Overview:
Patrick O’Bryant missed eight games, due to an
NCAA ruling. They were still a decent team without
him, but they are really good when he’s in the
lineup. Some in the Missouri Valley Conference will
take that a step further and tell you that Bradley
is the best team in the league, despite being the
No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. They were
clearly the hottest team in the league down the
stretch.
Potential Difference Maker: O’Bryant isn’t an
imposing force on the defensive end, but the
7-footer gives them another really good option
offensively. Still the key may be Marcellus
Sommerville. He’s an athletic and can put up some
nice offensive numbers, but he has struggled at
times with consistency.
On Offense: They are looking to score in
transition and with quick hitting offensive plays
for their two stars Sommerville and O’Bryant.
On Defense: They will play mostly halfcourt
pressure man-to-man defense trying to push the
tempo. They will pressure in the backcourt at times.
Since inserting their best defender in the starting
lineup, J.J. Tauai, they have been one of the
hottest teams in the country.
Strength: Their ability to score in
transition and play aggressively with the best depth
in the Missouri Valley Conference can wear teams
down. Also, a good 7-footer never hurts.
Weakness: They are not a great 3-point
shooting team and they do not always take care of
the basketball.
Keys to Success: They must force the tempo of
the game and score in transition. Sommervile and
O’Brien have to continue to dominate. When they have
more assists than turnovers, they do not lose.
How to Beat Them: You must slow them down in
transition and keep them out of the paint. Teams may
need to mix in some zone to force them to be a
perimeter shooting team.
