Jake Barnett
(St. Louis, MO) – How high can a laid back group of Billikens fly? Time will tell, but the latest national polling finds Saint Louis University tenth in both national polls. SLU is undefeated in the Atlantic 10 Conference and their current 17 game win streak has run their record to 23-2.
After Saturday’s impressive win over the “Havoc” of Virginia Commonwealth, Head Coach Jim Crews’ team had answered a very important challenge. VCU came into Chaifetz Arena with the reputation, the national profile coach and a national audience was able to see what the Bills do best.
They defend, hit big shots and don’t back down. The senior laden group turned the ball over a dozen times in the first half, but still led the Rams by three points. Leaning on his starters for over 33 minutes each, Crews’ veterans coughed up the ‘rock’ just five times the second half and won the game more convincingly than the final 64-62 score would indicate.
Crews said his team not only didn’t back down, but they rose to the challenge of playing the ‘big bad Rams’ of VCU. On top of that he said his team is just a group of even keel guys that don’t get too high or too low.
Four of the five starters scored in double figures. Only Jake Barnett, who is nursing a foot problem fell short of that mark. Dwayne Evans led Saint Louis with 21 points and ten rebounds, but it was Rob Lowe’s late three pointer and Jordair Jett’s intimidating blocked shot that moved the record crowd at Chaifetz Arena into a frenzy.
10,639 (including Dr. Chaifetz) made it a special day on Lindell and there are just a few tickets left for the next home tilt on February 22nd. SLU has six games left before the A-10 tournament. Looming large is a March 1st return date in Richmond against VCU.
This has been a magical season for the Billiken seniors and for Crews in his first year as THE head coach. If Barnett holds up and their bench can contribute a bit more than we saw on Saturday, this team is built for a long dance card in March.
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