Bradley basketball defender on verge of unprecedented Missouri Valley milestone

PEORIA — Bradley's Malevy Leons has put together one of the greatest defensive seasons in Missouri Valley Conference history.

With two games left, the 6-foot-9, 210-pound native of the Netherlands has 46 steals and 48 blocks. He is the MVC's first player in a decade to reach the 40-40 club, and just the fourth since 1991-92.

And no player in Valley history has reached 50 steals and 50 blocks in the same season since the league started keeping those two as an official stat in the 1980-81 season.

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"I don't know how he doesn't win defensive player of the year, on one of the better defensive teams in the league with the numbers he's put up," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said. "I'm more proud of the strides he's made in being more disciplined in getting those blocks and steals."

Wardle has watched Leons steadily improve throughout the season, from a big man who is among the team's best 3-point shooters, to a defensive ace who gets blocks and steals, and now a shutdown forward who doesn't allow many points to his opponents.

"I've been on him the last couple months because people were harping about defensive player of the year early on in the season and I didn't think it was there," Wardle said. "I told him, 'Your off-the-ball D, you're getting back cut too much … you gotta be sound, it's not just about blocks and steals to win.'

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"Now blocks and steals, those get the award. Every year. But points given up is what I judge the most … how many points did you give up, how disciplined were you? Well over the last three weeks, he's right around six points or less allowed per game while getting those blocks and steals. His discipline has gotten even better. He's there."

And now he's there on an exclusive Valley list — the 40-40 club. Here is a look at other Valley players on the 40-40 club since 1992:

• Malevy Leons, Bradley (2022-23) — 46 steals, 48 blocks

• Jake Koch, Northern Iowa (2012-13) — 43 steals, 44 blocks

• Rolan Roberts, Southern Illinois (2001-02) — 41 steals, 87 blocks

• Marcus Timmons, Southern Illinois (1994-95) — 70 steals, 40 blocks

Bravely Speaking

The Braves have declared the regular-season finale against Drake, a national TV game in Carver Arena on Feb. 26, as a red-out theme for their fans. The team has introduced a red version of throwback script uniforms, which seems targeted for that game. It is possible the Braves will debut those uniforms at Valpo on Wednesday. ... Bradley heads into Wednesday's games tied with Drake for the top spot in the Valley, both at 14-4. … The Braves have clinched a top 3 seed in the Valley tournament, and can clinch a top 2 slot with a win Wednesday at Valpo. ... Bradley forward Malevy Leons has had only one game this season in which he did not record a block or a steal. It was against Valparaiso in Bradley's 88-66 win on Jan. 7 in Peoria. … Leons needs two more blocks to reach a top 10 place in Bradley's all-time single-season blocks list. … Braves fifth-year senior Ja'Shon Henry is at 990 career points with two games left as he tries to become the 51st player in BU history to reach 1,000. … Henry's 9.1 points per game average is second among all Valley players coming off the bench. Missouri State's Chance Moore leads at 10.8. … Bradley is riding an 8-game win streak in the Valley. That ties the 1987-88 and 1959-60/'60-61 streaks for the fourth-longest in the MVC in BU history. … The Braves have won five straight road games, the seventh-longest run away from home in program history. The road win streak is the seventh-longest active streak in the nation. … BU's eight-game overall win streak is tied for the seventh-longest active streak in the nation. Drake's nine-game win streak is the fifth-longest. Indiana State's seven-game win streak is 10th best. … Bradley leads the Valley and ranks 12th in the NCAA in scoring defense at 61.2 points per game allowed. … The MVC has four 20-plus-win teams (Drake, Bradley, Indiana State, Southern Illinois) before the tournament for the first time in league history. Belmont (19-10) could make it five.

'Part of history': Catching up with Bradley's last Missouri Valley basketball champion

Bradley at Valparaiso

• When: 6 p.m. Wednesday

• Where: The ARC, Valparaiso, Ind.

• Watch: ESPN+.

• Listen: WMBD-AM 1470, FM 100.3

• Records: Bradley, 21-8 (14-4), 1st in MVC. Valparaiso 11-18 (5-13), 9th in MVC.

• All-time series: Bradley, 10-5.

• In 2022-23: Bradley W 88-66 at home Jan. 7.

• NET ranking: Bradley, No. 63. Valpo, No. 281.

• KenPom ranking: Bradley, No. 79. Valpo, No. 279.

• MVC preseason poll: Bradley, No. 2. Valpo, No. 9.

• Coaches: Bradley, Brian Wardle (8th season). Valpo, Matt Lottich (7th season).

• Players to watch: Bradley Braves: C Rienk Mast 13.9 ppg and 7.7 rpg (2nd in MVC), 52.0% FG (2nd in MVC), an MVC first-team preseason pick; F Malevy Leons 11.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg (10th in MVC) and MVC-best 48 blocks, plus 46 steals (2nd in MVC), and 38.1% from 3; F Ja'Shon Henry 9.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg; G Duke Deen 10.1 ppg, team-best 84a, 37.6% from 3. Valparaiso Beacons: Big center Ben Krikke is an MVC Player of Year candidate with 19.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg; Kobi King 16.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg; Quinton Green 10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg.

• He said it: Bradley coach Brian Wardle, who started out 0-4 at Valpo but now has two straight wins there: "My whole career seems to have to go through Valpo in big seasons and play at their place in a big game. This is another one."

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 defender nears unprecedented Missouri Valley milestone