About the Billikens ? SLU is last in free-throw shooting in conference games at 54.8 percent but fourth in overall shooting at 44.9 percent. ... The four conference losses have come against teams with a cumulative record of 53-16. ... The Billikens have lost their last five games against ranked teams, the last win coming March 17, 2013 against VCU. ... SLU has been outrebounded in six consecutive games by an average of six per game. ... The game is SLU?s annual Billiken Blizzard with white shirts awaiting all fans on their seats.
About the Rams ? VCU has blocked six or more shots in seven games with a season-high of 10. ... The Rams? free-throw shooting has been nearly as bad as SLU?s at 56.1 percent in league games. ... Despite being known for its defense, VCU is second in the A-10 in scoring at 75.7 points per game. ... Treveon Graham is the presumed frontrunner for A-10 player of the year honors and has increased his output in conference play to 18.5 points and eight rebounds.
SLU, No. 16 VCU renew recent rivalry
Shaka Smart had only two years as a reference when he was asked at Atlantic 10 media day about the toughest venue to play in the conference.
The VCU coach instantly conjured up two bad memories and then proclaimed Chaifetz Arena as that place.
That has been the case for the Rams, who lost twice at SLU during their first two years in the league, thus keeping them from winning the regular-season championship.
?That first year at St. Louis, our guys really underestimated what they were dealing with,? Smart said that day. ?Last year I thought we went in and competed well. We knew what we were getting ourselves into.?
Although this Billikens squad will be much different when the teams meet Friday night at Chaifetz, Smart is likely to feel a nagging uneasiness that won?t dissipate unless his No. 16 Rams, who are heavily favored, leave with a win in hand.
SLU won 64-62 last season and 76-62 the previous year. This time, coach Jim Crews will send his youngsters onto the floor to see if they can withstand VCU?s ?havoc.? Aside from a trip to Wichita State, this figures to be the ultimate test this season for SLU?s six freshmen and a roster that mostly has not faced VCU.
The Billikens have enjoyed success against the Rams despite averaging 15 turnovers in their meetings with what was an experienced lineup. Now, Crews believes they will face an improved defense, which is the cornerstone of Smart?s program.
?I think they?re probably better,? Crews said. ?I thought they were pretty good in half-court defense, but they?re better this year. They have extra guys at the rim who can block shots, and they?re long and quick off their feet.?
VCU has played a schedule that is rated among the 10 best in the country by several computer models.
Combined with a 15-3 record, the Rams enter the game at No. 4 in the ratings percentage index. They have defeated Tennessee, Northern Iowa, Cincinnati and Davidson and lost to Virginia, Villanova and Old Dominion.
?We had a few rough games early that I think served to give us a dose of humility, which we always can benefit from,? Smart said. ?We also faced a lot of different styles of play that hopefully prepared us for what we see in the Atlantic 10. ? If nothing else, the schedule prepared us in that respect. Overall, we got better, which is our No. 1 point of emphasis.?
VCU is led by the guard tandem of seniors Treveon Graham and Briante Weber. Graham leads the team in scoring with an average of 17.1 points and also grabs 6.9 rebounds per game. Weber has 68 steals for a team that averages 10.6 and forces 17.8 turnovers per game.
But the Rams also are built for the future. They have two freshmen and four sophomores among their top nine scorers. Sophomore JeQuan Lewis is second on the team in steals, and sophomore Mo Alie-Cox and freshman Justin Tillman have combined to block 52 shots.
SLU has used numerous players to bring the ball up court and initiate the offense, and they?ll be put to the test.
?That?s a good thing,? Crews said of his many ball handlers. ?VCU makes everyone handle the ball. Your bigs have to handle the ball and you have to be ball-strong. You have to make the extra pass, but they?re darting through and anticipate. When you turn your shoulders, they?re rotating their defense. They?re reading people?s eyes.?
Although his minutes have dropped in recent games, Crews said he anticipates that guard Austin McBroom will see more playing time. McBroom played twice against VCU last season, logging 40 minutes, 13 points and one turnover.
?He handles the ball well and had a good game against VCU last year, so it?s not like Austin is out of the loop because he?s played less minutes,? Crews said. ?That?s not even close.?
SLU has been up and down in terms of taking care of the ball. The Billikens average 13.3 turnovers and have been better of late aside from a 21-turnover game against Rhode Island.
Statistics and records won?t mean much to Smart, though. He respects SLU?s defense and has seen his teams struggle. So, at least outwardly, he?s calling the Billikens ?a tremendous challenge.?
?The last two years, they?ve absolutely been the class of the league,? he said. ?We?re going to need to do the things that go into winning on the road if we want to win. They obviously have a different team than they had last year, but they still play extremely hard, still very well-coached. We?re going to have our work cut out for us.?
About the Rams ? VCU has blocked six or more shots in seven games with a season-high of 10. ... The Rams? free-throw shooting has been nearly as bad as SLU?s at 56.1 percent in league games. ... Despite being known for its defense, VCU is second in the A-10 in scoring at 75.7 points per game. ... Treveon Graham is the presumed frontrunner for A-10 player of the year honors and has increased his output in conference play to 18.5 points and eight rebounds.
SLU, No. 16 VCU renew recent rivalry
Shaka Smart had only two years as a reference when he was asked at Atlantic 10 media day about the toughest venue to play in the conference.
The VCU coach instantly conjured up two bad memories and then proclaimed Chaifetz Arena as that place.
That has been the case for the Rams, who lost twice at SLU during their first two years in the league, thus keeping them from winning the regular-season championship.
?That first year at St. Louis, our guys really underestimated what they were dealing with,? Smart said that day. ?Last year I thought we went in and competed well. We knew what we were getting ourselves into.?
Although this Billikens squad will be much different when the teams meet Friday night at Chaifetz, Smart is likely to feel a nagging uneasiness that won?t dissipate unless his No. 16 Rams, who are heavily favored, leave with a win in hand.
SLU won 64-62 last season and 76-62 the previous year. This time, coach Jim Crews will send his youngsters onto the floor to see if they can withstand VCU?s ?havoc.? Aside from a trip to Wichita State, this figures to be the ultimate test this season for SLU?s six freshmen and a roster that mostly has not faced VCU.
The Billikens have enjoyed success against the Rams despite averaging 15 turnovers in their meetings with what was an experienced lineup. Now, Crews believes they will face an improved defense, which is the cornerstone of Smart?s program.
?I think they?re probably better,? Crews said. ?I thought they were pretty good in half-court defense, but they?re better this year. They have extra guys at the rim who can block shots, and they?re long and quick off their feet.?
VCU has played a schedule that is rated among the 10 best in the country by several computer models.
Combined with a 15-3 record, the Rams enter the game at No. 4 in the ratings percentage index. They have defeated Tennessee, Northern Iowa, Cincinnati and Davidson and lost to Virginia, Villanova and Old Dominion.
?We had a few rough games early that I think served to give us a dose of humility, which we always can benefit from,? Smart said. ?We also faced a lot of different styles of play that hopefully prepared us for what we see in the Atlantic 10. ? If nothing else, the schedule prepared us in that respect. Overall, we got better, which is our No. 1 point of emphasis.?
VCU is led by the guard tandem of seniors Treveon Graham and Briante Weber. Graham leads the team in scoring with an average of 17.1 points and also grabs 6.9 rebounds per game. Weber has 68 steals for a team that averages 10.6 and forces 17.8 turnovers per game.
But the Rams also are built for the future. They have two freshmen and four sophomores among their top nine scorers. Sophomore JeQuan Lewis is second on the team in steals, and sophomore Mo Alie-Cox and freshman Justin Tillman have combined to block 52 shots.
SLU has used numerous players to bring the ball up court and initiate the offense, and they?ll be put to the test.
?That?s a good thing,? Crews said of his many ball handlers. ?VCU makes everyone handle the ball. Your bigs have to handle the ball and you have to be ball-strong. You have to make the extra pass, but they?re darting through and anticipate. When you turn your shoulders, they?re rotating their defense. They?re reading people?s eyes.?
Although his minutes have dropped in recent games, Crews said he anticipates that guard Austin McBroom will see more playing time. McBroom played twice against VCU last season, logging 40 minutes, 13 points and one turnover.
?He handles the ball well and had a good game against VCU last year, so it?s not like Austin is out of the loop because he?s played less minutes,? Crews said. ?That?s not even close.?
SLU has been up and down in terms of taking care of the ball. The Billikens average 13.3 turnovers and have been better of late aside from a 21-turnover game against Rhode Island.
Statistics and records won?t mean much to Smart, though. He respects SLU?s defense and has seen his teams struggle. So, at least outwardly, he?s calling the Billikens ?a tremendous challenge.?
?The last two years, they?ve absolutely been the class of the league,? he said. ?We?re going to need to do the things that go into winning on the road if we want to win. They obviously have a different team than they had last year, but they still play extremely hard, still very well-coached. We?re going to have our work cut out for us.?
