Bradley Braves Began Preseason Basketball Practice

The Braves opened practice with a roster featuring 10 newcomers following several departures.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Basketball

Bradley Braves Began Preseason Basketball Practice

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The Bradley Braves officially commenced men's basketball preseason practice on September 21, 2026, at the Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria. The team enters the new season with a significantly overhauled roster following the exit of 10 players.

Why it matters

The program is looking to build momentum with a group of 10 newcomers alongside five returning players. Key contributor Dietrich Richardson is expected to lead the offense after adding 20 pounds of weight to his frame during the offseason.

Dietrich Richardson now weighs 190 pounds at 6-foot-7, while newcomer Xander Alarie joins the squad measuring 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds. Alarie averaged 10.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during his previous tenure at Northeastern.

The players

Dietrich Richardson

He is a returning player for the Bradley Braves expected to run the offense this season.

Xander Alarie

He is a transfer forward who previously played for Northeastern.

Brian Wardle

He is the head coach of the Bradley Braves basketball program.

Georgi Gerganov

He is a player for the Bradley Braves who is out for the season due to a knee injury.

The details

Dietrich Richardson focused on increased protein intake and lifting intensity to prepare for a larger role, while Georgi Gerganov is sidelined for the season with a knee injury. Bradley will play exhibition games against St. Louis and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville before starting their conference schedule.

September 17, 2026: The Missouri Valley Conference released the 20-game schedule.
September 21, 2026: The Bradley Braves opened preseason practice at Renaissance Coliseum.
October 23, 2026: Bradley plays an exhibition game at St. Louis.
October 28, 2026: Bradley hosts an exhibition game against SIU-Edwardsville.
December 18, 2026: The MVC season begins with a home game against Belmont.

Season Trajectory

This season marks a significant transition for the Bradley Braves as they integrate a large class of 10 newcomers. Their performance against five non-conference opponents projected as Quad 1 or 2 will be critical for shaping the team's postseason resume.

The absence of Georgi Gerganov forces a rotation adjustment that will likely increase the minutes for newcomers like Xander Alarie. Fans should monitor how the integration of 10 new players affects the team's defensive efficiency compared to last season's 36.6% field goal rate.

The takeaway

With a significantly transformed roster, the Braves are banking on internal growth and veteran leadership to navigate a challenging non-conference slate. Success will likely depend on how quickly the newcomers adapt to the system and whether returning contributors can handle increased offensive responsibility.

What happens next

Bradley plays an exhibition game at St. Louis on October 23, 2026, followed by a home exhibition against SIU-Edwardsville on October 28, 2026. The Missouri Valley Conference season officially begins on December 18, 2026, when Bradley hosts Belmont at Carver Arena.