In a matter of weeks, the madness is set to kick in. Preparing the masses for the annual attempt at assembling a pot-splashing bracket, The Gaming Juice’s resident college basketball junkie, Brad Evans, will attempt to educate casual pool participants on under-the-radar teams capable of making deep runs. Today’s squad: Saint Louis Billikens.
The Cardinals, Blues, delicious ribs, Budweiser, a mighty river and the Arch -- embedded in the core of the country, St. Louis is well-known for many marvelous attractions and accoutrements.
Add the ballin’ Billikens to that list.
The Jesuit school located in the city’s center is tearing through the Atlantic 10. Its recent demolition of Dayton by 31 points was just the latest example of its dominance. Josh Schertz’s team hung 102 points and scored 1.40 points per possession in the throttling. Understandably, the head coach broke out a belt post-game, beat that ass and then ripped shots in celebration soon after at a nearby establishment.
The legend grows.
At 21-1 overall, doubters contend Saint Louis’ record is inflated by its subpar conference and 300+ non-conference strength of schedule. Yes, it’s best win was a road victory at VCU in early January and the Atlantic 10 checks in at an uninspiring No. 7 in KenPom’s conference net ratings, but it’s hard to deny the Billikens' per possession prowess.
Here’s why Saint Louis could be a team destined to bust brackets in March:
Sensational scoring. Similar to his Indiana State team that captivated college basketball fans two years ago, Schertz has installed sets and actions that simply melt scoreboards. Speed, spacing and execution are the rules Saint Louis lives by. His players are unselfish, committed to the overall cause. The Billikens are No. 27 nationally in assists-to-field-goals made while six players average 10+ points per game. Ripping chords at an ultra efficient level, they’re No. 1 in the country in eFG% offense, netting an absurd 60.4% from two and 41.1% from three through 22 games. Candidly, their offensive production is borderline godlike.
Dynamite defense. Squads like Arizona, Michigan, Michigan State, Houston, Duke and Nebraska are known for their guarding chops, but Saint Louis has earned its spot among defensive powerhouses. Complain about the cakewalk schedule all you want, but it’s impossible to deny its staunch D. Over the last month, the Billikens are No. 2 among D-1 teams in eFG% defense, surrendering a mere 42.9% inside the arc and 25.1% outside of it. More specifically, they’re top-five in near-proximity D, giving up only 48.2% on close-range shots. Challenging and contesting whether in the half-court or transition, Schertz’s crew seriously clamps down.
Depth. It’s unnecessary for a team to steadily feature the third or fourth guy off the bench, but having useful options down the roster is a luxury. According to KenPom, the Billikens are No. 88 nationally in bench minutes. Off the pine, Kallen Thomas, Ishan Sharma, Brady Dunlap and Paul Otieno all average at least 15 minutes per game. Having dependable bodies is crucial in a single-elimination tournament with quick turnarounds. If a starter or two experiences an underwhelming night, a role player can enter and elevate. As Schertz recently told the Field of 68, it’s a significant perk.
Experience. This year’s historic freshman class continues to garner headlines, but come tourney time, seasoned teams often triumph. Loaded with upperclassmen pulled from various institutions, the Billikens have endured many battles. At No. 38 in overall team experience according to KenPom, Robbie Avila (AKA "Milk Chamberlain") and cohorts generally play unfazed. That gained wisdom, in general, is critical come tourney time.
Among the 10 teams with similar BartTorvik profiles as Saint Louis since 2008, four tasted NCAA Tournament sweetness. Projected to finish 29-2 overall, Schertz’s high-flying squad shouldn’t be underestimated. Yes, the A-10 isn’t best preparing them, but the Gateway City reps own the team-wide symmetry required to stomp through brackets. Keep in mind, their +18.4 eFG% offense and eFG% defense disparity is the widest in KenPom history.
Come March, if Saint Louis reaches at least the second weekend, tequila shots are on Coach Schertz.