Saint Louis Billikens
Atlantic 10 (23-12, 10-8)
Saint Louis is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since they reached three straight from 2012 to 2014. Since that time the Billikens had some decent teams, but were never able to put it all together. That was the case for most of this season too, but Coach Travis Ford rallied his team in the Atlantic 10 Tournament to earn the conference’s automatic bid.
Big Wins: 11/17 at Seton Hall (66-64), 3/15 vs Dayton (64-55), 3/16 vs Davidson (67-44)
Bad Losses: 11/21 vs Pitt (73-75), 1/23 at Duquesne (73-77), 1/30 Richmond (81-84)
Coach: Travis Ford
Why They Can Surprise:
This is a team that will always play solid defense and be aggressive offensively and on the glass. That is a pretty good formula for success in the NCAA Tournament. Hasahn French spearheads the effort on the glass. The 6-7 sophomore averages 8.4 rebounds on top of his 9.3 points and 1.8 blocks. D.J. Foreman is the only other forward who sees regular playing time, but guards Javon Bess and Jordan Goodwin do plenty of work on the glass. At 6-6, Bess can do everything and leads the team with 15.3 points per game. He can shoot over smaller defenders and dribble around bigger defenders. Goodwin is a superb defender and one of the best rebounding guards in the country.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The Billikens are one of the worst shooting teams in the country. The team as a whole shoots just 41.6 percent from the floor, which ranks 308th in the nation. Bess and Tramaine Isabell are a threat to shoot from beyond the arc, but neither has been consistent. This team is electrifying when they attack the basket, but they must at least maintain a threat of outside shooting in order to open up space to get to the basket. If the opposition can successfully pack five players in the paint to stop Bess, Isabell and Goodwin from attacking the basket, Saint Louis’ return to the NCAA Tournament will be a short one.
Probable Starters:
Javon Bess, Senior, Guard, 15.3 ppg, 1.8 apg, 6.7 rpg
Tramaine Isabell, Senior, Guard, 13.8 ppg, 3.7 apg, 4.1 rpg
Jordan Goodwin, Sophomore, Guard, 10.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 7.5 rpg, 1.8 spg
Hasahn French, Sophomore, Forward, 9.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg
D.J. Foreman, Senior, Forward, 5.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Key Role Players:
Fred Thatch, Freshman, Guard, 4.4 ppg
Dion Wiley, Senior, Guard, 4.7 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 67.4 (297th in nation, 11th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 64.9 (31, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.6 (308, 10)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.4 (59, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.7 (328, 13)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 30.5 (337, 13)
Free-Throw Percentage: 59.9 (350, 14)
Rebound Margin: 6.2 (22, 1)
Assists Per Game: 12.9 (219, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.3 (215, 10)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over North Carolina State |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Louisville |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over New Mexico State |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Oregon |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Memphis |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Michigan State |
| 2010 | CBI | First Round win over Indiana State |
| 2010 | CBI | Second Round win over Green Bay |
| 2010 | CBI | Semifinal win over Princeton |
| 2010 | CBI | Final loss to Virginia Commonwealth |
| 2004 | NIT | First Round win over Iowa |
| 2004 | NIT | Second Round loss to Notre Dame |
| 2003 | NIT | First Round loss to Minnesota |
| 2000 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Utah |
| 1998 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Massachusetts |
| 1998 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Kentucky |
*all team stats through 3/10
