The Billiken Overall Game
While Saint Louis is known for its offense, the Billikens are ninth nationally in defensive field goal percentage and they are outrebounding the opposition by nearly 13 per game (eighth nationally).
Schertz’s team plays the third fastest pace nationally (14 seconds per possession), so they allow nearly 70 points per game, but they are not easy to score on. Kenpom.com ranks them thirty-second in defensive efficiency.
Saint Louis boasts of its deepest and most athletic team in years. While only Avila and Paul Otieno are 6’9 or taller and play siginificant minutes, Schertz can send a wave of 6’6 players that are electrically fast and can leap out of the gym.
The Billikens will face stiff A-Ten competition. VCU, George Washington, Dayton and George Mason are all top-100 kenpom teams. Last season the Billikens were swept by Dayton, lost single games to GW and George Mason and split its two games with VCU.
The Billikens need to prove they can defeat those teams and win on the road.
During SLU’s two games against top-100 teams, they averaged 74.5 points-per-game. Those two neutral site games are difficult challenges like they will face routinely in the A-Ten, so there are still questions about the authenticity of the Billikens’ outstanding start.
This team is far more athletic and plays better defense than Schertz’s first team in the A-Ten. Schertz’s winning pedigree, the depth and experience on this year’s Saint Louis University team should contribute to an outstanding season.
San Francisco (142 in the NET) will be another marginal test for the Bills. We won’t know how good they are until we see them in league play, but the make up of their team, skill level and ability to defend should keep them near the top of the Atlantic Ten standings.