Atlantic 10 Basketball: 5 key questions heading into 2021-22 season

What will define a new era of “Billiken Ball”?

For the last four years, St. Louis Coach Travis Ford has leaned on Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French to lead a slowed down, grit and strength-based system on both sides of the court.  With both having graduated, the Billikens will start anew with a very talented roster.  And even though Ford still has a veteran point guard in Yuri Collins who fits perfectly in the old way of doing things, this roster is constructed in a way that will encourage Ford to lean on its collective speed and athleticism.

The offense will continue to be captained by last year’s leading scorer, Javonte Perkins, who decided to use his extra year and return as SLU’s best shot creator since Javon Bess.  Perkins’ emergence has already led to a more open offensive system and without two paint-bound stars, things will really be aligned for Perkins’ success.

Already a career 36.3% career three-point shooter (while also shooting 45.3% from the field), Perkins could potentially expand his game as a playmaker and by getting the line more (3 attempts per game last season), both of which can be achieved with a more open paint and the presence of an athletic center.

Said center will likely be Francis Okoro, a former Top 50 recruit and transfer from Oregon who spent last season rehabbing an injury and practicing with the team.  Okoro started 40 games across two seasons with the Ducks and while his totals don’t jump off the board, he shot 53.7% from the field in his sophomore year, to go with nearly a block a game, despite playing backup minutes, as he displayed his leaping and athleticism.

Okoro has never even attempted a three at the college level but could help spread the floor if he can become a pick and roll lob threat, paired with either Collins, Perkins, or Oakland transfer Rashad Williams.

Williams is the definition of the floor spacer, leading the nation in three-point attempts with 277 and scoring 13.6 ppg. His stats weren’t simply floated up against mid-major competition as Williams made 10 threes in a 32-point performance against Michigan St and made 8 and scored 38 points against Oklahoma St.

A wing combination of Williams with 39.4% three-point shooter Gibson Jimerson would give Ford a deep shooting duo that he has never had with the Billikens and if he opts to start both, moving Perkins down to the 4, then we could see an offensive openness that SLU has lacked in the last decade.