Who: No. 10 Saint Louis University (24-2, 11-0)
When: Saturday 8 p.m.
Where: Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis
Even if GW can tune out a raucous crowd and get past Saint Louis’ conference-leading defense , the Colonials will have an even greater obstacle Saturday: the Billikens’ experience and poise late in the game.
Saint Louis starts five seniors who have helped the team to win close games in conference play. The Billikens enter Saturday’s matchup as winners of 18 straight games, with their most recent victory coming in overtime against George Mason Wednesday.
Out of the team’s 11 conference wins, two games have been won in overtime, and five games have been decided by four points or less. Their only two losses this season have come against No. 16 Wisconsin and No. 3 Wichita State.
“It shows me what a team that starts five seniors can be,” GW head coach Mike Lonergan said during a practice Thursday. “They don’t get flustered and they find ways to win, and that’s what makes them a great team.”
The Billikens average 71.3 points per game and shoot the ball at 44.4 percent. SLU boasts three players who average double figures in scoring, led by senior Dwayne Evans who ranks 13th in the conference at 14.7 points per game. The Billikens best all-around offensive player however is senior guard Jordair Jett. Jett has great ability to get to the basket and draw defenses. He averages 13.7 points per game, and ranks second in the conference in assists at five per game.
As a team, the Billikens average 14.5 assists and turn the ball over 12.1 times per game, which yields the second best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league.
Senior forward Rob Loe will also give the Colonials fits, especially in the frontcourt, Lonergan said.
Loe, who stands at 6-foot-11, is a surprisingly strong perimeter scorer and can pass the ball well. In his last five games, Loe has averaged 14.2 points while shooting 12-for-25 from beyond the arc.
“Loe’s been doing a good job of hitting three’s lately, and really creates matchup problems,” Lonergan said. “[Larsen is] going to have to do a good job of making sure he gets out on him.”
The Billikens outscore their opponents by an average of 11.5 points per game, which ranks first in the conference. But their offense shouldn’t get all the credit.
They rank first in the conference and 12th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 59.9 points per game. Opponents shoot 39.4 percent from the field against the Billikens and 26.7 percent from beyond the arc. SLU forces 14.7 turnovers a game, many coming in the form of steals. The Billikens only trail VCU at 7.8 steals per game, with four players recording at least 25 steals so far this season.
“Their defense is what has my attention really,” Lonergan said. “They just do such a good job of denying things and taking you out of your offense.”
GW will have to play at their best if they plan on handing Saint Louis just its second home loss of the season, but the Colonials have some momentum entering Saturday’s game after a big road win at Richmond Tuesday.
“I’m telling them we had a nice road win at Richmond and now we have an opportunity to play a top 10 team in their building,” Lonergan said. “We’ve got nothing to lose but we’ve got to go in there and make sure that we’re confident, that we play loose, and win or lose this is only one game in our season.”
GW continues to be led by the scoring of graduate student Maurice Creek, who in the past four games is averaging 16 points. After successfully using Creek off the bench in Tuesday’s game, Lonergan said that he is unsure of his gameplan for Saturday’s matchup.
The Colonials will also look for another strong performance from sophomore guard Joe McDonald. McDonald logged heavy minutes against the Spiders, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds. Against a stingy Billikens defense, GW will look to McDonald to handle the ball and organize offensive sets. Lonegran did mention that he will need the rest of his backcourt to step up and help McDonald.
“We need to stay loose and have fun,” forward Isaiah Armwood said. “We think we can beat them. They’re a good team but we’re a good team as well.”
