The Saint Louis University men’s basketball team has been hot. They have won three straight and are making a late push for post-season play. With their record at 4-3 in conference and 12-7 overall, the Billikens now turn their attention to the South Florida Bulls.
The Bulls (12-8, 3-4) are led by forward B. B. Waldon. Waldon averages 18.6 points and 7.8 boards per game and is a dark horse candidate for Conference USA Player of the Year. Waldon is not alone.
He has received help from swing man Altron Jackson and Cedrick Smith. Jackson is averaging 18 points per game, while Smith has been putting up 10 points a contest.
The Bulls are C-USA’s most prolific offense, averaging 81.6 points per game and shooting a conference-leading 38.5 percent from behind the arc.
With a stingy defense that averages 10 steals a game, they should present a challenge for the streaking Billikens.
“They lead the league in points per game,” said coach Lorenzo Romar. “They shoot the three well and like to push the ball up the floor.”
The Billikens look to continue to dominate the series against South Florida. SLU has won five of the last six against the Bulls, including a 69-60 victory last year at the Kiel Center.
However, Romar does not see the game as a guaranteed victory. “It’s a road game against a team that hasn’t lost at home.”
Romar is happy with how his team has performed. “It feels like the team has hit a stride. What better time to be playing good basketball than now?”
Keeping their stride, the Billikens clipped the wings of the Louisville Cardinals this past Saturday. In a game where both teams shot below 40 percent from the field, the Billikens were triumphant, 52-48.
SLU was led by guard Justin Love. Love poured in 21 points, four coming at the foul line in the last minute of regulation.
Forward Justin Tatum had another good performance as he put up 15 points and wiped the glass clean with a game-high 11 rebounds. Tatum also had two steals, two assists, and went seven of ten from the free throw line.
By causing multiple turnovers and making three steals, guard John Redden provided a defensive spark off the bench.
“John Redden played great,” Love said. “He forced some turn overs.”
The Billikens credited their win to their tough defense.
“Our defense came through for us,” said Tatum.
Redden was glad to see the Bills keep their composure during crunch time. “We stayed poised and Love hit some free throws,” Redden said.
Coach Romar was happy with his team’s defensive effort. “That team can give you fits defensively, ” Romar said. “I was proud of our guys; they hung in there.”
Love said of the game, “We played great defense, but we kept fouling and putting them on the line.”
Free throws were the deciding factor as the Billikens hit 81 percent in the second half, going 17-21. Louisville only managed to hit 10 of their 18 chances.
“Love’s free throws were clutch,” Tatum said.
“It helps when you have Love and Tatum hitting their free throws,” Romar said. “Our guys have rebounded and responded.”
“We want to make it to the (NCAA) tournament,” Redden said. “We’re not going to stop here.”
“It’s not wishful thinking,” Romar said. “It’s a reality.”
The Bills have started to get a little national attention. On a ESPN website, one writer projected the Billikens as a No. 12 seed in the tournament. SLU also has a Ratings Percentage Index rating of 41 out of all the Division I teams.
