22. Saint Louis (25-2)
Josh Schertz is not new to this type of story. He coaches one of the brilliant mid-major programs in the nation, much like he did at Indiana State just two seasons ago, but these Billikens are already getting national spotlight. Entering play this week, Saint Louis had run off 18 wins in a row and was clear favorites in the talented Atlantic 10, though nothing lasts forever.
That impressive streak came to an unsavory end on Tuesday as the Billikens fell 81-76 at Rhode Island for their first conference loss. Despite 21 points from Robbie Avila and a 19-point effort from Dion Brown they just couldn’t get the job done on the road. This team was ready for action on Friday, and despite digging an early deficit, the Billikens stormed back for an 88-75 win over VCU. Saint Louis decisively downed the A-10’s second-best program, getting 16 points off the bench from Kellen Thames in a great team win.
On any given night, Saint Louis can beat you with more than half a dozen different guys. They’ve found ways to survive shooting struggles and defensive lapses and remain in a fantastic position even with this loss. They’re 13-1 and in comfortable position in the A-10, especially after that win over VCU, and still are zoning in on a decent slot in the NCAA Tournament. They’re heading to Dayton for another intriguing challenge before hosting Duquesne next weekend.