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NCAA Basketball: 2018 Christmas wish list for top mid-major conferences

By Jacob Matteson

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives the baseline during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Josh Perkins #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives the baseline during the second half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images /

Wish for A-10: Saint Louis earns another big win

The good is pretty solid, the average are pretty average and the bad are pretty…yikes.  That hard-hitting line of journalistic insight is the perfect capsule for the Atlantic 10 thus far this season.

What could end up being a one bid league, the A10 faithful have to be pleased with what the top half have done in recent weeks.  Davidson, VCU and Dayton have all hung tough and have scored some nice wins, but it’s the Billikens of Saint Louis who have carried a heavy burden for the conference.

A road win over Seton Hall, which will now be the gift that keeps on giving, and two home victories over Butler and Oregon State have shown who the class of the league may be this season.

While Davidson has excellent guard play and the super-power known as Bob McKillop and the pesky Dayton squad has hung tight with Virginia, Oklahoma, Mississippi State and Auburn, it’s Saint Louis who has the most to gain as we approach conference play.

In no way am I trying to diminish VCU going to Austin and knocking off former coach, Shaka Smart and the Texas Longhorns or UMass crushing the heart of Providence College faithful, but the well balanced Bills have much to gain with three games remaining in non-conference play.

Two key games remain for SLU before A10 play: at Houston on December 16th and a neutral court clash with Florida State on December 22nd.

Should just one of these games swing in favor of the Billikens, then suddenly we’re looking at a team with four KenPom Top-100 wins with the chance to earn more in conference play when facing Dayton, Davidson and VCU.

Much like the Seton Hall win, a victory over either Houston or Florida State could yield a fantastic return and continually help Saint Louis as the season carries onward.

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