Bradley Braves' Resurgence: A Team of Athletes, Stories, and Resilience

The Bradley Braves basketball team, coached by Jim Les, has undergone a significant transformation since a 8-6 overall record at the beginning of the season. Under Les' leadership, the team has gone 14-4, including a run to the MVC tournament final that likely contributed to their at-large bid. The Braves' resurgence can be attributed to their talented lineup, which features several talented guards and a dominant center in Patrick O'Bryant.

Key Takeaways:

• The Braves feature a unique lineup with four guards, including Daniel Ruffin, Will Franklin, Tony Bennett, and J.J. Tauai, all of whom have impressive assist-to-turnover ratios of at least 1.5-to-1.
• Sophomore Patrick O'Bryant, a 7-foot, 260-pound center, is averaging 13.6 points, eight rebounds, and 2.9 blocked shots per game.
• Senior Marcellus Sommerville, a versatile 6-7 forward, is averaging 15.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
• The team is led by head coach Jim Les, a former Bradley point guard and 1986 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award winner.
• Several players have compelling personal stories, including Sommerville, who has been married for two years and has a 1-year-old son, and Ruffin, whose half-brother is former Indiana star A.J. Guyton.
• The Braves' run to the MVC tournament final has likely contributed to their at-large bid.
• The team's positive turnaround is a testament to Les' coaching and the players' resilience and determination.

Statistics:

• The Braves have gone 14-4 since the beginning of the season.
• The team is averaging 80 points per game.
• Patrick O'Bryant is averaging 2.9 blocked shots per game.
• Marcellus Sommerville is averaging 15.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
• Daniel Ruffin, Will Franklin, Tony Bennett, and J.J. Tauai all have assist-to-turnover ratios of at least 1.5-to-1.

Sources:

• Bradley Braves sports information department
• Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)
• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
• Indiana University Athletics