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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 15-16;
9-7 in C-USA (4th/American)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 2000.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Perry 14.1
Rebs: Brown 6.2
Assists: Fisher 3.3
FG: Brown 46.8%
3pt: Diener 42.3%
FT: Braun 75.8%
01-02 Stats:
Saint Louis | C-USA
KEY LOSSES
Jason Edwin | 9.2 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Josh Fisher | Junior
G | Marque Perry | Senior
C | Kenny Brown | Senior
F | Chris Sloan | Junior
F | Chris Brown | Senior
Player to Watch
Marque Perry
Senior Guard
Quicker than most C-USA guard, he also showed the ability to hit the big shot if given chance.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Saint Louis opens league play with a visit from Marquette. The Golden Eagles have beaten the Billikens four straight times, including a 55-38 embarrassment last year at home. Payback -- or at least breaking 40 -- would be a sign of progress.
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SAINT LOUIS
BILLIKENS
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The coaches changed, but the Billikens' achingly deliberate style should not. Lorenzo Romar was replaced by assistant coach Brad Soderberg, who knows how to grind with the best of them. Soderberg did a fine job as interim coach at Wisconsin two years ago, going 16-10 but then being passed over for the fulltime job. When Romar left for Washington last spring, this move made sense. He inherits a team that ranked 13th in the league in scoring offense at 63.1 points per game. (That bit about offense selling tickets and defense winning championships? It's a football saying. In C-USA, five of the top seven scoring teams played in the postseason. Only one of the bottom seven did -- and it wasn't the Billikens.) On the bright side, Saint Louis was third in scoring defense at 62.5. Seven of the nine players who saw significant action last year are back, led by guard Marque Perry. He, Josh Fisher and the third Diener in the league, Drew, dictate the tempo and apply remorseless perimeter half-court defense. The frontcourt of Kenny Brown, Chris Braun and Chris Sloan is solid but far from spectacular.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
This is an experienced team that will be patient with the ball and won't allow the defensive lapses that lead to easy baskets. In other words, opponents must be prepared for a frustrating night when they play Saint Louis. Nobody will rattle the backcourt.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
There just isn't much talent here. Make enough shots to force the Billikens out of their comfort zone, and they lack the firepower to keep up. They failed to reach 60 in 12 of their 31 games last year. Lack of a commanding interior presence means Saint Louis is often outrebounded (a minus-3.5 margin last year) and doesn't block many shots.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Saint Louis has had double-digit losses the past seven years, but has also won at least 15 games in six of the seven years and been to two NCAA Tournaments. This team probably fits into the same mode: around .500. The Billikens are plenty beatable but should also be dangerous for anyone not prepared to play their way.
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