History does appear to be repeating itself in a good way for Bradley basketball.
The first three years of Brian Wardle and Jim Molinari are eerily similar. In each case, the program went from a complete rebuild to a Missouri Valley Conference contender in just three seasons.
Although the pair’s coaching reigns on the Hilltop began 24 years apart, take a look at these first three years for each.
Molinari went 7-23, 11-16 and 23-8.
Wardle has gone 5-27, 13-20 and now, 17-7.
In that third year of Molinari, 1993-94, BU tied for second in the Valley with Southern Illinois at 14-4, one game behind Tulsa and went on to win two games in the NIT.