Local college hoops 2016-17 preview: Bradley

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2015-16 Results: It was a tough first season for head coach Brian Wardle as his rebuilding roster finished 5-27 and 3-15 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Winning three league games with a roster that bare was no small feat as last year's roster took plenty of lumps to prepare for the future. 

Players to Watch: Guard Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye was one of the few bright spots last season as he averaged 9.8 points per game and was an MVC All-Freshman selection. Junior forward Donte Thomas, a former Thornwood product, also returns as he put up 9.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Key Storylines: Last season, Bradley had nine true freshmen on the roster as the Braves were one of the youngest teams in the country. With six of those freshmen back, as well as six new freshmen (some of them walk-ons) Wardle still has an incredibly young team as he tries to find pieces that will help him set up a foundation for the future.

Newcomers to Track: Besides the freshmen, the Braves get two new transfers this season. Former Seton Academy star Alex Foster returns to the Land of Lincoln after starting his college career at Texas Tech while forward JoJo McGlaston joins the roster from Utah State. Both juniors give the Braves some much needed experience.

Season Outlook: It will be baby steps for Bradley again this season as their roster is, once again, incredibly young and inexperienced. If some new pieces continue to emerge and some of the sophomores show improvement, this could be a team with a lot of upperclass experience the next few seasons that could make for a tough out.

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