Atlantic 10 Basketball: Bonnies on top heading into conference tournament

3. Saint Louis Billikens

• 2020-21 record: 13-5 overall, 6-4 A-10
• Previous ranking: 2nd

Like Richmond, the 2020-21 campaign has not necessarily gone the way the Billikens were hoping – but Saint Louis is, at least, in a better situation.  Still on the outside looking in of the tournament field, the Billikens dropped two must-wins in A-10 play after going on a four-game win-streak – but wrapped up the regular season with two solid victories.

After throttling Fordham and La Salle halfway through February, Saint Louis finally appeared like the team that was nationally ranked in the opening months of the season – but a 76-53 loss at Dayton all but drowned those perceptions.  Another road loss at VCU shortly followed, but the Billikens righted the ship with back-to-back wins over Richmond and UMass.

The trio of seniors in Jordan Goodwin, Javonte Perkins, and Hasahn French was all instrumental in those two wins, with all three reaching double-digits in both games.  The three combined for 84 of the Billikens’ 150 points, and the Billikens dismantled both teams inside, outscoring UMass and Richmond in points in the paint by a combined 76-34 margin.

If the last two tilts are any indication, then the Billikens may, finally, be returning to form – but time will tell if that is the case.  With the 4th-seed locked down in the tourney, as well as a double-bye, Saint Louis will take on one of Saint Joseph’s, La Salle, or UMass on Friday – the latter two the Billikens have beaten, but the former Saint Louis has yet to meet.