Final score: Auburn 85 Bradley 64

[Da Coach]

Bradley plays Auburn on Tuesday at 5 pm in the 3rd game of the day at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.
It is also the first game involving the Riviera Division teams- Bradley, Auburn, Northwestern, and Liberty
Schedule for Cancun Challenge- https://cancunchallenge.net/calendar...ll&season=2022

The Riviera Division games (Bradley vs. Auburn and Northwestern vs. Liberty) are on CBSSports Network (Maya Division games are on subscription streaming website FloHoops.
Live stats- https://cancunchallenge.net/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Chat room- www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans
Radio/audio stream- WMBD 1470 AM or 100.3 FM

In campus games last week, Bradley beat Eastern Michigan 89-61, Auburn beat Winthrop 89-65, Southern Miss beat Liberty 76-72, and Northwestern beat Purdue Fort Wayne 60-52.

Bradley is 3-1 after their 73-60 win over SEMO Saturday.
Auburn is 4-0, with 4 home wins over George Mason, South Florida, Winthrop, and Texas Southern-
Schedule/results- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/men...boxscore/21482

Auburn is ranked #13 in this past week's AP Top 25, and they will probably move up when the new rankings come out.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings

They are currently #18 in Kenpom-

https://kenpom.com/

This is Bruce Pearl's 9th season as head coach at Auburn. He is 268-169 with 3 NCAA appearances.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/auburn/

They are coming off a 28-6 season in 2021-22, and they were picked 4th in the SEC 2022-23 Preseason poll-
https://www.al.com/alabamabasketball...ky-on-top.html

5'11" junior point guard Wendell Green, Jr. is their leading scorer (14.0 ppg), and he also averages 4.0 assists and 35.3% from three. 2nd highest scorer and top rebounder is 6'10" sophomore forward Johni Broome (11.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg), a transfer from Morehead State. They are the only two who average double-figures.
They have played at least 10 players each game, have played as many as 15 players. 13 players played in their last game, a 72-56 win Friday over Texas Southern. 11 players average double-digit minutes of playing time.
Stats- https://s3.amazonaws.com/auburntiger...Statistics.pdf
Roster- https://auburntigers.com/sports/mens...er?path=mbball

Auburn is shooting only 25% as a team from three. That ranks 340th among the 362 Division I teams-
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...oalPct/dir/asc

They are also not a very good free throw shooting team. They are at 64.4% on FTs for the season (ranks 288th).
Their overall FG% is just 41.3%, which ranks 283rd. But they are a pretty good rebounding team
Team stats- https://s3.amazonaws.com/auburntiger...Statistics.pdf

The last time Bradley played in the Cancun Challenge was November, 2018- they beat UW-Parkside, Jacksonville State, SMU, and Penn State en route to the 2018 Cancun Challenge Championship-
https://bradleybraves.com/news/2018/...challenge.aspx

Bradley team stats- https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sit...2/pdf/cume.pdf

Bradley will be without Rienk Mast, Zek Montgomery, and Ja'Shon Henry.
But I am hearing that Connor Hickman says he is 100% going to play.
Let's hope the team and fans have a safe and successful trip to Cancun, and ultimately to the Hard Rock in Puerto Aventuras.

[Da Coach]

Bradley team leaving this afternoon for Cancun-

https://twitter.com/BradleyUMBB/status/1594469543145050114

[BUfan14]

I know this got buried in the other game thread with everything else more important going on Saturday, but does anyone know why Biliew didn’t play the other day? Seems odd he was the only available scholarship guy not to play when he was playing ahead of Linke seemingly for the games proceeding that one.

[Da Coach]

I have not seen or heard any explanation why Goanar did not play. He was dressed and warmed up with the team, so I don't think injury was an issue. The coaches never comment on players who didn't play, nor do they seem to answer questions about that. My guess is they were satisfied with the way Hannah, Henry, and Leons were playing, and SEMO did not really have any big men inside that were hurting Bradley. Bradley outscored SEMO on Points in the Paint 40-14, and that was the difference in the game. The coaches may also have wanted to give Connor Linke some playing time (12 minutes), in case he is needed in the Cancun games, so they went with him instead of Biliew.
When Ja'Shon left the game for good with 4:48 left in the 2nd half, he was replaced by Duke Deen, and the team played the final 4:48 with the short lineup of- Deen, Weathers, Tahvanainen, Leons, and Hannah. They played very well as a group and stretched the lead from 6 points (62-56) when Henry left at 4:48 left, to the final margin of 13 (73-60).

[bradleyfan124]

I have not seen or heard any explanation why Goanar did not play. He was dressed and warmed up with the team, so I don't think injury was an issue. The coaches never comment on players who didn't play, nor do they seem to answer questions about that. My guess is they were satisfied with the way Hannah, Henry, and Leons were playing, and SEMO did not really have any big men inside that were hurting Bradley. Bradley outscored SEMO on Points in the Paint 40-14, and that was the difference in the game. The coaches may also have wanted to give Connor Linke some playing time (12 minutes), in case he is needed in the Cancun games, so they went with him instead of Biliew.
When Ja'Shon left the game for good with 4:48 left in the 2nd half, he was replaced by Duke Deen, and the team played the final 4:48 with the short lineup of- Deen, Weathers, Tahvanainen, Leons, and Hannah. They played very well as a group and stretched the lead from 6 points (62-56) when Henry left at 4:48 left, to the final margin of 13 (73-60).

I like our starting lineup even without Jashon but what we are lacking now is backup subs if we get in foul trouble or another injury

[bradleyfan124]

I think we got Auburn right where we want them. Lead them in with overconfidence then smack them.

[Da Coach]

Auburn (4-0) is #13 in this week's AP Top 25, and they are currently 12½ point favorites over Bradley (3-1) in today's game.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401483043

Game info-
TV- The Riviera Division games, including today's Bradley vs. Auburn and Northwestern vs. Liberty games are on CBSSports Network (Maya Division games are on subscription streaming website FloHoops.)
On Xfinity cable- CBS Sports Network is on Channel 531 (Standard Def), Channel 963 (High Def), and Channel 1303 (High Def).
On i3 Broadband- CBS Sports Network is on Channel 88, but only if you have the Mega View package (maximum channel package)

Live stats- https://cancunchallenge.net/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Join fans in the Bradleyfans Chat room- www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans
Radio/audio stream- WMBD 1470 AM or 100.3 FM

For those who can't get CBSSports Network, there are a couple other options. Visit a sports bar and ask them to put CBSSports Network on at 5 pm Central.
Or there are a number of websites that have video streams of televised sporting events, like this one-

http://tv.720pstream.me/live-bradley-stream

And there are many more like that one. As always, I caution about viewing on these sites, though I have done it for years and never had a problem. Do not download anything they prompt you to download, and immediately close any pop-up screens that open. It may take several tries, but usually, eventually, the video stream will appear.
I cannot be responsible for anything that goes wrong, though. So if you have any reservations, do not try this.

[LittleBrave]

Well, considering we are down 3 key players, I'd take a close game within 10 points today!!! (The realistic part of me says we are short about 15)
Just hope we stay within striking distance at half - anything can happen.

With any luck we finish 1-1 in Cancun - I'd for sure take that.

[LittleBrave]

Bradley will be without Rienk Mast, Zek Montgomery, and Ja'Shon Henry.
But I am hearing that Connor Hickman says he is 100% going to play.

Great to hear that Connor is ready to go! We will need his contribution BIGTIME the next 2 days.

[Nashville Cat]

Auburn (4-0) is #13 in this week's AP Top 25, and they are currently 12½ point favorites over Bradley (3-1) in today's game.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401483043

Game info-
TV- The Riviera Division games, including today's Bradley vs. Auburn and Northwestern vs. Liberty games are on CBSSports Network (Maya Division games are on subscription streaming website FloHoops.)
On Xfinity cable- CBS Sports Network is on Channel 531 (Standard Def), Channel 963 (High Def), and Channel 1303 (High Def).
On i3 Broadband- CBS Sports Network is on Channel 88, but only if you have the Mega View package (maximum channel package)

Live stats- https://cancunchallenge.net/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Join fans in the Bradleyfans Chat room- www.chatzy.com/bradleyfans
Radio/audio stream- WMBD 1470 AM or 100.3 FM

For those who can't get CBSSports Network, there are a couple other options. Visit a sports bar and ask them to put CBSSports Network on at 5 pm Central.
Or there are a number of websites that have video streams of televised sporting events, like this one-

http://tv.720pstream.me/live-bradley-stream

And there are many more like that one. As always, I caution about viewing on these sites, though I have done it for years and never had a problem. Do not download anything they prompt you to download, and immediately close any pop-up screens that open. It may take several tries, but usually, eventually, the video stream will appear.
I cannot be responsible for anything that goes wrong, though. So if you have any reservations, do not try this.

Coach, The o/u for this game is 110! That seems like the play. Go over. As for BU +12.5 that seems low in light of our injury situation.

[Nashville Cat]

Over-under now showing 137 on same site. That looks about right.

[InMnBob1]

Channel 221 on DirecTV

[Da Coach]

Thanks, Bob. Good to see you here. It's been a while.

[BUfan14]

I don’t understand Linke over Biliew for playing time. Also, Ville really struggling. He’s been as open as possible on some of those. If he can’t hit shots tonight, he shouldn’t be playing. He’s a liability defensively against opponents this quick. Try Davis or play small, Pop looks good tonight. Free throws disheartening so far this year.

Love seeing Hickman play well and Leons started to get aggressive towards the end of the half. Keep going to him. He has to force it a little more. Decent heart overall, let’s see what we can do in half two.

[Da Coach]

Final score: Auburn 85 Bradley 64
Box score- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401483043

Bradley needed a great shooting night, limit turnovers, and hope Auburn had an off-night shooting.
Unfortunately, none of those happened. Bradley shot 42.9%, but just 8-24 (33%) from three. And they turned the ball over 15 times, and Auburn shot 56.4% overall, and 47.1% from three.
Connor, Duke, and Malevy had solid games, but we needed more offense from other guys.
Missing Ja'Shon, Rienk, and Zek really weakened our offense and defense against maybe the best and most athletic team we will play this year.