Part of it was a three-game losing streak, certainly. Yet, as big a factor in Wednesday being a “must-win” for Illinois State’s basketball team was the opponent.
Forget rivalry. This was about reality.
Bradley is the youngest Division I outfit in America. And while the Braves clearly are playing hard for first-year coach Brian Wardle, they are a team ISU should and, on this night, desperately needed to beat.
Bradley is going to battle with 10 freshmen out of 11 players on its active roster. The Braves took the Carver Arena court 3-16 overall and 1-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference.