SLU Basketball – Depth & Balance

‘Team Blue’ – Success in Numbers

(St. Louis, MO) – It’s only one game, but Saint Louis U looks like a team that can find success in numbers. Hasahn French and Jordan Goodwin are the headliners, but SLU appears to be a team with some interchangeable parts, and many different kinds of weapons.

The season opening 89-67 win over Florida Gulf Coast gave a glimpse of what ‘might be’ for the Bills. Despite the graduation of Javon Bess and Tramaine Isabell, the offense showed more versatility, ball-movement and a variety of weapons.

There are multiple weapons and the Bills plan on wearing people out with success in numbers.

 

 

Goodwin & French

Every Billiken fan knows the leaders of the pack are French and Goodwin. They were both very good on Tuesday. Goodwin took charge in the first half, while French ruled the second. Both received preseason accolades from the Atlantic Ten Conference and each looked the part in the opener.

French returns after earning both All-Defensive team and third-team All-Conference honors last season. He was voted to the A-10’s preseason second-team and defensive squads. Goodwin was named to the preseason third-team.

Goodwin is a box score stuffer. Last season he averaged 10.5 points per game and led the team in steals (66) and was second in rebounding (7.5 per game) and assists (123).

They were superb in the opener. French led the Billikens with 20 points, three blocks and six boards. 16 of his points came in the second half. Goodwin scored 18 points and led the team with nine boards and three steals.

They are supposed to lead and they did.

The Other Pieces

SLU scored more points (89) than in any game last season. Nine players scored including 11 by sophomore Fred Thatch who seems to have the shackles removed and looks more like the player the Billikens expected him to be. Perhaps he was deferring to the seniors too much last season. The Sikeston grad also grabbed six rebounds, with three coming on the offensive end.

Transfers Javonte Perkins and Tay Weaver look like they fit nicely into Ford’s system. Both were active on the boards, defensively and hit a couple of threes.

Ford says the Billikens have to put team-first and find success in numbers. Despite the clear leadership of Goodwin and French, Ford says everyone has to contribute and that Weaver is an important addition

 

 

Rookie Contributors

Yuri Collins leads a wave of freshmen that need to contribute. Five of them were on the opening night roster. One started (Jimmy Bell) and Collins and Gibson Jimerson made their presence felt.

Collins came from nearby St. Mary’s High School and contributed eight points and nine assists in his collegiate debut. Jimerson threw in three triples on his way to a ten-point performance. Bell grabbed two early rebounds, but got into foul trouble and played just 13 minutes.

Highly rated Terrence Hargrove and Madani Diarra did not play.

Goodwin and Thatch met with the media after the game. The veterans praised the work of Collins and ‘the beast’ Hasahn French.

 

 

Next Up

Saturday the Billikens host the Missouri Valley’s Valparaiso. That team will be more athletic and versatile offensively than Florida Gulf Coast.

Each step will prove whether or not the Billikens can find success in numbers.

Do Good

Editor: Feature photo of Hasahn French courtesy of slubillikens.com.