Brian Conklin bulldozed his way underneath the net for a perfect 8-8 as the Saint Louis University Billikens routed the Cardinal-Stritch Wolves 73-53 Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Chaifetz Arena.
It was the first time this season that the Bills hit the hardwood and the first chance for the St. Louis community to see the post-Mitchell/Reed line-up.
Though the NAIA Wolves did not provide much competition for the Billikens, the game provided head coach Rick Majerus a chance to experiment with his young team; at one point during the second half, SLU was about as young as you can be with four freshman and a lone sophomore, Cody Ellis, on the floor.
Using what Majerus refers to as a “bastardized” line-up, the Billikens started juniors Paul Eckerle, Kyle Cassity, Brian Conklin, sophomore Christian Salecich and freshman Dwayne Evans. That decision, according to Majerus, was based on which players were most conditioned, not which were most athletic.
Every player saw the floor for at least 14 minutes.
Regardless of youth, it was the elders on the team that put up the points. Juniors Conklin put in 17, and Cassity added an additional 11, despite playing just 15 minutes.
Freshman Rob Loe knocked in 10 for the Billikens. SLU shot an encouraging 60 percent from the field despite shooting just 7-23 from 3-point range.
“Obviously we didn’t play great, but it’s our first time together, our first time against somebody else other than people we see every day,” Cassity said.
“It was good to get those guys out there and get some experience. We’re going to learn from it.”
The most attention went to the freshman. Only one, Evans, started. Evans finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists. Jordair Jett had eight points and four rebounds, and Mike McCall had five points and no assists.
Either McCall or Jett will be running the offense; McCall spend the most time there, but one game is generally not indicative of future performance.
“Their attitude is excellent,” Majerus said, “but like all freshmen, they don’t know how to play consistent yet … I think they’re trying. They’re going through the same situation as every other group of freshmen.
“They’re good players, but they’re young and inexperienced. They’re going to get better.”
Whatever happens across the two exhibition games (SLU plays NAIA Division II Nova-Southeastern on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Chaifetz), the Billikens are going to have to get better quickly, again.
In just three weeks, SLU takes on SEC contender Georgia; and just a month after the season starts, the Bills head to Cameron Indoor to take on No. 1, and reigning national champion, Duke.
