Wichita State has won three straight heading into tonight?s game against Bradley
In between the Bradley Braves? Throwback Night last Saturday and their throw-out-the-records rivalry game at Illinois State this Saturday comes another throw-down-the-gauntlet challenge from a hot team.
The Wichita State Shockers are in town for tonight?s 7:05 Missouri Valley Conference matchup at Carver Arena.
The Shockers (9-11, 3-6), who lost 60-58 at home to BU a month ago on Sam Singh?s putback at the buzzer, are riding a three-game winning streak in which they beat a trio of good MVC opponents ? Creighton, Illinois State and Evansville.
"They?re playing very well on both ends and with a lot of confidence," Bradley coach Jim Les said. "As we?ve seen, the ebbs and flows of a season are amazing."
For Bradley, that meant a 5-5 start in which the Braves allowed foes 71.4 points per game. The last 10 games, though, have been a much different story. BU has gone 7-3, and that defensive scoring average has dipped to 60.6.
Helping that number is not only better defense, but a more deliberate, selective offense. The Braves have also increased their field-goal shooting percentage ? from .412 in the first 10 games to .473 in the last 10.
The contrast for Wichita State is even more stark, but the reasons for its turnaround are much the same.
"Their defensive execution is a lot better," Les said. "They?re very stingy. That team has grown up before your eyes."
The Shockers began the Valley season 0-6, allowing opponents to score an average of 70.3 points. During their three-game winning streak, they?ve yielded a mere 56.3 points.
"Before, we?d play for portions of the game really tough and passionate, but we wouldn?t have enough guys doing it," WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. "When we do have all the guys doing it, we?re skilled, talented and athletic and have a chance to play with just about anybody.
"It?s all about experience. We have 10 freshmen and sophomores. We?re inexperienced, and we just didn?t understand how hard you must compete on a daily basis to be successful at this level."
Not that they have it all figured out yet, since none of those recent victories came away from the friendly confines of Charles Koch Arena. But the place the Shockers have jumped to is certainly a great improvement over the depths of being winless in the Valley cellar.
"One goal could be not to finish last, another could be not to finish ninth, which is where we were predicted," Marshall said. "Another goal might be to get out of the Thursday round of (MVC tournament) games. I?m not thinking much beyond that. We just want to keep getting better and keep the foot on the gas."
Carver Arena has been known to put the brakes on streaking visitors, especially ones like the Shockers that have yet to win on the road this season.
"We know how important it is to win at home in this league because it?s so hard to win on the road," Les said. "We?re looking forward to the opportunity."
In between the Bradley Braves? Throwback Night last Saturday and their throw-out-the-records rivalry game at Illinois State this Saturday comes another throw-down-the-gauntlet challenge from a hot team.
The Wichita State Shockers are in town for tonight?s 7:05 Missouri Valley Conference matchup at Carver Arena.
The Shockers (9-11, 3-6), who lost 60-58 at home to BU a month ago on Sam Singh?s putback at the buzzer, are riding a three-game winning streak in which they beat a trio of good MVC opponents ? Creighton, Illinois State and Evansville.
"They?re playing very well on both ends and with a lot of confidence," Bradley coach Jim Les said. "As we?ve seen, the ebbs and flows of a season are amazing."
For Bradley, that meant a 5-5 start in which the Braves allowed foes 71.4 points per game. The last 10 games, though, have been a much different story. BU has gone 7-3, and that defensive scoring average has dipped to 60.6.
Helping that number is not only better defense, but a more deliberate, selective offense. The Braves have also increased their field-goal shooting percentage ? from .412 in the first 10 games to .473 in the last 10.
The contrast for Wichita State is even more stark, but the reasons for its turnaround are much the same.
"Their defensive execution is a lot better," Les said. "They?re very stingy. That team has grown up before your eyes."
The Shockers began the Valley season 0-6, allowing opponents to score an average of 70.3 points. During their three-game winning streak, they?ve yielded a mere 56.3 points.
"Before, we?d play for portions of the game really tough and passionate, but we wouldn?t have enough guys doing it," WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. "When we do have all the guys doing it, we?re skilled, talented and athletic and have a chance to play with just about anybody.
"It?s all about experience. We have 10 freshmen and sophomores. We?re inexperienced, and we just didn?t understand how hard you must compete on a daily basis to be successful at this level."
Not that they have it all figured out yet, since none of those recent victories came away from the friendly confines of Charles Koch Arena. But the place the Shockers have jumped to is certainly a great improvement over the depths of being winless in the Valley cellar.
"One goal could be not to finish last, another could be not to finish ninth, which is where we were predicted," Marshall said. "Another goal might be to get out of the Thursday round of (MVC tournament) games. I?m not thinking much beyond that. We just want to keep getting better and keep the foot on the gas."
Carver Arena has been known to put the brakes on streaking visitors, especially ones like the Shockers that have yet to win on the road this season.
"We know how important it is to win at home in this league because it?s so hard to win on the road," Les said. "We?re looking forward to the opportunity."
