NCAA March Madness: Midwest Region Predictions, Trends and Computer Picks
Mar 20, 2013
Saint Louis hits March Madness as the hottest wagering team in college basketball and they will be an extremely dangerous No. 4 seed if their trends continue.
The Midwest Region is tough and the Billikens come in riding a 15-1 ATS run in their last 16 games. As a favorite, they are 17-3 ATS in 20 games.
And that’s their situation against No. 13 New Mexico State, a team that has lost six straight tournament games dating back to 1993, according to OddsShark.com’s first-round March Madness trends.
Saint Louis was favored by nine points, but the prediction computer announced a 75-70 victory.
Elsewhere, Louisville earned the top seed in the Midwest bracket and they were 4-0-1 ATS in five games a year ago. The computer says they will hammer North Carolina A&T by 14 points.
Duke is the second seed and remember what happened a year ago when the Blue Devils were seeded second. They lost to 15-seed Lehigh, so Albany believes it has a shot here.
Check out some important Midwest trends and picks.
Preview: Computer Prediction: 79-65 Louisville NC A&T 7-1 ATS this season in lined games Louisville 4-0-1 ATS last year in Madness
Preview: Computer Prediction: 82-80 Colorado State Colorado State 2-8-1 ATS past 11 games Missouri 1-4 ATS past 5 tournament games
Preview: Computer Prediction: 77-76 Oklahoma State Oklahoma State UNDER is 9-3 past 12 tournament games Oregon is 3-8 ATS in tournament since 2000
Preview: Computer Prediction: 75-70 Saint Louis Saint Louis 4-1 ATS in tournament since 1998 New Mexico State lost 6 straight tournament games since 1993
Preview: Computer Prediction: 82-81 Saint Mary's Saint Mary’s 17-3 SU past 20 games Memphis 1-4 ATS past 5 first-round games
Preview: Computer Prediction: 75-74 Valpo Valparaiso 16-2 SU past 18 games Valpo is 0-4 SU & ATS in tournament since 1999, losing by average 77-53
Preview: Computer Prediction: 78-74 Creighton Creighton 2-7 ATS past 9 tournament games Cincinnati 5-2 ATS in first round since 2002
Preview: Computer Prediction: 80-71 Duke Duke – no real trends of note Albany – no real trends of note, but beware–Duke lost to the No. 15 last year (Lehigh)
Trends and predicted scores courtesy of OddsShark.com
Saint Louis Defeats VCU in A-10 Final, Will Be No. 4 Seed in the NCAA Tournament
Mar 18, 2013
After Saint Louis defeated VCU 62-56 to earn the Atlantic 10′s automatic bid, the bracket was revealed with the Billikens as a No. 4 seed taking on No. 13 seed New Mexico State in the Midwest Region.
“It’s a great honor for these kids to do something that a lot of really good teams and good basketball don’t get to do,” Saint Louis interim head coach Jim Crews said. “Very few college players win championships.”
VCU (26-8, 11-5 A10) scored the first basket of the game, but the Rams would never lead again. Saint Louis (27-6, 12-4 A10) responded with an 11-0 run fueled by Kwamain Mitchell’s six points and two steals. The Rams fought back to within as little as one point in the first half, but the Billikens used an 11-2 spurt to build the lead up to 10 points before Briante Weber’s bucket cut the halftime score to 29-21.
Saint Louis took its largest lead of the game at 13 points on a pair of free throws by senior Dwayne Evans with 11:45 remaining, but the Rams turned up the defensive pressure and made a furious rally. Using a 13-1 run, they were back within one point inside of nine minutes to play.
Saint Louis senior Cody Ellis stepped up to make a three-pointer to bump the lead back to four, and two possessions later, after VCU had pulled back within one, he knocked down a pull-up jumper. Mitchell, a fifth-year senior, drained a three-point shot to extend the lead to six points, and two minutes later Ellis knocked down another trey. The Rams would not get any closer than four points the rest of the way.
“When we need it, Cody is going to make the shot,” Dwayne Evans, also a senior, said. “Same goes for Kwamain.”
“Being a senior,” Ellis said. “You’ve got to be one of those guys to step up to the plate and make a big play. I think my teammates had a lot of confidence in me.”
Ellis, the Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, recorded nine points and provided his usual boost off the bench.
“Not many people enjoy coming off the bench, but I try to come in and create a spark,” he said.
Ellis made three timely baskets, but Mitchell and Evans paced the team’s scoring with 19 and 16 points, respectively. Evans, who averaged 21.7 points and 9.3 rebounds over three games in Brooklyn, was named the tournament MVP. He was extremely efficient as well, shooting 76 percent from the field and 86.7 percent from the foul line. Mitchell was especially important in the first half, scoring 12 points while the rest of Saint Louis’ offense sputtered. Against VCU’s “Havoc” defense, he had zero turnovers through the first 27 minutes.
Saint Louis had an astonishingly tough season. During the offseason, head coach Rick Majerus announced that he was taking a leave of absence due to heart problems. On December 1, Majerus passed away from heart failure.
But Mitchell’s year has been extra tough. The fifth-year senior was injured during the second day of practice, and he did not appear in a game until December 28. But his return is a big part of what transformed the Billikens into an Atlantic 10 champion and Final Four contender.
Crews had only the highest praise for his veteran leader. “[Kwamain] gets hurt the second day of practice. That’s so disheartening,” Crews said. “But he came to practice every day. He encouraged the other kids. He couldn’t do anything physically, but he helped us mentally. He helped us emotionally. He didn’t feel sorry for himself, which is an unbelievably mature way to go about it…When he got back, he was just fitting in. He didn’t try to do his thing. He did the team’s thing. It’s been a great honor to coach Kwamain just because of that mentality and attitude.”
By now, Saint Louis is probably getting ready to prepare for New Mexico State, but they can still enjoy the feeling of being a champion.
“It’s unreal,” Ellis said. “I’m still trying to find the words to perfectly explain it. I don’t think I ever will. To finally in my senior year be able to cut down two nets, and now I’m hoping for a third obviously, it’s unreal.”
Other Notes from the Atlantic 10 Championship Game
—Cody Ellis on the job Jim Crews has done as interim head coach this season: “He’s been put in a situation that I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. It’s a tough situation, and he’s handled it unbelievably. All the coaches have handled it. I think we’ve done a good job of coming together as a team, both players and coaches, and having each other’s back. That’s a big part of why we’ve been successful.”
—Ellis on Saint Louis’ journey to national prominence: “It’s been a crazy year. And it all started back when Coach Majerus started recruiting us all. It wasn’t just this one year. It’s been a long process.”
—Ellis on Saint Louis’ depth: “I’ve got a lot of confidence in my teammates. The good thing about this team is anyone can come in and make a big play. It doesn’t have to be the seniors. We’re so deep right now. I love it.”
—Crews on Rick Majerus’ lasting impact: “I think that his lessons are certainly a big part of us winning. His fingerprints and the spirit of Rick and just the discipline that he had with the team. The understanding and the wisdom. Our kids are very wise on the basketball floor, and he’s the one that taught them to do that. It’s there every day in practice and every day in the locker room. But Rick’s life is a lot bigger than a championship or a win here and a win there, or even a great season.”
—Kwamain Mitchell on playing since Rick Majerus’ death: “I imagine Coach [Majerus] on the sideline saying, “Get a stop! Get a stop!”
Jesse Kramer is the founder of The Catch and Shoot, a blog dedicated to college basketball news, observations and insights on nationwide topics. You can follow Jesse on Twitter at Jesse_Kramer, and you can follow The Catch and Shoot at Catch_N_Shoot.
All quotes in this article were received in person.
Saint Louis Billikens Forced to Watch NCAA Selection Show in Best Buy
Mar 18, 2013
Traffic: still one of the worst things ever.
After defeating Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday and winning the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, the Saint Louis Billikens left the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and headed to catch a flight.
The team was heading to the Teterboro airport in New Jersey, where they planned on watching the 6 p.m. NCAA tournament selection show at the terminal, but they ended up worming through ponderous New Jersey traffic.
Faced with missing their selection, the Billikens decided to get creative.
Traffic has prevented us from getting to airport to see selection show, so yes, we are watching at a Best Buy in Jersey.
— Saint Louis Men's Basketball (@SaintLouisMBB) March 17, 2013
— Saint Louis Men's Basketball (@SaintLouisMBB) March 17, 2013
Curious employees and shoppers eventually figured out who the players were and joined the team to watch the live selection announcements. A cheer went up when the Billikens were announced as a No. 4 seed in the Midwest bracket.
“It was awesome,” said Kunderman. “And thank God we stopped because we were announced pretty quickly.”
And it seemed the people at Best Buy loved having their tourney-bound guests stop in.
"I brought them in the Magnolia Room and the next thing I know there are 30 guys there," said Secaucus GM Jen Hart in a press statement. "A couple minutes later, they all started screaming. They thanked us 100 times, helped move the chairs back and got on the bus... They were really nice guys."
Back on the road to Teterboro. Thx to the fine folks at the Secaucus Best Buy for your hospitality. pic.twitter.com/BegPWavL5E
— Saint Louis Men's Basketball (@SaintLouisMBB) March 17, 2013
March Madness has yet to begin, but it would appear the March Strangeness is well underway.
Follow me for me strange NCAA minutiae: Dr__Carson
March Madness Sleeper Series: Why Saint Louis Is a Final Four Dark Horse
Mar 4, 2013
Rick Majerus was a wildly entertaining man. He had no issue with nudity. His language was occasionally dirty, but the messages he delivered were always insightful and usually made you laugh.
College basketball lost one of its greatest characters on Dec. 1, 2012, when Majerus lost his long battle with heart problems.
What the colorful coach left with us was a great college basketball team, perfecting the principles that Majerus preached.
Only unlike Majerus, the Saint Louis Billikens are kind of boring.
They don't have a star. They don't do anything particularly fancy or fast-paced. They guard. They run a good offense. (You can hear Majerus emphasizing the "O".) And at the end of the day, they just beat you because they're better and more sound than you.
By the time the month ends, you'll know all about the team now coached by Jim Crews. You'll probably even root for the Billikens. Everyone loves a good story.
This one could stretch into April.
Why Saint Louis Is Dangerous
1. Billikens Get Good Shots
What makes the Bills so good on the offensive end is that they can beat you in so many different ways.
You cannot lock in on any one player. Dwayne Evans, who is sort of a three-four hybrid, is the team's leading scorer at just better than 12 points per game. Saint Louis has three players who average double figures and six who average more than seven points per game.
Not to be too cliché, but we are really just kind of one team. We don't have any selfish guys. All the scoring is spread around. We play defense as a team. Obviously there have been some heated exchanges in practice, but for the most part, we just play together. It's been growing over the years, honestly, and this year is just the culmination of that. After facing so much adversity early on in the season, it's kind of propelled us even farther.
Majerus was a master at running good offense that highlighted his team's best attributes, and this team is still running all of Majerus' stuff.
The Billikens are deliberate and also opportunistic in their sets. They can take advantage of bad matchups all over the court. Cody Ellis, the team's second-leading scorer, comes off the bench as a stretch 4 and forces opposing big men to guard him outside.
Center Rob Loe, who is 6'11", can also shoot the three. Evans, at 6'5", is probably the toughest matchup and that's likely why he leads the team in scoring.
If you put a smaller player on Evans or even someone his own size, the Bills will post him up, as they do here against Butler.
It's also not a good idea to put a bigger player on Evans, because then he'll go out to the perimeter and slash. He has the ability to drive either direction, finish with either hand, and he shoots 68 percent at the rim, according to Hoop-Math.com.
Here is Evans taking advantage of a hard closeout and driving past Butler's Roosevelt Jones.
SLU's guards all can shoot from the perimeter and also have the ability to drive, so it's not like you can help off of them to contain the inside-out big men.
The most talented guard is Kwamain Mitchell, who missed the first 11 games with a foot injury. The Bills are 15-2 since his return.
They already did a good job of not giving the ball away before Mitchell returned, but their ability to almost always get a shot has improved, as Mitchell is the team's best ball-handler and penetrator.
With Mitchell, the Billikens are turning it over on only 15.6 percent of their possessions, which would be tied for fourth-best in the country through March 4, according to KenPom.com.
Against VCU, the best team at forcing turnovers in the country, the Billikens gave it away only eight times. It was only the second game all season VCU hasn't been able to force double-digit turnovers.
The other team to finish with only eight turnovers was Duke.
So you cannot force the Billikens into mistakes. You cannot key in on one guy. And you cannot bank on the Bills to take questionable shots.
The postseason usually turns the game into more of a half-court contest, and few teams are as well-equipped to play that style as SLU.
2. The Billikens Play Stingy Team Defense
Similar to how opposing defenses have to account for every SLU offensive player, there is not a weak link on the defense either.
The Bills put on a clinic night in and night out on how to play great team defense.
They rarely gamble, yet they apply so much pressure and their rotations are so good that opponents turn it over on more than 23 percent of their possessions.
The clip below is a great example how great positioning and rotations can turn into a turnover. Notice that had Butler completed the pass to Andrew Smith, SLU's Grandy Glaze had already rotated under the basket and would have cut off Smith.
The Billikens also have great size, especially for a mid-major. According to KenPom.com, their effective height ranks 28th in the country.
The picture that has been painted is a team that relies on great execution to win. That's true in many ways, but the Billikens have great athletes too. Their guards are quick and strong on the perimeter, so you cannot just spread the floor and hope to beat them off the dribble.
You have to run action, take good shots and out-execute Saint Louis to win. That's why the Billikens have been so consistent. Few teams can even come close to accomplishing all three.
3. Billikens Dominate a Strong A-10
Quick, before you look at the chart below, answer this: Which conference (as it currently stands) has the most Final Four appearances since 2010?
Yes, it's not the Big Ten or Big East or ACC that leads the way; it's the Atlantic 10.
Those Final Four schools that currently represent the A-10 (Butler and VCU) could move elsewhere by the time a new school year begins next fall, and neither was in the conference at the time; however, they are this year and the A-10 is as good as it has ever been.
Butler has wins against Gonzaga and Indiana, currently the top two teams in the AP poll. VCU played Duke close in November and after slapping around Butler 84-52 on March 2, the Rams will likely be a trendy pick in the tourney.
Here's how those schools have fared against the Billikens:
Saint Louis 75, Butler 58—Jan. 31 at Saint Louis
Saint Louis 76, VCU 62—Feb. 19 at Saint Louis
Saint Louis 65, Butler 61—Feb. 22 at Butler
The Atlantic 10 is ranked as the seventh-best conference by the RPI—one spot ahead of the SEC—and could place as many as five teams in the NCAA tournament.
So if the A-10 is on par or close to on par with the power six conferences, the team that has dominated the league should probably be considered a Final Four threat.
Saint Louis has undoubtedly been the A-10's best team, outscoring league opponents by better than 16 points per 100 possessions. That's better than how Miami has fared against the ACC, and the ACC will likely get fewer teams in the tourney than the A-10.
If you're going by the eye test, a good pair of eyes to trust would be Butler coach Brad Stevens'. Stevens obviously knows what it takes to make a Final Four, and he's a believer in SLU.
Here's what he said on Dan Dakich's radio show on Feb. 20, two days before his team lost at home to Saint Louis:
I've tried my best to tell everybody how good they were and nobody seems to be really paying as much attention as they should. I legitimately think they're a Final Four candidate. I think they're physical, they're big, they're deep, they can score in the post. They can shoot the ball. They've got good guards. Their guards post. Their bigs can shoot. It's just a completely well-rounded team, and oh by the way, the way that they defend has really dominated our league up to this point to be quite candid.
That sounds a lot like the teams Stevens molded into Final Four squads: physical, well-rounded and great defensively.
After playing against a loaded A-10 this season, you can add one more descriptor: battle-tested.
Teams Saint Louis Could Beat in NCAA Tournament
1. New Mexico: The RPI loves the Lobos and they are likely to be a high seed. They already had the displeasure of playing Saint Louis, losing 60-46 on Dec. 31 at SLU.
2. Louisville:The Cardinals thrive on forcing turnovers and turning those giveaways into fast-break opportunities. Saint Louis is not going to make mistakes and has guards quick enough to stay in front of Peyton Siva and Russ Smith.
St. Louis University: Billikens Win for Majerus; North Texas Game Preview
Dec 3, 2012
On the most somber of days at Chaifetz Arena, the St. Louis University Billikens took the floor less than 24 hours after learning that their former coach, Rick Majerus, had passed away after a long battle with heart disease.
The Billikens wore black shirts during warm-ups and black stripes on their jerseys in Majerus' honor. But the team's play on the court served as the perfect offering to Majerus' legacy.
SLU defeated Valparaiso 62-49 and did it in classic Majerus style, combining pinpoint shooting with a suffocating defensive effort.
Valpo Recap
Valparaiso came into St. Louis on a roll, having won five of the team's first six games. The scouting report said the Crusaders would be a tough matchup for the Billikens.
With SLU down to just three healthy guards, the last thing they needed to see was an opponent's rotation give heavy minutes to a backcourt that runs five-deep.
With SLU's low-post defense being more offensive than anything resembling defense, the last thing Billiken fans wanted to see was an opponent whose two best weapons are their power forwards.
Playing with heavy hearts, SLU helped Billiken fans say goodbye to Majerus with a near-perfectly executed game plan.
Dwayne Evans led the Billikens with 17 points. Evans acknowledged in a postgame interview with Scott Highmark from Fox Sports Midwest that he must be the team's low-post scoring threat, and he came through with a virtual flawless performance. Evans was 5-for-6 from the field, adding five rebounds and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
Jordair Jett returned to the starting lineup with a thunder, scoring 14 points while leading the team in rebounds (6) and assists (7).
The Billikens shot nearly 53 percent from the field in the first half, while limiting the Crusaders to only 38 percent.
The Billikens called and raised themselves in the game's second half, shooting 59 percent while holding Valparaiso to a ridiculously low 28 percent success rate from the field.
The Crusaders' leading scorers, Ryan Broekhoff and Kevin Van Wijk, had combined to average 33 points coming into Sunday's game. The Billikens limited the Horizon League All-Conference first-teamers to just 20 total points on a combined 6-for-17 shooting from the field.
Valparaiso made one more three-point field goal (5) than SLU (4), but they attempted more than twice as many shots (21-9).
SLU outscored Valparaiso 30-18 in the paint. While the Billikens' gave up far too many turnover (18) for such a disciplined team, they managed to lead the Crusaders 20-13 in points scored off them.
It was a total team effort for SLU, as they now look to build on Sunday's effort and continue to rack up wins during the team's December homestand.
Game Time
The Billikens (4-3) return to action on Wednesday night, where they face the North Texas Mean Green (3-5) in a 7 p.m. (CT) tipoff. The game will be televised locally on Fox Sports Midwest.
SLU will look to net consecutive victories for the first time this season, after battling through a seesaw of wins and losses for the first seven games.
Breaking Down North Texas
SLU has not faired well this season when having to defend against a do-it-all offensive weapon capable of creating his own shot.
The Billikens failed against Kansas' Travis Releford, Santa Clara's Kevin Foster and most recently, Washington's C.J. Wilcox.
SLU will have the chance to redeem their defensive reputation against the Mean Green's superstar forward, Tony Mitchell.
Mitchell (6'8", 235 lbs) is just a sophomore, but the accolades are flying at him in massive amounts.
Mitchell can score (13.6 per game this season), rebound (8.3 per game) and block shots (2.9 per game). Those numbers are really a mirage, as Mitchell is capable of so much more after averaging a double-double in 23 games last year.
Mitchell also has solid hands (1.6 steals this season) and he can hit a three when needed. He is the one man capable of taking over a game and the one man SLU cannot let get into a rhythm Wednesday night.
If the Billikens are able to slow down Mitchell, they still must also pay careful attention to the Mean Green's other offensive options.
Fellow sophomore Chris Jones (6'2", 202 lbs) leads the North Texas attack alongside Mitchell, averaging 11.1 points and 5.4 assists per game so far this season.
Jones can also handle his own on the defensive end, averaging 2.1 steals and 3.6 rebounds per game this year.
Junior guard Alzee Williams is the team's wild card. Williams (6'4", 180 lbs) is big enough to cause matchup problems on the smaller Billiken guards. He is also aggressive with the ball and will look to drive on whomever he's facing.
Depth in the frontcourt is waning for the Mean Green, as Mitchell is the only true forward among the team's top five in minutes played.
Roger Franklin (6'5", 220 lbs) is capable of playing down low and his 6.4 rebounding average is second to Mitchell on the team.
SLU should be able to take advantage of a North Texas rotation that rarely sees anyone taller than 6'8".
The Billikens should look to feed the ball down low to Evans and Cory Remekun. Rob Loe should also look to get off the wing and into the paint for some potentially easy buckets.
If the Billikens limit the turnovers and make the extra pass to navigate the suspect North Texas defense, this game should very early on be solidly in Billikens' favor.
St. Louis University: Remembering Coach Rick Majerus
Dec 1, 2012
I would imagine that the ultimate compliment one can give a head basketball coach is to say that your players were better off for having you lead them.
Better players on the court. Better students in the classroom. Better human beings in all.
As much as anyone who has dedicated their life to teaching young men through the lens of an orange sphere, Rick Majerus deserves such a high compliment.
The former St. Louis University Billikens basketball coach died Saturday at the age of 64.
Majerus had no biological children, yet he is a father figure to hundreds of men. Majerus was married only briefly, yet fans at the universities of Marquette, Ball State, Utah and St. Louis were left widowed upon his passing.
Majerus' life was basketball. It will be difficult to imagine the game without him.
Majerus has said many times that he never enjoyed coaching a game. Games are all about wins and losses, scoring points and condensing your worth to the outcome on a scoreboard.
Majerus loved coaching practice. Practices offer players the chance for introspection. Practices offer players the chance to challenge themselves in a way that they've never allowed before.
At SLU, Majerus took over an otherwise dormant basketball program, and within a couple recruiting classes, he had completely revitalized the school, fan base and city. Fans in Milwaukee, Muncie (Ind.) and Salt Lake City can say the same thing.
Without Majerus, there is no Chaifetz Arena. Without Majerus, there is no on-campus state-of-the-art practice and athletic facility.
Without Majerus, SLU does not make international recruiting inroads in Greece, Australia and New Zealand.
Before Majerus, SLU's basketball history could have been condensed into four words: Ed Macauley, Larry Hughes.
Before Majerus, SLU's basketball history was composed of the two local St. Louis products who brought success to the hometown team while making it all the way to the NBA.
The 50 years at SLU between Macauley and Hughes were virtually empty. Before Majerus, SLU basketball was a story that could otherwise be titled “The Misadventures of Acceptable Mediocrity.”
Majerus made his players strive for more than simple mediocrity. For that, everyone who called Majerus "Coach" was better off for having him as their leader.
St. Louis University Billikens vs. Valparaiso: Game Preview
Nov 29, 2012
Kevin Foster. Travis Releford. You can now add C.J. Wilcox's name to that list of superstar guards that have taken the St. Louis University Billikens defense to school.
The Billikens went to Seattle on Wednesday night, looking to give the Washington Huskies their third straight home loss. Instead, SLU ran into a buzzsaw at the hands of Wilcox.
Wilcox destroyed the Billikens defense, scoring a game-high 27 points to lead the Huskies in a 66-61 victory over SLU.
Wilcox was nearly perfect from the field, missing two shots all night. In shooting 11-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-5 from the three-point line, Wilcox was responsible for almost half of the Huskies field goals (24) and nearly all of their three-pointers (6).
The Billikens had one man to beat. They failed.
West Coast Recap
It wasn't just the C.J. Wilcox show at Alaska Airlines Arena on Wednesday night. The other two players we previewed before the game, Abdul Gaddy and Aziz N'Diaye, also had huge contributions for the Huskies.
Gaddy and N'Diaye each scored in double figures (16 and 14, respectively) with N'Diaye adding eight rebounds and Gaddy dishing four assists.
The Huskies were horrid from the free-throw line, making only 12 of 22 attempts (54.5 percent). But because the Billikens only shot three free throws the entire night, the free-throw line was arguably the difference in the game for the Huskies.
For the record, Rob Loe was responsible for all of SLU's FT attempts, with two coming on Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar's technical foul.
The Billikens were terribly inefficient with the ball on offense, shooting 43.9 percent from the field overall. Cody Ellis' performance was a microcosm of the team's game.
Ellis led the Billikens with 14 points, fueled mostly by his four three-pointers. However, Ellis took 12 three-point shots altogether and was a combined 5-of-14 from the field.
Jordair Jett, still recovering from a groin injury, came off the bench to score 11 points. Jett looked much healthier on the court, adding six assists and four rebounds to his stat line. However, he was unable to stop Wilcox from scoring at will.
Cory Remekun looked good for the Billikens on the defensive end, blocking three shots within the first 10 minutes of the game. However, foul trouble limited Remekun to only 12 minutes of playing time, silencing his impact in the second half.
Home Cookin'
The Billikens (3-3) now return home to Chaifetz Arena for nine consecutive home games stretching into the second week of January. It will be crucial for the Billikens to win nearly all of these games if they want to continue building an NCAA tournament resume come March.
First up for the Billikens are the Valparaiso Crusaders (5-1) on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (CT).
The Billikens' nine-game home stand is highlighted by visits from North Texas (Dec. 5), Loyola Marymount (Dec. 22), SIU-Edwardsville (Dec. 28) and nationally-ranked New Mexico (Dec. 31).
Breaking Down Valparaiso
The defending champions of the Horizon League last year, the Crusaders (22-12, 14-4 in conference) expect nothing less than a repeat performance this season.
With Butler leaving the Horizon League to join the Atlantic-10 this season, that task is now much easier for head coach Bryce Drew's squad. Horizon League writers agree, picking Valparaiso to repeat as conference champions.
So far, the team has delivered. Valparaiso has rattled off five wins in the team's first six games, including an 88-83 overtime victory at Kent State in mid-November.
The Crusaders offer an interesting dichotomy for opponents; they are extremely deep in the backcourt, yet their two best players are power forwards.
Valparaiso offers opponents an unending wave of ballhandlers. Five of Valparaiso's six guards see more than 22 minutes of playing time per game. It will be imperative for the Billikens to have more than two or three guards available on Sunday.
That means freshman Keith Carter's return is a must. Carter dressed for the Washington game but did not play. His presence is necessary to help shoulder the load Mike McCall and Jett have been carrying in Carter's absence.
Valparaiso most often employs the use of a three-guard lineup, but opponents cannot sleep on the team's big men.
Frontcourt
The Crusaders are led by a combo of senior forwards: Ryan Broekhoff and Kevin Van Wijk. The Horizon League All-Conference first teamers have combined for 33.0 points and 12.7 rebounds per game so far this season.
While not impressive physical specimens for the low block, Broekhoff (6'7", 215 lbs) leads the team in scoring and rebounding. He is a near perfect free-throw shooter (96.7 percent) and can shoot from anywhere on the court (40.6 percent from three-point range).
Van Wijk (6'8", 240 lbs) is a little bigger than Broekhoff, but his scoring touch is just as solid.
Expect to see Remekun match up down low on Van Wijk while Loe runs baseline to baseline with Broekhoff.
SLU must also have a game plan for junior forward Bobby Capobianco. The Indiana transfer has seen only limited action on the floor this season (14.0 minutes per game).
However, in that time Capobianco (6'10", 245 lbs) has strong numbers (7.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game) that rank among the team's leaders.
Backcourt
The ballhandlers to watch on Valparaiso are senior guards Erik Buggs (5'11", 160 lbs) and Matt Kenney (6'4", 205 lbs).
Together Buggs and Kenney combine for over eight assists per game. And while the two do not score as much as other guards the Billikens have faced this year, they are both very good shooters (50 and 48 percent from the field, respectively).
Expect to also see heavy minutes from senior guards Wil Bogan and Ben Boggs, as well as junior Jordan Coleman. All can score and rebound very effectively.
The Crusaders offer the Billikens their most balanced, and by far their most experienced, opponent to date.
The seesaw of wins and losses this year says the Billikens are due for a victory. A little defense and some improved shooting would also help the cause.
St. Louis University Billikens vs. Washington Huskies: Game Preview
Nov 27, 2012
The St. Louis University Billikens will leave the state of Missouri for the first time this season as they head to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies (2-3) on Wednesday night.
Tipoff is scheduled for 11 p.m (CT), providing Billiken fans with a little "Midnight Madness" drama on an otherwise calm November weeknight.
West Coast Bound
Wednesday's game provides the Billikens their one true road contest of the non-conference season. The team returns to Chaifetz Arena for nine consecutive home games stretching into the second week of January.
The West Coast has provided the Billikens a mixed bag of memories in recent time. Last year, the team followed an impressive victory in the 76 Classic in Anaheim with a terrible loss to Loyola-Maramount two days later in Los Angeles.
There will be no championship hangovers to blame this year for a sluggish game at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Real Life M * A * S * H Unit
SLU (3-2) will be looking to stop the seesaw of wins and losses this season and instead win consecutive games for the first time this year.
That will be no small task, as the team is essentially a band of walking wounded.
Guard Keith Carter remains out of action with a foot injury. He has missed the team's past three games, however, Tom Timmerman reported Tuesday morning (via STLToday.com) that Carter was not wearing a protective boot anymore.
Forward Grandy Glaze is still wearing a sling to help heal his dislocated shoulder. There is no timeline on his return to the court. Guard Kwamain Mitchell has also moved off the crutches and Timmerman reports that he looks fine. Mitchell is still targeting a late-December return from a broken foot.
More importantly, guard Jordair Jett and forward Cody Ellis are dealing with injuries of their own. Jett pulled his groin against Kansas last week in the CBE Classic. He was able to play Saturday in the team's 61-51 victory over Southern Illinois, but his hobble was obvious. Jett flashed his explosiveness a few times, but for the most part, he limped up and down the court.
Jett is still not 100 percent, although he reportedly told Timmerman that he was practicing with the team and getting better.
If Jett is unable to contribute on the floor, the Billikens will be left with only two guards on the roster: Mike McCall and Jake Barnett.
Head coach Jim Crews noted in Saturday's post-game radio interview that Ellis dinged his shoulder in Kansas City and that the injury was still affecting him against SIU.
Ellis could be seen working on the shoulder in pre-game and halftime shootarounds, but his play was not markedly affected, as he made three of his six three-point attempts.
The Billikens will most definitely need Jett and Ellis at their best, if they are going to have a shot at taking down the Huskies on their home court.
Breaking Down the Huskies
The Huskies came into the season with high hopes. Picked by media writers to finish fourth in what is a very underrated Pac-12 conference, Romar did not look to be missing a beat with this year's squad, despite losing the team's top two scorers from last season.
Without Terrence Ross and Tony Wroten (32.4 points per game combined last year), the Huskies have become junior guard C.J. Wilcox's team.
Wilcox (6'5", 195 lbs) has not disappointed, averaging 18 points per game, including a career-high 26 points in the Huskies' loss Wednesday night at home to Colorado State.
The Pac-12 All-Conference first-team guard will be a matchup nightmare for the much shorter Billiken guards (I feel like I've been saying that a lot so far this season), stressing the need for Jett's defensive presence even more.
In the frontcourt, eyes will naturally go to the Huskies' big man, Aziz N’Diaye. At 7'0", 260 pounds, N'Diaye will give SLU's Robert Loe and John Manning all they can handle.
N'Diaye is averaging a double-double this season (10.8 points, 11.0 rebounds) and has a solid enough post game that he should be able to take advantage of the subpar defense Loe and Manning have displayed so far this year.
At the point, the Huskies are led by senior guard Abdul Gaddy. Gaddy (6'3", 195 lbs) has NBA-type passing skills, leading last year's 24-11 Huskies (14-4 conference) in assists last year (5.2 per game).
Gaddy has flashed a newfound scoring ability. He has upped his average from 8.1 to 14.6 points per game, while increasing both his overall shooting from 40.0 to 50.0 percent and his three-point shooting 33.0 to 42.1 percent.
Fortunately for the Billikens, they will not have to face the Huskies' best low-post presence, as Shawn Kemp Jr. (yes, his dad is who you think it is) remains sidelined until January with a torn patellar tendon.
Washington has lost back-to-back homes games (Colorado State and Albany) for the first time since 2008. They are not the kind of team to lose three in a row at home.
It will take solid performances from the entire Billikens rotation to overcome the injuries, travel and late start to take down the Huskies and return to St. Louis with a solid 4-2 record.
St. Louis University: CBE Wrap-Up and Southern Illinois Game Preview
Nov 23, 2012
St. Louis University (2-2) hosts Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) in a 7:00 p.m. (CT) tipoff at Chafeitz Arena on Saturday night.
The Billikens return home on the heels of runner-up finish in CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City earlier this week.
SLU impressively shut down Texas A&M Monday night in a 21-point victory that was never really in doubt. The Billikens held a nine-point halftime lead, and then proceeded to blow out the Aggies in the second half.
SLU shot 67 percent from the field in the second half and five Billikens scored in double figures, led by Dwayne Evans, who matched his career high with 21 points.
The Billikens took the floor the following night against the highly talented and nationally-ranked Kansas squad. Things did not go as well for the Billikens as they lost 73-59.
Kansas raced out to a 14-point lead at halftime, and the Billikens had no answer for the Jayhawks big man, Jeff Withey, who finished with 25 points and seven blocks.
SLU is dealing with many injuries on the homefront. Freshman guard Keith Carter did not play in Kansas City, as he is still dealing with a leg injury suffered against Santa Clara two weeks ago.
Junoir forward Grandy Glaze suffered a dislocated shoulder in his one minute of play against Texas A&M and his return date is unknown.
Most importantly, junior guard Jordair Jett injured his groin midway through the Kansas game. Jett did return to play, albeit briefly, and his status is unclear heading into Saturday's contest.
Without Carter, Jett and Kwamain Mitchell, who is still eyeing a late-December return to the team from a broken foot, the Billikens have only two guards available on the roster, Mike McCall and Jake Barnett.
Barnett was originally slotted as the fifth guard in the rotation at the start of the season. What was once a position of great depth has now become a serious problem.
Even if Jett returns against Southern Illinois, the team cannot legitimately expect he and McCall to play 35 minutes (or more) on a nightly basis.
On the bright side, Cory Remekun was very impressive in his season debut in Kansas City. Remekun stepped right into some heavy minutes within the starting rotation. In the two CBE Classic games, he scored 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting and blocked four shots.
Dwayne Evans was named to the All-Tournament Team as he put together a 29-point, 15-rebound effort throughout the Classic's two games.
McCall and Cody Ellis both had solid games as well, scoring 26 and 29 points, respectively, in the two games.
The Billikens can expect to see a tough Southern Illinois (3-0) squad on Saturday night.
The Salukis made a change on the sidelines by bringing in long-time Missouri State head coach Barry Hinson to coach the Salukis after last season's disasterous 8-23 effort.
The Salukis are led by senior guard Jeff Early, who is off to an incredible start to the season. Early (6'1", 187 pounds) is averaging nearly a double-double (20.7 points, 9.7 rebounds) as he has become the Salukis top offensive threat.
Early has so far admirably filled the role of do-it-all-man Mamadou Seck, who graduated last year after leading the Salukis in points and rebounds per game (13.3 and 7.9, respectively).
The Billikens will also have to account for junior guard Desmar Jackson and sophomore forward Dantiel Daniels. Jackson and Daniels were both voted to the Missouri Valley's Preseason All-Conference Fourth Team.
Daniels (6'5", 230 pounds) and Jackson (6'5", 173 pounds) will both provide matchup problems for the Billikens. Jackson is averaging 11 points and 6.3 rebounds to start the season. He has already tallied eight steals through the first three games.
Daniels, a graduate from Wentzville High (Mo.) just outside St. Louis, has been slow to join the Salukis rotation this season, as he is averaging only 15 minutes per game.
However, as Daniels did last season as a freshman, he leads the team in blocks, and will surely be looking to make an impact on his home city's court.
The Salukis are coming off an intense 71-55 victory over SIU-Edwardsville on Tuesday night. An on-court scuffle under the SIUE basket led to the ejection of seven players.
Not much is expected of the Salukis this season as they continue to rebuild. They were picked by one college basketball site to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference. In another, they were picked to finish last.
No NCAA tournament appearances appear to be on the horizon. And certainly the days of Sweet 16 runs (2002, 2007) are distant memories.
The Billikens should be able to get above .500 again and hopefully get their season back on track before they head west to face a highly regarded Washington squad in Seattle on Wednesday.
There is no simpler way to put it: the Saint Louis Billikens stunk up the joint last Wednesday against Santa Clara. The 74-62 loss doesn't look as bad on paper as the play on the court actually reflected...
