PEORIA — The Bradley Braves path through the 2024-25 season took shape Friday when they finalized their nonconference schedule. The Braves will face some significant teams from last season's NET rankings, including San Francisco (No. 66), Santa Clara (No. 105) and Washington State (No. 44).

Bradley also will play in the 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational, which includes NET powers from last season Princeton (55) and South Florida (78). BU's final NET ranking last season was No. 57.

Missouri Valley Conference teams were focused on scheduling at least four games against projected Quad 1 or Quad 2 opponents in their nonconference lineup this season under a new directive from the league in a push to help the Valley become a multi-bid NCAA Tournament circuit.

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"We've done it as a program anyway the last 3-4 years," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. "It wasn't a huge adjustment for us. But it's a challenge to get to four."

Games with Washington State and Texas-San Antonio were the final two pieces put in place for the Braves.

"It's a challenge to get to four (Quad 1/Quad 2 opponents)," Wardle said. "When you get it done, it's a relief for the staff and for me. Scheduling and recruiting are the two most important things for the program.

"This schedule is a challenge, a great challenge for us. It is competitive enough and strong enough for this group of men in our locker room."

Here is a look at each nonconference game for Bradley for the 2024-25 season.

Millikin

• Oct. 30: This is Bradley's annual exhibition game at Carver Arena. These teams last met as members of the IIAC during the 1940 regular season.

Southeast Missouri State University

• Nov. 4: The regular-season and home opener for the Braves, in Carver Arena, against the Ohio Valley Conference foe. SEMU coach Brad Korn took his team to its first-ever OVC championship and first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022-23.

Washington State

• Nov. 8: Road opener at the West Coast Conference team, and the start of a two-game series agreement that will bring Washington State to Carver Arena next season. Washington State is in its first year of playing basketball as a member of the WCC, following the implosion of the Pac-12 Conference. BU is 9-0 all-time against the West Coast Conference and this will be its first matchup against it in a decade. Washington State beat Drake in the NCAA Tournament last year.

Texas-San Antonio

• Nov. 12: The American Conference team comes to Carver Arena with a new head coach, Austin Claunch. He was an assistant with NET Top 10 ranked Alabama last season.

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Northern Illinois

• Nov. 16: The MAC team comes to Carver Arena for an 11th all-time meeting. The Huskies haven't played BU since 2010, but Bradley has won the last nine meetings in the series after losing the first matchup.

2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational

• Nov. 21-24: In Conway, S.C., on the Coastal Carolina University campus. Three teams in the field — Bradley, Princeton and South Florida — were in the NIT postseason lineup last season. BU's opponents are not yet determined, but the Braves are guaranteed to play three games.

Judson

• Nov. 29: The NAIA (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference) opponent comes to Carver Arena. Judson was a feel-good spot on the schedule during the 2020-21 season when Bradley delivered an epic beating, 105-32.

Santa Clara at the Jack Jones Classic

• Dec. 14: Braves travel to Henderson, Nevada, for a one-game appearance in the Classic. They will play West Coast Conference foe Santa Clara in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Santa Clara won 20 games last season, including wins over Oregon, Gonzaga and Washington State.

San Francisco

• Dec. 17: The Dons come to Carver Arena as the front end of a two-game, home-and-home series in which BU will host this season and travel away next season. Both programs won 23 games last season and both were in the NIT field. San Francisco returns scoring aces Marcus Williams and Malik Thomas, who combined for 26 points per game last year. This game will mark the first on either of the teams' home floors since 1951. Bradley leads the all-time series, 4-2.

Canisius

• Dec. 21: The MAAC team comes to Carver Arena for their first meeting since Bradley lost to them in the 1995 NIT. The Golden Griffins have a first-year coach in former Kent State administrator Jim Christian, an ex-Boston College head coach.

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Bradley ticket sales are climbing

The Braves are expected to be a powerhouse on the court this season in the Missouri Valley Conference, and that anticipation is showing up at the box office. BU deputy athletics director Brad Chandler says the program has produced a double-digit percentage increase in ticket sales and attendance each year post-COVID.

"Our fan base has and is responding with great anticipation for this upcoming season, based on the quality of talent we have coming back," BU vice president for intercollegiate athletics Chris Reynolds said. "We've already surpassed last year's season tickets."

Bradley men's basketball season tickets start at $100 for all 17 home games. Lower bowl seating starts at $200 per seat. Information regarding season tickets can be found at bradleybraves.com under ticket Info. The best way to purchase season tickets is to call (309) 677-2625, email the Bradley athletics ticket office, bradleyticketoffice@bradley.edu, or to visit in person at Renaissance Coliseum.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley basketball: Nonconference schedule set for 2024-25 season