Northern Kentucky vs. Bradley Closed Scrimmage report

[tornado]

Northern Kentucky has a few players whose names may sound familiar...
Their best player is a really good, mobile big man named Drew McDonald who was one of the best mid-major players in the nation last year as a junior.
He is the Horizon League PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR for this upcoming season.
We will really miss Boya trying to cover this guy and he will probably go for 20 & 10 against us.

Other than McDonald- they really don't return much and bring in a whole lot of untested freshmen.
One of the freshmen, Trevon Faulkner was Mr. Basketball in Kentucky last season- finishing his high school career with over 3,000 points and 1,100 rebounds
He is a 6-4 high scoring SG - LINK

They have dominated the Horizon the past couple years and are expected be at or near the top again this year...
altho they are kind of rebuilding - and do not have a whole lot of reliable returning scorers...
they have seven FRESHMEN plus two other incoming new players (one juco, one grad transfer) and three walk-ons plus one more who was a walk-on the past two years
and they only return one guy (McDonald) who brings back more than 7 ppg scoring.



their likely starters are -
Drew McDonald - he is their 6-8 senior star, 17.0 ppg & 9.6 rpg, was a Midmajor All American & 1st Team All-Horizon
Tyler Sharpe - 6-1 junior, 6.7 ppg, walk-on the past couple years but on scholarship now this year
Jalen Tate - 5.7 ppg - 6-6 soph SG, (not the guy that was at Illinois) brother of JaeSean Tate of Ohio State
Dantez Walton - 6-7 junior, 5.3 ppg
Silas Adheke - RS soph, juco transfer - formerly was at Evansville where he redshirted, avg 7.1 ppg at juco - possibly their 5th starter as they are lacking any other experienced big men other than McDonald


Zaynah Robinson - 6-0 sg, grad transfer from Norfolk State but hasn't played since 2016-17 when he avg 13.5 ppg. Also a possible starter.
Tre Cobbs 2.2 ppg - 6-1 junior reserve
Chris Vogt - 7-1 sophomore reserve, 1.1 ppg - a true 7-footer who was ranked as 3-STAR out of high school but...barely got into a few games and didn't do much
Paul Djoko - RS freshman
Gerald Gray - 6-3 freshman w/o
Jared Grubb - 6-2 w/o freshman
Trevon Faulkner - 6-4 freshman - could be a starter as a freshman
Bryant Mocaby - 6-6 freshman
Brooks Ely - 6-4 guard, w/o
Adrian Nelson - 6-8 freshman fwd - who is built solid, had more than a dozen other offers and made some NATIONAL headlines last year with this - LINK - could find his way into the starting lineup at some point
David Wassler - 6-10 freshman w/o - no relation to Kirk

[Da Coach]

Bradley and Northern Kentucky are currently scrimmaging, but it is not in Peoria, nor at NKU. The game is IN a secret location by mutual agreement.

[Serbiansniper34]

Are we going to be able to find out the result of this scrimmage?

[tornado]

working on it

[Da Coach]

After checking a few sources, I have a report about the closed scrimmage that Bradley played yesterday against Northern Kentucky University. It was played at the 18,000 seat Banker's Life Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana (note my hint in the above post). Formerly known as Conseco Fieldhouse, prior to 2011, it is the home of the NBA Indiana Pacers, WNBA Indiana Fever, Indiana state high school tournaments, as well as the Big Ten Conference tournament most years.

Northern Kentucky won the Horizon League last year with a league record of 15-3, and an overall record of 22-10. They were edged out in the Horizon League Tournament, and played in the 2018 NIT.
NKU was just picked a close 2nd in the Horizon League preseason poll for 2018-19. And their 6'8" senior big man Drew McDonald was named the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year for the second year in a row. He averaged 17.0 ppg and 9.6 rpg last season.

https://mkepanthers.com/news/2018/10/17/horizon-league-announces-mens-basketball-preseason-poll.aspx?mobile=skip

I am not able to reveal too many details publicly, other than the fact that the two teams played a regulation 40 minute game with real officials and all regulation NCAA rules. Bradley won the game over Northern Kentucky University.

I have a more detailed report, which includes some really impressive and exciting facts about the game yesterday, and I will send it to anyone who Private Messages me. I guarantee you will be very happy and optimistic about the coming season when you hear more about this game (unless you are a Northern Kentucky fan ).

If you are not familiar with Private Messaging- simply click here-

https://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/private.php?do=newpm&u=10

...and ask for a copy of the report. Please note that it could take a few hours to respond to all the requests, and everyone will get the same report. Sorry that I cannot reveal my sources or answer specific questions about the game.

Private Message for summary of the game-

https://www.bradleyfans.com/vb/private.php?do=newpm&u=10

[tornado]

ran across a couple other closed scrimmage reports

Missouri beat SIU by 14 points in a closed scrimmage
Wichita State beat Oklahoma State - both teams in big rebuilding years
St. John's lost to Rhode Island 85-79 - 5-Star Auburn transfer to St. Johns, Mustapha Heron was 1-10 and scored 8
Bryant Beat Army
Kent State beat Robert Morris
Boston College edged Harvard
Grand Canyon beat UTEP 100-74

[Da Coach]

Missouri hosted Southern Illinois for a closed scrimmage today. It is reported that Missouri beat SIU by 14 points.

But real bad news for Missouri- Jontay Porter, their 6'11" sophomore starting forward tore his ACL and will miss the entire season. Porter was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and was co-6th Man of the Year in the SEC last season. He was also named Preseason All SEC this season.
He was projected as a likely top 10 pick in next summer's NBA draft.

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article220418975.html