Saint Louis Basketball: Takeaways from season opening win over Murray State

Here are the key takeaways from Saint Louis Basketball’s 91-68 season-opening win over Murray State.

Saint Louis Basketball is a top 30, if not top 20 team in the nation. Point guard Yuri Collins is the best point guard in the Atlantic Ten and perhaps in college basketball. SLU began its season with a convincing 91-78 win over Murray State.

Saint Louis and Dayton seem destined to battle for the A-10‘s top spot. It should be an interesting rivalry.

Here are our takeaways from Monday’s impressive victory.

Javonte Perkins Isn’t ‘Back’ But He’s Really Good

Perkins was the A-Ten’s preseason player of the year last season and missed the entire campaign with a knee injury. Coach Travis Ford says Perkins is healthy but has only “about 70% back”, meaning his quickness, lateral movement, and explosiveness.

Monday night Perkins scored 21 points while making four of ten from deep. He grabbed just one rebound and didn’t deliver an assist, so there is work to do, but Perkins at 70% is scary. Just wait until he’s in shape!

Yuri Collins Runs the Show

Collins recorded 14 assists and ZERO TURNOVERS! He knows where all his teammates are at all times, He commands their positioning and as the leader of this veteran team, with a nod or a wave of his hand teammates sprint into position to receive a precision pass for a dunk or a wide-open three.

The St. Lous native led the nation in assists last season and looks ready to defend his ‘dime’ dominance.

Saint Louis is Deep and Athletic

Twelve players participated and nine of them scored. In Perkins’ absence last season, Gibson Jimerson stepped up as the team’s leading scorer. He contributed 20 points, including four triples on opening night. Jimerson has developed a more versatile game after coming to Saint Louis as a three-point specialist.

Missouri transfer Javon Pickett is a key component to this team. SLU was very good last year, but lacked a proven ‘four-man’. Pickett looks the part and Monday night recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds. Jake Forrester came off the bench to give big man Francis Okoro (3 points and 13 rebounds) a break.

Forrester scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.SLU has size and athleticism and dominated the glass to the tune of 48-34.

Saint Louis has outstanding skill, depth, and athleticism. Ford wasn’t happy with their second-half defense, but if they tighten the screws on the defensive end, SLU will be a top-25 team and should win the A-Ten.