Final score: UNI 69 Bradley 64

[Da Coach]

Bradley is now 10-4 overall, and 1-0 in the MVC after their home win over Drake on 12/31/19. They play at Northern Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 7:00 pm.
Northern Iowa is 11-2 overall, and 0-1 in the MVC after their road loss at Illinois State on 12/31/19.

The game will be televised on ESPNU: https://www.espn.com/watch?id=9401ff...a-80a6b8b5bc9a
Live stats: https://unipanthers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Chat room: http://www.chatzy.com/524398219675

MVC standings- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ngs/_/group/18

UNI had won 5 in a row before their loss at Illinois State. It was only their 2nd loss of the season, and they are 7-0 on their home court. Their only other loss was to West Virginia in the Cancun Challenge. WVU is 11-1 and currently ranked #16 in this week's AP Top 25.

UNI has had the same starting five for all 13 games. Their starters all play a lot of minutes and they do not go very deep with reserves.
UNI Stats- https://unipanthers.com/sports/mens-.../stats/2019-20
Roster- https://unipanthers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Their leading scorer is last year's Freshman of the Year, 6'4" point guard A.J. Green. He averages 17.1 ppg, and he had 23 points in UNI's loss at ISU.
He shoots 39% overall, and 33% from three. He takes an average of 15 shots per game, a total of 75 more shot attempts than anyone else on the team through 13 games. He also averages over 7.2 three point attempts per game, far more than anyone else in the MVC. He only averages 3.3 assists per game despite playing more minutes than anyone on UNI, UNI leading the MVC in team scoring, and Green having the ball in his possession perhaps more than any other player in the MVC. He is clearly a shoot-first point guard, so Bradley will need to guard him closely, and avoid fouling him. He ranks 2nd in the MVC with an 89% Free Throw shooting average.
Their other 4 starters are:
6'5" sophomore guard Trae Berhow who averages 14.8 ppg and leads the MVC with a 52.7 three point FG%. However, he was just 1-9 overall in UNI's loss at ISU, and just 1-6 from three.
6'1" redshirt-senior guard Spencer Haldeman who averages 9.2 ppg and shoots 31.1% from three, which is well below his career percentage. He was 0-5 at ISU.
6'9" redshirt-sophomore center Austin Phyfe who averages 8.9 ppg and leads the team with 7.0 rpg.
6'7" senior guard/forward Isaiah Brown who averages 8.5 ppg.
They get limited scoring off the bench.
They are coached by Ben Jacobson in his 14th season as head coach. He has a 277-170 career record, but his last winning season was 2015-16.
UNI Historical record- https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb...northern-iowa/
UNI averages 3,496 home attendance this season.

Bradley stats- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats
MVC stats- http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/CONFLDRS.HTM
MVC conference only stats- http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/CONFONLY.HTM
MVC NET ranking- http://warrennolan.com/basketball/20...issouri-Valley

Elijah Childs has missed the last 3 games with the broken finger. Let's hope he can play at UNI.

[lightsout]

Haldeman did roll his ankle in the loss at ISU. I cannot seem to find anything written up about the injury, but it did not look good. Hopefully he is ok and he takes the next game off just to make sure he is 100% healthy.

[Da Coach]

Haldeman did roll his ankle in the loss at ISU. I cannot seem to find anything written up about the injury, but it did not look good. Hopefully he is ok and he takes the next game off just to make sure he is 100% healthy.

He turned his ankle with about 8 minutes left in the first half, and never returned to the game. As you said, there has not been any announcement about his condition or whether he will be available to play Saturday. I suspect he is day-to-day.

[Dub]

He turned his ankle with about 8 minutes left in the first half, and never returned to the game. As you said, there has not been any announcement about his condition or whether he will be available to play Saturday. I suspect he is day-to-day.

I went back and watched the second half of ISU v UNI... ISU played out of their mind and really took it to UNI, who played pretty well and ran their stuff as normal. Hopefully a fluke. The Haldeman ankle turn does look bad. I’d be quite surprised if he plays Sat.

I’d also be surprised if Childs plays this Sat... he was protecting the hand while clapping and celebrating on Tuesday night, and it looks like it must still be sore. Maybe there’s a splint or something he can play with.

[Heemeskerk]

I would assume Kingsby guards Green much of the game. I think that will be an interesting match-up. Kingsby is so quick and really can guard when he is locked in.

[Tommy]

I would assume Kingsby guards Green much of the game. I think that will be an interesting match-up. Kingsby is so quick and really can guard when he is locked in.

I agree, and wouldn’t be surprised to see Thomas on him some, as well. He really looks quick and responsive on D, and as long as he isn’t giving up too many inches I think he’s really good.

[Da Coach]

Pregame article from BradleyBraves.com

https://bradleybraves.com/news/2020/1/3/mens-basketball-braves-meet-panthers-in-mvc-title-game-rematch.aspx

[Da Coach]

According to Coach Wardle, they are still waiting on doctors to clear Elijah Childs to return to playing, so it is unlikely he will see action in tonight's game.

Northern Iowa's 3rd leading scorer (9.2 ppg) Spencer Haldeman, who sprained his ankle in UNI's last game at Illinois State, is progressing, but did not practice Thursday. There has been no decision whether he will be able to play tonight, but I believe we might see him play some minutes.

[Go_Braves]

This will undoubtedly be Bradley's toughest Valley game so far and a lot will be learned about Bradley today.

Reasons include:
Northern Iowa was "upset" by Illinois State on the road - other than Illinois State - Northern Iowa has only one other loss.
Northern Iowa likely has something to prove to everyone - after loosing to the Braves in last season's MVC Tournament final.
Northern Iowa "lost" to the Braves on their home court last season.
Last Season (2018-2019) Northern Iowa was 4 - 7 at this time - a struggling team that Ben Jacobson worked on all season long
and got UNI ready in time for the MVC Tournament. And yet after a 4 - 7 start UNI came to Peoria and defeated the Braves.
Ben is an incredible coach and "recognizes and plays on his opponents weaknesses".
Right now Northern Iowa is the best team in Valley - Preseason favorite Missouri State is not even close.

So what kind of Braves team will show up? My hope is for the Braves team that played KSU and Drake and not the Braves team that
played Northwestern or Memphis. A lot will be learned about where the Braves truly are this afternoon.

GO BRAVES !!!!

[Fyrebyrd]

Just informed that doctors have cleared Elijah Childs to play tonight for Bradley. He will go through warmups and see how he feels. Dave Reynolds (@DaveReynolds2)

[Da Coach]

That's great. Knowing Eli and his high tolerance to pain, I think there is a good chance we'll get to see him play.

[Da Coach]

UNI's Spencer Haldeman will not play tonight.

[BRAVE82]

We are playing with house money tonight. NI favored by many to win MVC, and Bradley has been terrible on the road. We are two different teams home/away. With Childs most likely sitting and the loss of Gabriel- the Braves are vulnerable inside and the shots never seem to fall away from Carver. NI will be extra motivated after a bad road loss. Hoping for a miracle but worry this game may not be close. RealTimeRPI has us losing 81-67. Go Bradley! Let's shock the world!!

[Tommy]

Is this game not on ESPN+? I don’t see it listed?

[BRAVE82]

ESPNU so I don't think I will be able to watch online.