Dayton vs. Saint Louis: 2020-21 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
After dropping a heartbreaker early on in the week, the Dayton Flyers will look to rebound in a daunting fashion against the Saint Louis Billikens.
TV schedule: Friday, February 19, 7:00 pm ET. ESPN2
Arena: UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio
Two Atlantic 10 foes heading in different trajectories will collide on Friday night, with the Dayton Flyers hosting the Saint Louis Billikens in a marquee conference showdown.
Once predicted to be at the top of the conference, the Flyers (11-7) have spiraled downwards in the month of January. After picking up impressive victories over the Billikens and Rhode Island to close out January, Dayton has dropped three of the last four games, scooping up a win over George Mason – but falling to Duquesne, VCU, and – most recently, in heartbreaking fashion – a double-overtime tilt at URI.
Dayton’s Tuesday game with URI was dramatic – for all the wrong reasons for the Flyers. After falling behind 7-0 in the opening minutes, the Flyers raced out to a dominant edge, outscoring the Rams by 25 points over the ensuing 33 minutes of play to take a 58-40 lead with 9:44 left in the game – and then proceeded to allow URI to embark on a 29-11 run themselves to tie the game, forcing overtime. The Rams eventually came out in double-overtime with a 91-89 win, snapping a four-game losing streak while handing the Flyers their second-straight loss.
The Flyers did not play poorly by any means – they saw three players reach double-digits, with freshman Zimi Nwokeji recording just his second double-figure game of the season with a game-high 29 points (7-8 2PT, 2-2 3PT, 9-11 FT) to go with nine rebounds. Seniors Jalen Crutcher and Ibi Watson registered stellar games as well, with Crutcher adding 22 points, five boards, and five assists – while Watson added 16 points and six boards.
What plagued Dayton was what has been an issue all season long: the lack of depth and offensive production. The Flyers saw eight players earn playing time – and three fouled out, including Nwokeji. Additionally, after the trio of double-digit scorers, Dayton’s next man up was Rodney Chatman – a bench player who also fouled out – with seven points. To add injury to insult, the Flyers turned the ball over 16 times, allowing URI to score 20 points off those miscues.
They will now meet a Saint Louis team that they have already beaten before but has been on a roll in previous weeks. The Billikens (11-3), after coming off a month-long layoff due to COVID-19 pauses, floundered a bit in their return, dropping back-to-back games to Dayton and La Salle – but has rebounded ferociously since then, claiming four-straight wins. Most significantly, the Billikens toppled the then-#1 team in the A-10 in St. Bonaventure by double-digits, and have since scooped up wins over URI, Fordham, and La Salle.
Saint Louis’ vengeance-filled win over the Explorers showcased what has made the Billikens one of the biggest mid-major darlings this year, with three players reaching double-digits. Jordan Goodwin had, arguably, one of the best games of his four-year career, scoring 16 points (5-10 2PT, 1-3 3PT, 3-3 FT), hauling down 15 caroms, dishing out eight assists, and registering two steals. Joining him in double-figures were Javonte Perkins – who recorded a team-high 19 points – and Fred Thatch, who tallied 12 points.
The Billikens – who have thrived inside all season long – did just that against La Salle, shooting a blistering 62.5% (25-40) on two-pointers while attempting 17 freebies – and holding La Salle to just six attempts. Meanwhile, Saint Louis hauled down 13 offensive rebounds – translating to an offensive carom on 43.3% of their missed attempts – and outscored the Explorers, 22-9, in second-chance points.
Saint Louis’ growing aggressiveness and assertiveness inside against La Salle is a distinct change from how the Billikens played against Dayton – and it, ultimately, maybe what propels Saint Louis to their fifth-straight win. When the two teams met, the Billikens – in their first game back from the layoff – shot 60.5% inside, but brought down just two offensive rebounds to Dayton’s four.
The Flyers are average in conference play in keeping teams off the offensive glass, allowing a carom to be brought down on 25.2% (6th) of opponents’ attempts – but they gave up 15 to URI in their last meeting. Saint Louis, meanwhile, ranks fourth in offensive rebounding percentage in the conference at 31.8% – and is among the best in the nation at 35.2% (14th).
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If the Billikens are able to shut down one of Dayton’s two-man tandem of Crutcher and Watson, then the Flyers will have issues, even if Nwokeji goes off again for another career-night. Considering Saint Louis’ aggressiveness inside, it is very much possible for Dayton’s woes in foul trouble to appear again – and that, ultimately, maybe what allows Saint Louis to cruise to victory on the road.
Prediction: Saint Louis 75 – Dayton 67