Bradley to Host SIU-Edwardsville in Wednesday Exhibition

The Braves take on the Cougars at Carver Arena as part of their final preparations for the upcoming basketball season.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball

Bradley to Host SIU-Edwardsville in Wednesday Exhibition

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Bradley University is set to host an exhibition basketball game against SIU-Edwardsville this Wednesday night at Carver Arena. The matchup serves as a critical tune-up for the team before the regular season begins.

Why it matters

Head coach Brian Wardle is using this exhibition to integrate a roster featuring ten newcomers. The game provides a final opportunity to refine team chemistry before the official season opener.

The roster features ten newcomers who are integrating into the team system. This follows a previous exhibition loss to St. Louis where the team fell 88-75.

The players

Brian Wardle

He serves as the head coach of the Bradley basketball team and is overseeing the integration of a significantly overhauled roster.

Bradley

This university basketball program is preparing for the start of the college season.

SIU-Edwardsville

This university basketball program is traveling to Peoria for an exhibition matchup.

The details

Bradley continues its preparation schedule at Carver Arena following a recent loss to St. Louis. The team is focusing on adjustments and player evaluation as the start of the regular season draws near.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026: Bradley hosts SIU-Edwardsville at 7 p.m.
November 2, 2026: Bradley plays Monmouth in the season opener.

Season Trajectory

This exhibition aligns with the standard preseason preparation phase mandated by the NCAA Division I men's basketball season structure. The game allows the coaching staff to finalize rotations and team depth before the high-stakes conference and non-conference schedule begins.

The team must show significant improvement in offensive output following their recent 88-75 loss to St. Louis. With ten newcomers on the roster, fans will be watching how rotations shift ahead of the November 2 opener against Monmouth.

The takeaway

Preseason exhibitions are essential for programs to test new lineup combinations against live opponents. Fans should monitor roster chemistry during this game as a key indicator of team depth for the upcoming schedule.