One of the most iconic publications in college basketball is optimistic about Bradley’s basketball.
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Directory selected the Braves to finish atop the Missouri Valley Conference in the 2024-25 season, according to a school release Tuesday.
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Blue Ribbon also selected fifth-year guard Duke Deen as the MVC Preseason Player of the Year and named big man Darius Hannah to the MVC First Team.
Blue ribbon is edited and published by Chris Dortch, a longtime journalist and writer and member of the United States Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame. The annual guide has been around for over 40 years and is considered an “institution that has provided essential details and guided reporters and editors in their coverage of the game,” according to the USBWA.
The magazine predicted Northern Iowa would take the top spot last season, followed by Drake, Bradley, Belmont and Missouri State in the top five. It nailed BU’s prediction and had four of the top five ranked.
Bradley finished the 2023-24 season with a 23-12 record and reached the second round of the National Invitation Tournament after a third-place finish in the MVC. The Braves return a deep, versatile roster in 2024-25, led by Deen and Hannah. BU opens the season with an exhibition match on October 30 against Millikin.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star’s sports columnist, covering Bradley men’s basketball, the Rivermen and the Chiefs. He writes the sports column Cleve In The Eve for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or [email protected]. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
This article was originally published on Journal Star: Bradley basketball: Blue Ribbon Yearbook picks BU to win in Missouri Valley
