St. Louis team of mystery
The only consistent thing about Notre Dame's NIT opponent is their slow tempo.
Tickets: The game is sold out.
TV: WBND, Channel 57.
Radio: ESPN (AM 1000), WNDV (AM 1490; FM 92.9), WEFM (95.9 FM).
FORT WAYNE -- He traded a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean for Midwestern winters in a city that sits alongside the mighty Mississippi River.
When Josh Fisher transferred from Pepperdine to Saint Louis University, he hoped to play shooting guard for coach Lorenzo Romar. Romar, however, left for Washington, and Fisher instead spent the last two years setting up others as the point guard for head coach Brad Soderberg.
But when his career comes to a close, the senior captain from Mercer Island, Wash., will reflect on his choice with content.
"I've enjoyed every minute," said the 6-foot-2 Fisher, who leads the Billikens into tonight's second-round National Invitation Tournament game against Notre Dame. "I've just tried to go out there and do the little stuff that pays off in the end."
Fisher rarely finds his name in the morning headlines, or featured on the nightly highlights. On average, he scores 11.3 points, grabs 4.3 rebounds and adds 4.3 assists a night. But he logs a team-high 35.1 minutes for a group that will know next fall when No. 4 -- their glue guy -- is gone.
"He's just dependable," Soderberg said. "He just works every day, every game day, every practice."
Fisher's task tonight may be his toughest this season -- help limit the looks of junior point guard Chris Thomas, Notre Dame's leading scorer at 19.1 points per game. Thomas is one of several Irish capable of a big offensive night. The Billikens might have an answer for him, but none for backcourt mate Chris Quinn, who had 21 in Wednesday's win over Purdue. And sophomore Rick Cornett's offensive confidence now is soaring.
"They're playing great basketball," Soderberg said of the Irish (18-12), who have won seven of their last 10.
The Billikens look to keep the contest slow-paced and sluggish. Saint Louis averages only 62.5 points per game and allows 59.4. Those numbers would rank second-to-last and second-best respectively in the Big East.
Probable lineups
SAINT LOUIS
Chris Sloan, Sr., 6-7, F
(9.9 ppg., 4.8 rpg.)
Ian Vouyoukas, Fr., 6-10, C
(2.2 ppg.)
Josh Fisher, Sr., 6-2, G
(11.4 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 4.3 apg.)
Reggie Bryant, Jr., 6-2, G
(16.3 ppg.)
Phillip Hunt, Sr., 5-11, G
(1.9 ppg.)
Head coach: Brad Soderberg, 35-26 in second season at Saint Louis. Overall record in nine years, 166-101.
NOTRE DAME
Jordan Cornette, Jr., 6-9, SF
(5.9 ppg., 6.0 rpg.)
Tom Timmermans, Sr., 6-11, C
(6.2 ppg.)
Torrian Jones, Sr., 6-4, G
(8.4 ppg., 5.9 rpg.)
Chris Quinn, Soph., 6-2, G
(14.4 ppg, 3.4 apg.)
Chris Thomas, Jr., 6-1, G
(19.1 ppg., 4.8 apg.)
Head coach: Mike Brey, 84-43 in fourth season at Notre Dame. Overall record in nine years, 183-95.
"We don't have anybody we can give the ball to go out and score 20 points a game," said Fisher. "We've got to play good defense and hope for the best."
The Billikens (19-12) start three seniors and a junior, but Soderberg is still trying to figure out his team. There are times where they move the ball with confidence, score at ease and defend with determination. But there are other moments when Soderberg wonders who the five guys are in the blue and white uniforms.
It's a strange synergy.
"This team has been a mystery to me because I'm still fairly dissatisfied with the quality of our play," said Soderberg. "We play some really ugly basketball at times and I'm not quite sure how we've gotten 19 wins."
However poorly the Billikens may play for extended stretches, they rarely roll over. Saint Louis trailed in its home finale to Houston by 16 points with less than 10 minutes remaining before a 72-69 overtime victory. In last week's NIT opener, the Billikens were down by 18 at home in the first half before beating Iowa on a last-second 3-pointer.
"We just never give up and keep on fighting," said Fisher.
That's not the best news to the Irish, who have allowed big leads to slip away in two of their last three games. Notre Dame was up 16 in the second half against West Virginia in a Big East Championship first-round game before a late Colin Falls 3-pointer helped overcome a late Mountaineers run. Notre Dame jumped ahead of Purdue by 13 in the second half before the Boilermakers took a one-point lead. Notre Dame again found a way to pull away.
"We need to take care of the lead better," said senior co-captain Torrian Jones, scoreless in his last two games. "Teams are always going to be there because it's their last game and they're never going to give up."
This game was originally scheduled for St. Louis, but was moved to the 11,000-seat Allen County War Memorial Coliseum when the Billikens could not secure a venue. Both teams arrived Sunday. Notre Dame bussed over from South Bend, while the NIT granted a special exemption to tournament travel rules for Saint Louis. Rather than bus the 370 miles, the Billikens were allowed to fly in for their first meeting with Notre Dame since 1985.
"I'm thrilled we're playing Notre Dame," said Soderberg, born and raised Catholic in Stevens Points, Wis. "I've always loved Notre Dame.
"Then when reality sets in and I realize how good of a team they are, I'm not so excited."
The only consistent thing about Notre Dame's NIT opponent is their slow tempo.
Tickets: The game is sold out.
TV: WBND, Channel 57.
Radio: ESPN (AM 1000), WNDV (AM 1490; FM 92.9), WEFM (95.9 FM).
FORT WAYNE -- He traded a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean for Midwestern winters in a city that sits alongside the mighty Mississippi River.
When Josh Fisher transferred from Pepperdine to Saint Louis University, he hoped to play shooting guard for coach Lorenzo Romar. Romar, however, left for Washington, and Fisher instead spent the last two years setting up others as the point guard for head coach Brad Soderberg.
But when his career comes to a close, the senior captain from Mercer Island, Wash., will reflect on his choice with content.
"I've enjoyed every minute," said the 6-foot-2 Fisher, who leads the Billikens into tonight's second-round National Invitation Tournament game against Notre Dame. "I've just tried to go out there and do the little stuff that pays off in the end."
Fisher rarely finds his name in the morning headlines, or featured on the nightly highlights. On average, he scores 11.3 points, grabs 4.3 rebounds and adds 4.3 assists a night. But he logs a team-high 35.1 minutes for a group that will know next fall when No. 4 -- their glue guy -- is gone.
"He's just dependable," Soderberg said. "He just works every day, every game day, every practice."
Fisher's task tonight may be his toughest this season -- help limit the looks of junior point guard Chris Thomas, Notre Dame's leading scorer at 19.1 points per game. Thomas is one of several Irish capable of a big offensive night. The Billikens might have an answer for him, but none for backcourt mate Chris Quinn, who had 21 in Wednesday's win over Purdue. And sophomore Rick Cornett's offensive confidence now is soaring.
"They're playing great basketball," Soderberg said of the Irish (18-12), who have won seven of their last 10.
The Billikens look to keep the contest slow-paced and sluggish. Saint Louis averages only 62.5 points per game and allows 59.4. Those numbers would rank second-to-last and second-best respectively in the Big East.
Probable lineups
SAINT LOUIS
Chris Sloan, Sr., 6-7, F
(9.9 ppg., 4.8 rpg.)
Ian Vouyoukas, Fr., 6-10, C
(2.2 ppg.)
Josh Fisher, Sr., 6-2, G
(11.4 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 4.3 apg.)
Reggie Bryant, Jr., 6-2, G
(16.3 ppg.)
Phillip Hunt, Sr., 5-11, G
(1.9 ppg.)
Head coach: Brad Soderberg, 35-26 in second season at Saint Louis. Overall record in nine years, 166-101.
NOTRE DAME
Jordan Cornette, Jr., 6-9, SF
(5.9 ppg., 6.0 rpg.)
Tom Timmermans, Sr., 6-11, C
(6.2 ppg.)
Torrian Jones, Sr., 6-4, G
(8.4 ppg., 5.9 rpg.)
Chris Quinn, Soph., 6-2, G
(14.4 ppg, 3.4 apg.)
Chris Thomas, Jr., 6-1, G
(19.1 ppg., 4.8 apg.)
Head coach: Mike Brey, 84-43 in fourth season at Notre Dame. Overall record in nine years, 183-95.
"We don't have anybody we can give the ball to go out and score 20 points a game," said Fisher. "We've got to play good defense and hope for the best."
The Billikens (19-12) start three seniors and a junior, but Soderberg is still trying to figure out his team. There are times where they move the ball with confidence, score at ease and defend with determination. But there are other moments when Soderberg wonders who the five guys are in the blue and white uniforms.
It's a strange synergy.
"This team has been a mystery to me because I'm still fairly dissatisfied with the quality of our play," said Soderberg. "We play some really ugly basketball at times and I'm not quite sure how we've gotten 19 wins."
However poorly the Billikens may play for extended stretches, they rarely roll over. Saint Louis trailed in its home finale to Houston by 16 points with less than 10 minutes remaining before a 72-69 overtime victory. In last week's NIT opener, the Billikens were down by 18 at home in the first half before beating Iowa on a last-second 3-pointer.
"We just never give up and keep on fighting," said Fisher.
That's not the best news to the Irish, who have allowed big leads to slip away in two of their last three games. Notre Dame was up 16 in the second half against West Virginia in a Big East Championship first-round game before a late Colin Falls 3-pointer helped overcome a late Mountaineers run. Notre Dame jumped ahead of Purdue by 13 in the second half before the Boilermakers took a one-point lead. Notre Dame again found a way to pull away.
"We need to take care of the lead better," said senior co-captain Torrian Jones, scoreless in his last two games. "Teams are always going to be there because it's their last game and they're never going to give up."
This game was originally scheduled for St. Louis, but was moved to the 11,000-seat Allen County War Memorial Coliseum when the Billikens could not secure a venue. Both teams arrived Sunday. Notre Dame bussed over from South Bend, while the NIT granted a special exemption to tournament travel rules for Saint Louis. Rather than bus the 370 miles, the Billikens were allowed to fly in for their first meeting with Notre Dame since 1985.
"I'm thrilled we're playing Notre Dame," said Soderberg, born and raised Catholic in Stevens Points, Wis. "I've always loved Notre Dame.
"Then when reality sets in and I realize how good of a team they are, I'm not so excited."
