Bradley, SIU-Edwardsville men's basketball coaching staffs linked in multiple ways

PEORIA — Bradley head coach Brian Wardle will look down the sideline and see a familiar face Saturday when the Braves tip off against SIU-Edwardsville.

The Cougars head coach is Brian Barone, who served as an assistant men's basketball coach under Wardle for five seasons when the pair were at Green Bay.

Barone grew up on Bradley basketball as his father, the late Tony Barone Sr., was an assistant coach with the Braves from 1978-85.

Valley winner: Dramatic finish lifts Bradley basketball past Northern Iowa in Valley opener

In fact, there are ties between the programs up and down the coaching roster.

Barone played two seasons at Marquette with Wardle and BU assistant coach Mike Bargen.

SIUE assistant coach Troy Pierce served three years on Wardle's staff at BU as coordinator of player development and video operations.

SIUE assistant coach Colin Schneider spent four years with Wardle at Green Bay as director of basketball operations.

Is Bradley vs SIU-Edwardsville on TV, radio or streaming?

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Carver Arena, Peoria

Stream: ESPN3.

Radio: Peoria radio WMBD-AM 1470/FM 100.3.

Records: Bradley, 3-5 (1-0). SIUE, 3-5.

All-time series: Bradley, 3-0.

Last meeting: Bradley W 67-61 in Peoria.

KenPom rankings: Bradley No. 195. SIUE, No. 310.

Head coaches: Bradley, Brian Wardle. SIUE, Brian Barone.

Hawk in the Hall: Hersey Hawkins recalls Bradley days as he's inducted into college HOF

What to watch for Bradley vs SIUE

Bradley: Guard Terry Roberts averages team-bests in points (14.5) and assists (3.9), and he delivered the game-winner over Northern Iowa on Wednesday with 4.5 seconds left. Forwards Ja'Shon Henry and Malevy Leons bring 10.6 and 10.0 points per game, respectively. And Rienk Mast is pulling 8.9 rebounds per outing. Bradley has made 43.1% from 3 (28 of 65) in its last three games. In the first five outings, BU shot 25.2% from 3.

SIUE: Ray'Sean Taylor averages team-bests with 16.9 points and 3.9 assists. Shaun Doss Jr. adds 12 points per game and 6.4 rebounds. The Cougars are at 26.2% from 3-point range and pull 37.9 rebounds.

Bravely Speaking

Bradley guard Terry Roberts' 116 total points are tied with Darrell Brown (2018-19) for the most by a Braves player in the first eight games of a season since Warren Jones had 117 to start the 2014-15 year. ... Bradley is 30-14 all-time against Ohio Valley Conference teams, including a 25-8 mark in Peoria. ... SIUE played 18 games in 37 days and saw 10 contests cancelled during the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season. ... SIUE head coach Brian Barone also spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois State. ... Bradley's first eight opponents in 2021-22 have shot just 38.9% from the field, ranking first for BU in the Valley (Loyola ranks second at 41.1) and 63rd nationally.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley basketball: BU vs SIUE in men's game at Carver Arena in Peoria