As Saint Louis University men's basketball coach Brad Soderberg begins his third season as head coach of the Billikens, his team opens the season with a number of known weapons, as well as some new blood.
Senior guard Reggie Bryant, who led the team in scoring last season with 16.4 points per game, returns as one of Conference USA's top scorers. In SLU's preseason opener against the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Bryant scored 16 points while making every shot he took in the game, showing that he can be a dangerous shooter from anywhere on the court. He should give defenders fits all season.
Senior center Tom Frericks also showed himself to be a consistent offensive threat last season, both in scoring and in rebounding, averaging 7.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, respectively. Frericks' playing time was limited last season due to injuries and foul trouble, averaging only 20 minutes per game and appearing in 24 of the team's 32 games. Should Frericks remain healthy and avoid foul trouble, he should be a fierce competitor in the paint and on the boards this season.
Another key returnee for the Billikens is senior forward Izik Ohanon, who scored in double figures in 11 games last season en route to averaging 7.2 points per game. Ohanon has shown some flashes of brilliance during his career at SLU, but he has also experienced some inconsistency. If Ohanon can find consistency on the court, he has the athletic ability to be a very difficult player for opponents to neutralize.
Whether he starts the game or comes off the bench, it can be guaranteed that junior guard Anthony Drejaj will display toughness and grit for Soderberg's team. Last season the 6'2" guard averaged 6.5 points per game and provided the Billikens and their fans with the team's most dramatic moment of the season when he drilled a three-pointer from the corner to beat the buzzer and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. Drejaj should excite fans and annoy opponents all season.
One player expected to take on a larger role is sophomore center Ian Vouyoukas, who appeared in 21 games, starting seven of those in place of the injured Frericks.
Vouyoukas started both preseason games at center, averaging 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in those two games. A skilled passer and shooter, Vouyoukas should continue to add to the progress he made at the end of last season and be a key contributor for the Billikens this season.
Another young player expected to see an increased role entering his sophomore season is guard Darren Clarke, who made strides throughout the season but was hampered by a knee injury. According to coaches Clarke made progress in the off-season and is ready to be a steady contributor to this team.
Following the graduations of Josh Fisher and Chris Sloan last May, Soderberg needed to find players who could enter the SLU program this season and contribute immediately. Two of these newcomers, junior forward Vas'shun Newbourne and freshman guard Dwayne Polk, are expected to begin the season in the starting lineup for the Billikens.
Newbourne, a 6'6" forward from Natchez, Mississippi who attended Chipola Junior College in Florida, should bring the toughness that Sloan took with him when he graduated. In the Billikens' two preseason games, Newbourne averaged 14 points per game. He should be a strong presence for SLU through scoring, rebounding and defending.
Polk is a 5'9" freshman guard from nearby Vashon High School in St. Louis, where he won three state championships in his high school career and was named the St. Louis Metro player of the year by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch during his senior year. All indications have shown that Polk will be given the keys to take the SLU offense wherever he wants. His combination of basketball knowledge and sheer quickness should make him a very difficult player for opponents to defend.
Signing with Polk last November was Luke Meyer, a 6'5" guard from Washington, Mo., where he attended St. Francis Borgia Regional High School. He was among the five players on the St. Louis All-Metro Team last season, along with Polk and recent SLU signees Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch. As a freshman, Meyer should provide Soderberg with a solid perimeter threat off the bench who will play with a hard-nosed style.
Signing to come to SLU shortly before school began was Danny Brown, a 6'4" guard from Houston. His athleticism and outside shooting ability should earn him minutes this season as another option for Soderberg off the bench.
After a red-shirt season in 2003-04, center Bryce Husak will begin his first year of eligibility. The 7 foot tall Husak spent last season practicing with the team and adding weight and muscle to his large frame in hopes of making himself a strong presence in the post. While Husak is still considered to have some time before he will reach his full potential, his large wingspan can make a difference early in games while he improves on offense.
Rounding up the roster is 6'0" walk-on guard Peyton Jacks, who comes to SLU from Dallas.
In Soderberg's time at SLU, his teams have always been known for their defense, and this is once again expected to be the case this season. With scorers such as Bryant and Ohanon, rebounders like Frericks and Newbourne and a team-first point guard in Polk, the Billikens have the potential to show some offensive strength as well.
During the first two years of the Soderberg era, SLU has made an appearance in the NIT each season. Another postseason berth for the Billikens would put them in postseason play for three consecutive years for the first time since the mid 1990s when SLU was coached by Charlie Spoonhour. SLU finished 4th in C-USA in 2002-03 and 7th last season. Once again, the Billikens should contend with the top teams in Conference USA.
After their schedule strength last season was hurt by playing some weak teams early, Soderberg set out to improve his team's schedule strength in hopes of helping the Billikens get a bid for the NCAA Tournament. The schedule is highlighted by a season-opening tournament in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands called the Paradise Jam, which begins Friday, as well as a road game at Gonzaga on Dec. 11 and home games such as the match-up with C-USA foe Cincinnati on Jan. 8 at Savvis Center.
