Their coach is one of the best guards in Bradley history, so it should be no surprise his team excels in the backcourt. Stars Daniel Ruffin and Jeremy Crouch are gone, but the Braves should again be strong at guard. Leadership of the team passed from Ruffin and Crouch to sophomore Sam Maniscalco and junior Andrew Warren.

Bradley coach Jim Les, a former NBA player, has had good luck mixing in transfers (such as Marcellus Sommerville and Will Franklin) and that will continue this season with guards Dodie Dunson (who started his career at Iowa State) and Chris Roberts. If Dunson and Roberts adjust to the Valley quickly, that's four quality guards to operate Bradley's pressing and three-point shooting strategies.

The backcourt should be solid. Can Les count on it to carry the team? If not, his big men need to take a big step forward. Center David Collins was a non-factor through much of his junior season. His play in the College Basketball Invitational showed some progress. Will Egolf and Anthony Thompson, who redshirted last season, also need to be ready to play. The Braves can count on senior Theron Wilson, one of the Valley's most versatile and underrated forwards. Forward Taylor Brown, a freshman who signed on with Bradley late in the summer, is intriguing. He graduated in 2007, so he is a year more mature than most freshmen.

The break from the 2006 Sweet 16 team is almost total, so Les is making over a program after a good three-year run. Bradley is rebuilding from the strong position of having experienced guards who can guide the newcomers. Dunson and Roberts need to contribute, but the pressure on them is not overwhelming.

Les' system is guard-friendly and his roster is guard-heavy. He will need to find the right chemistry and the right amount of playing time to keep them happy and effective.

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