The lowdown
2000-01 record: 17-14; 8-8 in C-USA (t4th in American)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: Beat Detroit 86-71 in third-place game of NIT after losing to Tulsa 72-64 in semifinals.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. Who is going to score for the Billikens? They lost Justin Tatum and Maurice Jeffers, does that mean Marque Perry is now the go-to player?
2. Can Saint Louis control the tempo of the game? They struggled doing that last season and must to keep up in an uptempo Conference USA.
3. Can they find a way to score the easy baskets and produce in the paint? Will JC transfer Kenny Brown be a factor inside? Will he be a dominant presence?
Three Key Facts
1. The Billikens don't have a senior on the roster this season. If that seems odd, it is. It's the first time in over 70 years the roster is void of a senior.
2. While the Billikens have earned just two NCAA Tournament bids in the past four seasons, Saint Louis is 17-17 against the NCAA Tournament field over the past three seasons and has beaten nine different conference champions over that span.
3. After splitting the regular-season series with Louisville for three straight seasons, the Billikens swept the Cardinals last year for the first time in 35 years.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Billikens find a way to score inside and get enough wins for an NIT berth.
Worst case: They get pounded and can?t get above .500.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Marque Perry
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Jr.
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G
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6-1/175
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PTS: 10.1 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 3.5
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Chris Braun
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Jr.
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F
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6-10/235
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PTS: 6.1 | REB: 3.6 | AST: 0.2
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Josh Fisher
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Jr.
|
G
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6-2/185
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PTS: 5.0 | REB: 1.8 | AST: 2.9
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Maurice Jeffers
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G
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6-4/195
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PTS: 16.0 | REB: 6.1 | AST: 2.5
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Justin Tatum
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F
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6-7/235
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PTS: 8.9 | REB: 5.1 | AST: 0.6
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Saint Louis Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Kenny Brown
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C
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6-10
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St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood West
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Randy Pulley
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G
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6-2
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Raleigh, N.C./Word of God Christian Academy
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John Seyfert
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F
F
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6-8
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Stevensville, Mon./Stevensville H.S.
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Ross Varner
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F
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6-7
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Holladay, Utah/Skyline H.S.
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