What Bradley basketball and its fans saw at the annual Red-White Showcase

PEORIA — Seeing was believing as the Bradley Braves got in front of their fans for the first time this season Saturday in the annual Red-White Showcase at Renaissance Coliseum.

They saw Darius Hannah put on a show as a stretch-4, hitting a 3, and driving to the rim for a power slam.

They saw guard Connor Hickman, built like a superhero with a pumped-up physique, drain 3-pointers and dunk.

They saw 7-foot-1 Ahmet Jonovic look stronger and play faster and more comfortably than he did after his crash course joining the team in the middle of last season.

And they saw the women's team take the floor as well, with Washington grad Claire McDougall in her first appearance as a Bradley player.

More: 2023 MVC preseason awards are out. See where Bradley basketball was ranked, all-MVC picks

In the books

The Red squad — with Hickman and Hannah — walked off with a 51-40 win over the White squad, which was anchored by Duke Deen and Malevy Leons.

Hickman was 4-of-9 from 3-point range, shot 5-of-13 overall and matched Hannah for a team-high 14 points in 19 minutes.

Hannah's 14 points came on 5-of-8 shooting, including a 3, plus four assists.

Newcomer Almar Atlason hit a pair of 3s in 11 minutes.

Team White was led by Deen, who had a game-high 16 points in 18:32, including 3-of-5 from 3 and 6-of-11 overall.

Leons had six points on six shots over 19 minutes.

Jonovic had eight points on 4-of-4 shooting over 15 minutes.

What did Brian Wardle like?

Bradley men's coach Brian Wardle had five things he noted most about Saturday's show:

• "We made some shots in front of the fans, they got a chance to see us play," he said.

• "Our body language was really good, and that's important to establish."

• "Meta (Jonovic) looked really comfortable — remember he hasn't been here even a year yet. He gets better and better."

• "I liked Hannah at stretch 4, we've had him there all offseason, and he looks very solid there."

• "We've got to get Malevy more shots."

Back to work they go. Next stop is an exhibition game Nov. 1 in Carver Arena against St. Ambrose.

The Baby Tank at guard

Hickman looks like he's had a muscle explosion in the offseason. He's the strongest player on the team — he benched 185 pounds 28 times. That's from a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard.

It was suggested he should be named Baby Tank.

"Baby Tank, I like it," he said, laughing. "The training I did, it's made me so much stronger, I don't get bumped off the play, helps my defense, helps my leaping, makes me feel stronger throughout the game.

"I knew this was going to be a good show today, I could tell in the locker room before we started because everyone was so excited, finally getting to play in front of some fans.

"I woke up early today, I was so ready for this."

Asked for his favorite two moments of the showcase, he said: "The dunks. Mine and Darius Hannah's."

Hannah is not a stretch at 4

Darius Hannah absolutely dominated on Saturday at the stretch-4 position. He looked relaxed. He looked happy. And he looked like a player ready to show up on opponents' game plan sheets.

"I love it," he said. "Everyone got to see that I can handle the ball, play downhill, and make shots from outside, too. I grew up at the 5 position my whole life because I was always the biggest guy on the team.

"But I feel like I'm right where I should be now. My favorite two things today? That dunk I got, and just the excitement and energy from being in front of these fans today."

'A dream come true'

Claire McDougall wrapped up her terrific high school career at Washington last spring and began the transition to college basketball at Bradley. She took the latest step Saturday when she was on the floor with the Braves' women's team under coach Kate Popovic-Goss.

"I know it sounds cliche, but this really is a dream come true for me," McDougall said. "I grew up watching these Red-White Showcases every year here. As a little girl, I dreamed about playing on this court someday.

"And now here I am."

More: 'The Gentle Giant': Ex-Manual and Bradley basketball forward Tom Wilson dies

Bravely Speaking

Bradley women's guard Lucia Llaveria was on crutches, and said she is recovering from recent knee surgery. … Next up for the women is a Nov. 2 exhibition game against Eureka College at Renaissance Coliseum. … Bradley forward Almar Atlason, after facing 7-foot-1 Ahmet Jonovic in the Showcase on Saturday: "I've faced guys that big before, we had a 7-foot-3 guy on my high school team. But I've never had to play against a 7-foot-1 guy as fast and strong as Jonovic." … Fans are going to like Atlason. The 6-foot-8 freshman can shoot, can defend bigger forwards, and looks very smooth and polished. Think MVC Newcomer of the Year candidate.

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 Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Bradley basketball analysis of annual Red-White Scrimmage in Peoria