Full Guide to VCU vs. SLU: Where, When, TV, Streaming, Starting Lineups

Virginia Commonwealth and Saint Louis University were the preseason favorites to contend for the Atlantic Ten’s regular season title. Friday night the Revolutionaries visit the Billikens with first place on the line. While eighteenth ranked Saint Louis saw its eighteen game winning streak snapped Tuesday night, VCU defeated George Washington and the two are separated by one-half game. 

SLU (24-2, 12-1) defeated VCU (21-6, 12-2) 71-62 in Richmond earlier in the season. After Friday’s meeting the Billikens will have four games left and VCU will have three. 

These are the A-Ten’s top two scoring teams and its best teams in the NET. SLU (22) and VCU (45) each have at-large bid hopes of reaching the NCAA Tournament. Friday’s game will be a Quad 1 game for the Revolutionaries and a Quad 2 game for the hosting Billikens. 

SLU’s Depth, Explosive Offense & Elite Defense

The Billikens are among the nation’s top offensive AND defensive teams. Head coach Josh Schertz’s reputation for building offensive juggernauts is well earned. This year’s team is fourth nationally in scoring (90.8) and in assists (19.4) and third in effective field goal percentage (.613). 

But the Billiken defense is what sets them apart. The Billikens’ .362 defensive field goal percentage and three-point defensive percentage (.269) each leads the nation. They own the A-Ten’s best, in-conference rebound margin and its highest assist-to-turnover ratio. 

Schertz does it with depth and efficiency. Seven Billikens average over nine points per game, but none average even thirteen points per contest. During league play, star center Robbie Avila’s .491 shooting percentage is fifth best on his own team. 

Four Billikens rank in the league’s top eight in three-point percentage. Trey Green, Brady Dunlap, Ishan Sharma and Avila all make better that 41 percent from deep. 

VCU on a Hot Streak

Phil Martelli’ JR’s team has won ten straight and are making a move to become postseason relevant. A win Friday would put them squarely in the at-large bid mix and may be the deepest team, not named Saint Louis in the A-Ten.

They may be slightly deeper. VCU leads the A-Ten in ‘bench points’ and is fifth nationally collecting 35.8 points per game. SLU is sixth, racking up 35.1

While Terrence Hill (16.0) and Lazar Djokovic (15.2) dominate the VCU league scoring race, five other players average better than seven points per game. Hill comes off the bench to provide a jumpstart to the Rams offense. He also leads the team with 62 three-point baskets. 

Djokovic (5.7) is eleventh in rebounds and is ninth in blocked shots.