectations.

Key analytic: 3P%

The Braves had the 34th-best three-point percentage in the country last season and despite losing a few of their outside shooting specialists, they return and bring in even more. Deen, Burch, and Atlason all connected on 35% or more of their deep shots last season. While Dillon and Thomas both played at different levels of college in 2023-24, the three-point shot is a part of both of their games. The last time I checked, the distance of the line is still the same in all of college basketball.

Sure, Bradley might have lost a few of their three-point shooting weapons, but the outside shot still looks to be a major part of their offensive game in 2024-25. Since taking over as head coach, Wardle’s Braves have been a top 100 three-point shooting team four times in nine seasons. They have what it takes to make that five in ten this year.

Bradley Basketball 2024-25 projections

Projected conference finish: 1st in Missouri Valley

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament appearance