Bradley 2026–2027 Season Preview
Next up: Bradley.
2025–2026 Recap
Bradley put together another solid season last year, finishing 21–13 overall and making a run to the Arch Madness semifinals. They took down Valpo in a physical, grind-it-out game that pretty much summed up Bradley basketball—tough, scrappy, and not for the faint of heart, dare I say a bit dirty (Chaney going out, Shon losing a tooth and still playing…that one had everything).
Their run ended in a tight 73–69 loss to eventual champion Northern Iowa, and while they earned an NIT bid, the postseason didn’t last long with an 80–66 home loss to Dayton.
Statistically, this was a very good Bradley team. They were:
- Efficient offensively
- Got to the line consistently
- Shot the three at a strong clip
- Took care of the ball
Defensively, they did what Bradley typically does:
- Protected the rim well
- Forced teams into tougher looks
- Stayed generally solid across the board
They were led by Jaquan Johnson (1st Team All-Valley) and Alex Huibregtse (3rd Team)—and that production is a big part of what makes this offseason so important.
Onward to 2026–2027
Because when the season ended…so did most of the roster.
Bradley lost a significant chunk of their core:
- Jaquan Johnson → Iowa State
- Montana Wheeler → Kansas State
- Demarion Burch → Illinois State
- Kai Yu → Valparaiso
- Matthew Zobrist → Belmont
Plus graduations from:
- Alex Huibregtse
- AJ Smith
- Ahmet Jonovic
- Corey Thomas
This is about as close to a full reset as you’ll see.
Wardle returns just two scholarship players who saw the floor:
- Timothy van der Knaap (6.5 PPG / 4.8 RPG, 33 starts)
- Dietrich Richardson (limited role)
Along with redshirts and depth pieces, but in reality—this is a roster being rebuilt almost entirely from scratch.
The numbers back it up:
- Lost 100% of PG, SG, and C minutes
- Lost 62% at SF
- Lost 87% at PF
So naturally, Bradley went heavy into the portal.
Key Transfers
Noah Williams (RSSo. 6-8, G/F – Barton CC)
Long, athletic JUCO wing with real upside. Brings versatility and defensive potential, but the jumper will be the swing skill. High-upside rotation piece.
Kyle Grill (Sr. 6-6, G – Fort Hays State)
Productive D2 scorer who brings toughness and rebounding. Can stretch the floor but is streaky. One of the more ready-made contributors.
Xander Alarie (RSSo. 6-8, F – Northeastern)
Physical, high-motor forward. Lives around the rim—rebounds, defends, finishes. Fits Bradley’s identity perfectly.
Ben Thornbrue (RSJr. 6-8, F – College of Southern Idaho)
Another physical JUCO forward. Plays through contact, rebounds well, and adds interior depth. Energy/rotation piece.
Josh Ibukunoluwa (Jr. 6-10, F – High Point)
Length and mobility stand out. Rim protection and athleticism give him upside, but still developing offensively.
Trevon Payton (RSSr. 6-6, G – Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
Experienced wing who can create his own shot. Efficiency is a question, but he may end up being one of their few true scoring options.
Incoming Freshmen
- Dimitrije Pavlovic (6-4 G)
- Race Kowalczyk (6-6 G/F)
- Georgi Gerganov (6-4 G)
What Is Bradley This Year?
That’s where things get interesting.
Under Brian Wardle, Bradley’s identity has been consistent:
- Physical
- Defensive-minded
- Rebounding-focused
- Half-court oriented
That’s not going to change.
But what is changing is who’s executing it.
This roster is built on:
- Transfers
- JUCO players
- Developmental pieces
It feels much more like a functional, system-fit group than a roster with clear top-end firepower.
Outlook
Bradley should still be Bradley:
- Tough
- Disciplined
- Hard to play against
They’ll likely:
- Play at a controlled tempo
- Keep games in the 60s/low 70s
- Lean heavily on defense and rebounding
That gives them a relatively high floor—they’re not a team that’s likely going to fall apart.
But the big question is offense.
- Who’s the go-to scorer late?
- Who breaks down a defense?
- Can they shoot consistently enough from the perimeter?
Right now, those answers aren’t clear—and that’s what limits the ceiling at this point in time in the preseason.
Projection
This feels like a typical Bradley team…with a reset roster and some offensive question marks.
There’s enough toughness and structure to stay competitive most nights, but replacing that much production is tough in one offseason.
Preseason range: 4–7 in the Valley
Final Thought
Bradley isn’t going anywhere long-term—Wardle’s system is too solid for that. But this feels like a grind-it-out, figure-it-out year, where defense keeps them in games while the offense tries to catch up.
I must protest! WOBBLE! WOBBLE WOBBLE! You changed all the voting options from the Belmont thread and I now have no available voting option for a (6-7) team finish. I bring this up only because I wanted to vote nearly all of the league into the 6-7 category. You laid the red carpet out for us to vote then you yanked the rug out from beneath our footing. 
6th place sounds about right but only that high because Brian Wardle is now maybe the most seasoned and consistently competent coach in the Valley.