Preview: Winless Bulldogs Face Statesmen in Junior College Matchup

CHICAGO (Interstat) — The Kennedy-King Statesmen will look to capitalize on a favorable opportunity in junior college men’s basketball when they host the winless Richard J. Daley Bulldogs on Tuesday night.

The game presents a stark contrast in trajectories. The visiting Bulldogs (0-10) are mired in a season-long search for their first victory, while the Statesmen (3-5) aim to climb back to .500 in regional play.

Daley’s struggles have been pronounced, with its 10 losses coming by an average margin of 16.3 points. The Bulldogs have shown recent fight, however, falling 86-85 at Highland (Ill.) on Saturday in a narrow defeat that snapped a streak of five consecutive losses by double digits.

Kennedy-King seeks to rebound from a 95-72 road loss to Malcolm X on Saturday. The Statesmen’s season has been inconsistent, marked by a decisive 84-52 win over Wilbur Wright but also several lopsided defeats.

The recent head-to-head result favors the home team. Just over a month ago, on Dec. 13, the Statesmen defeated the Bulldogs 83-72 at Daley. In that contest, Kennedy-King established control early, a blueprint they will likely attempt to follow again.

For Daley, the schedule offers little respite, making Tuesday’s game a critical chance to reverse momentum before hosting Kankakee next week. The Bulldogs’ offense, which has been held under 70 points in seven games, must find consistency against a Kennedy-King defense that has allowed 80 or more points in five of its eight contests.

Kennedy-King will be favored, but the Statesmen’s focus will be on avoiding a letdown against a desperate opponent. The Bulldogs, fueled by their near-miss on Saturday, will attempt to finally break through and secure a long-awaited first win.

Tip-off is set for Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.