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Saint Louis Basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Billikens

By Caleb Hightower

FAIRFAX, VA - MARCH 04: Jordan Goodwin #0 of the Saint Louis Billikens is introduced before a college basketball game against the George Mason Patriots at the Eagle Bank Arena on March 4, 2020 in Fairfax, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
FAIRFAX, VA - MARCH 04: Jordan Goodwin #0 of the Saint Louis Billikens is introduced before a college basketball game against the George Mason Patriots at the Eagle Bank Arena on March 4, 2020 in Fairfax, Virginia. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Saint Louis Basketball Hasahn French (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2020-21 Schedule

Although Saint Louis’s non-conference schedule is still a work in progress, the Billikens have managed to secure games against LSU, Indiana State, Northern Iowa, and Minnesota (per College Basketball Insider, Jon Rothstein, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriter, Stu Durando). Out of those 4 opponents, LSU is the one that will probably give the Billikens the most problems.

They are coming off an impressive 2019-20 season when they finished with a 21-10 overall record, and a 12-6 conference record. Despite losing a few key players, I think that because Javonte Smart and Trendon Watford are still around, the Tigers will be a tough out for many teams this year.

Minnesota is a team that was never really able to get on the right track last season, but that does not mean that the 2020-21 Gophers, won’t be more competitive this season. They won’t be able to lean on current NBA Draft prospect, Daniel Oturu, but with a few pivotal players returning, and some interesting freshmen on their roster, the Gophers could quickly make others forget about their disappointing 15-16 overall record, and 8-12 conference record in 2019-20.

Winning those two games would definitely help boost Saint Louis’s resume, especially because they will not get the opportunity to compete against San Diego State, Memphis, and Boston College (per Jon Rothstein). A win against Indiana State (a team that finished with an 18-12 overall record, and an 11-7 conference record last season) wouldn’t look as impressive to the NCAA men’s basketball committee in March.

However, a victory against Northern Iowa (a team that finished 1st in the Missouri Valley Conference last season with a 14-4 conference record, and a 25-6 overall record, and has their leading scorer from a year ago returning) may help the Billikens tremendously in March.

Like Indiana State, Northern Iowa is a team that Saint Louis cannot overlook, and if they continue the trend of starting off games slow this year, and letting teams (who aren’t on the same level as they are) hang around all game long, there is a chance that the Billikens could run into some problems in that game, and the game against Indiana State.

Similar to their non-conference schedule, Saint Louis’s conference schedule is also a work in progress. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t look at a few Atlantic 10 opponents, that the Billikens may struggle against this season.

Richmond is a team that was a borderline NCAA Tournament squad a season ago, and because they are basically going into the 2020-21 season with the same talented roster (which is highlighted by Blake Francis, Jacob Gilyard, Grant Golden, and Nick Sherod), and will also be looking to avenge their 74-58 loss to the Billikens last season, Saint Louis will have their hands full against the Spiders.

While I am not sure how Dayton will fare this season, without potential top 3 2020 NBA draft pick, Obi Toppin (who was able to elevate his game when he played with Jalen Crutcher), I know that the Flyers are good enough to compete with the Billikens this year.

Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have said this, if Jalen Crutcher (Dayton’s second-leading scorer from a year ago), and Ibi Watson (Dayton’s fourth-leading scorer a season ago, who provided a spark for the Flyers off the bench) weren’t on the team this season, but because they are, I don’t think the Billikens have the luxury of disregarding them this year.

Rhode Island is another team that the Billikens can’t write off, because they have a dynamic, and creative scorer in Fatts Russell, leading the way.

Sure, the Rams won’t have their second-leading scorer from a season ago (Jeff Dowtin), and will also be without Tyrese Martin (Rhode Island’s third-leading scorer from a season ago), and Cyril Langevine (Rhode Island’s fourth-leading scorer from a season ago), but if Russell begins to torch the Billikens early, and is able to quickly find his groove offensively, the others players around him may begin to pick up their level of play as well (which could be bad news for the Billikens).

I could sit here and do this all day, but the main takeaway here should be, Saint Louis needs to bring their ‘A’ game every night, regardless of who steps on the floor with them. I don’t care if George Mason, Duquesne, or any other Atlantic 10 team comes into town (or hosts them at their building), the Billikens need to make sure that they quickly set the tone offensively. If they can manage to make that happen, they will see great results in conference play.

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