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Final score: Murray State 86 Bradley 66

Da Coach

Da Coach

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Next game: Bradley (10-5, 3-1) at Murray State (12-3, 4-0), Sunday, Jan. 4, 4:00 pm.
Bradley is coming off their first MVC loss at Belmont, 88-78. -
bradleybraves.com

MBB Recap: Bradley drops road contest to Belmont - Bradley University Athletics

Nashville, TN -- The Bradley Braves dropped a road contest to the Belmont Bruins 88-78.
bradleybraves.com bradleybraves.com
Murray State is undefeated (4-0) in the MVC after their 81-77 win at UIC-
goracers.com

The Streak Goes On - Racers Win at UIC On New Year’s Day - Murray State University Athletics

Murray State Racers pushed their winning streak to eight with an 81-77 win on New Year's Day over the UIC Flames at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago.
goracers.com goracers.com

The game will be on ESPN2, in addition to ESPN+. The game will compete with the Bears vs. Lions game. :(
ESPN+ direct link- https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/00d648af-28bd-4406-9f6d-901e00983b2e
Chat room- https://www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans
Live Stats- https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=613301
WMBD radio - https://wmbdradio.com/player/?playerID=2045

Murray State Schedule/results- https://goracers.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule
Roster- https://goracers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster
Stats- https://goracers.com/documents/2026/1/2/25-26_MBB_COMBINED_ALL___4_.pdf

Murray State's high power offense leads the MVC with an average of 88.4 ppg, but they also lead the MVC in points allowed at 78.2 ppg.
Their FG% is 47.7%, which ranks 4th in the MVC, and they allow opponents to shoot 44.9%, which ranks 11th in the MVC.
Murray State's 3-point FG% is 37.3%, which ranks 2nd to Belmont.

Bradley averages 78.3 ppg, and allows 70.6 ppg. Both of those stats rank in the middle of the MVC.
Bradley's team FG% is 44.1% (ranks 9th), and they allow opponents to shoot 43.5% which ranks 9th.
Bradley's 3-point FG% is 34.6%, which ranks 6th.

Bradley stats- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2025/pdf
MVC stats- https://mvc-sports.com/documents/2025/11/4//2025_26_MVC_MBB_All_Game_Stats.pdf
MVC standings- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/18
 
We are a mediocre team at best, too many guys stand around and watch instead of going after rebounds, lazy in defending the 3 and pretty much getting outhustled all over the court. Johnson, Burch and Montana are the bright spots. The Seniors pretty much lack the talent they need to play at this level. Meta tries hard but is not skilled enough for a senior. This is embarrassing for our program to get beaten like this by another first year coach that brought in a whole new team. We obviously targeted the wrong recruits because supposedly we should be able to pay more NIL money to get better players in the Valley.
 
tomahawk chop said:
We are a mediocre team at best, too many guys stand around and watch instead of going after rebounds, lazy in defending the 3 and pretty much getting outhustled all over the court. Johnson, Burch and Montana are the bright spots. The Seniors pretty much lack the talent they need to play at this level. Meta tries hard but is not skilled enough for a senior. This is embarrassing for our program to get beaten like this by another first year coach that brought in a whole new team. We obviously targeted the wrong recruits because supposedly we should be able to pay more NIL money to get better players in the Valley.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. Something else to add I know is looking for a spark but 17 substitutions in the first 7 minutes of 2nd half is crazy. Team looks confused.
 
Final: Murray State 86 Bradley 66
Box score-https://goracers.com/documents/2026/1/5/2757533.PDF

Despite the nice 7-game win streak that ended this week, the same deficiencies keep showing. This team gives up too many open shots, both on the perimeter and in the lane, allowing good teams to shoot a high percentage (51% tonight, 55% at Belmont). And they do not rebound well. Bradley was outrebounded again tonight- 44-33. The Braves are near the bottom of the MVC in every rebounding statistic.
A team can still win giving up a lot of points (88 at Belmont and 86 tonight), but when the team consistently displays bad shot selection and poor FG% (32.9% tonight), there's little chance of winning. Especially when scoring only 5 points in the first 8 minutes, and digging a 23-point deficit in the first half.
How bad was the offense tonight?
Murray State is the worst team in the MVC in scoring defense, allowing 78.2 ppg- Bradley managed 66 points.
Murray State is the worst team in the MVC in Field Goal Percentage Defense, allowing 44.9%- Bradley only shot 32.9%.
I don't see much chance these deficiencies will improve much this season, because they depend on higher levels of athleticism, size, length,, and quickness, something that Bradley lacks. So Bradley will do OK against the less athletic teams (i.e. the lower half of the MVC), but appear likely to continue to struggle against the bigger, more athletic teams, and especially the teams that shoot well (the top MVC teams in FG% include Belmont, Illinois State, Murray State, and UNI).
 
Before this four game stretch of games I commented that I thought we would split these four games. Now we must win our next two games at home to make it happen. We can do that and we are in the race for a top finish. We really need to play better defense as the season goes on. Still a lot of basketball to play yet. Let's not hang our heads and keep the faith.
 
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I agree Coach. At this point we are what we are. Right now we are a 5-6th seed at best. What concerns me most is that Richardson and Zobrist aren't even getting any playing time. On this team that tells me they aren't remotely ready. What have you heard Coach
 
How many times since August do you think the players have listened to “what to do”, “what not to do”?
I’m guessing hundreds of times. Yet we still hear they aren’t responding, or maybe they aren’t capable.

A little frustrating to continually have teams with new coaches and completely new rosters out-recruit, out-transfer portal, out-coach us.

In today’s NIL world, where increasing amounts of money are needed to “hold our own”, it’s a matter of time til the donors realize they’re not getting their money’s worth. That doesn’t bode well for the future.
 
This is a rebuild year people!!!!! We got two Peoria kids that were good high school players. They will eventually get better when they adjust to college basketball. Physically, mentally and emotionally they are not ready yet. Wardle is losing his mind because everything is a new adventure coaches and players. Murry state is good why because they built excitement and got a few guys from a system their coach was apart of and are tuff. We got left with bench role players because our team was good the last few years. No recruit wanted to play behind guys or compete with them. We have to get better all the way around. We need to get Dwayne Funches type dudes and Henry dudes that want to be a pain the butt for your opponent.
Expect little now for more later.
 
What the HECK!!! I am glad I didn't watch this embarrassment of a game. I thought it would be on ESPN+ Replay but was not. Just checked here a bit ago to see the final score. Didn't expect this AT ALL! Come on Braves - u are better than this!
The season must turn around NOW!

Wardle this is one you. Find a way to get this team in sync and playing with passion!
 
We NEED to get big men next season!!!
I don't see any way we contend in this league with the lack of production down low. Corey and Meta have been SO disappointing, but maybe they just weren't good to begin with. AJ Smith is pretty much a bust. Sigh
Have a good week everyone!
 
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