Rivalries in sports can create some of the best environments, and while manufacturing one isn’t necessarily at the top of any program’s mind, all it takes is one message, one result, or one fanbase to get something brewing.
We kick off this edition of Staff Picks by asking the Scout Sports staff, ‘If Bradley were to start a rivalry, who would you like to see the Braves matchup against?’
Southern Illinois University
By Ethan Carbone
Since the 1949-1950 season, Bradley has played Southern Illinois 103 times with the Braves winning on 53 occasions. This stat alone shows an in-state rivalry that is perfect for Bradley. You could even come up with a trophy, perhaps naming it the War Dog trophy and the team that wins a majority of games across all sports claims it for the rightful school.
Butler University
By Luke Kotcher
A potential rivalry for the Braves could be the Butler Bulldogs. While this matchup could be tough for Bradley, Butler men’s basketball went 6-14 in conference play in the Big East last season. Located in Indianapolis, the drive between Bradley and Butler is just over three hours. Butler is also very similar in size to Bradley with 5,500 students. Not only that, but both schools and nicknames start with the letter B.
Saint Louis University
By Matt Lucas
A Billiken is said to be a mythical creature that is a representation of “things as they ought to be,” and a yearly showdown between Bradley and SLU is something that ought to be.
Not only are the two campuses separated by just 172 miles, but they both feature mythical creatures as mascots. Give me Braves versus Billikens in the Enterprise Center for men’s basketball and home meetings for the rest of the eight athletic teams the two universities have in common. First to win five gets the Brave-Billiken Cup.
Northwestern University
By Jonathan Michel
I’m somewhat surprised that two of the most prominent private schools in Illinois don’t have a rivalry already. In my three years at Bradley, the only time that the Braves have faced off with NU head-to-head in any sport was in men’s basketball in 2019, where the Wildcats won 78-51 at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off.
Bradley has a chance to get revenge in men’s basketball this year at the Cancun Classic should both teams have the same fate in their first-round game. If they do, the Braves have a shot to prove why there’s more to Illinois than Chicago, the MVC can hang with the Big Ten and that Bradley is a better school than Northwestern for sports broadcasting.
