Maybe the horses should have been held back.
After a simply dominating weekend in Anaheim, Calif. at the 76 Classic, the No. 23 Saint Louis University men’s basketball team was nationally ranked by the Associated Press for the first time since the 1993-94 season.
The then-undefeated Billikens responded to their new-found national fame by turning in an uninspiring, losing performance against Loyola Marymount University on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
Whether the No. 23 will remain in front of the 6-1 Saint Louis Billikens is yet to be seen.Regardless of national plaudits, SLU has shown that it has the depth and experience to finally compete for the Atlantic 10 Conference title.
In its six victories, it has won by double digits, and, even with the 68-75 loss to LMU, opponents are shooting just 39.5 percent against a stifling Billiken defense. They also have racked up wins against four major BCS conferences – Pac-12 (Washington), ACC (Boston College), Big 12 (Oklahoma) and Big East (Villanova). The upperclassmen are also excelling like never before.
Senior Brian Conklin has become an absolute force in the post. He averaged a team-best 17.3 ppg in the three-day 76 Classic tourney. He tied his career high with 25 points in the championship game against Oklahoma and was named MVP, along with A-10 co-Player of the Week. He has collected 33 rebounds, tied for best on the team with sophomore Dwayne Evans, 11 of which are offensive rebounds. Conklin is also getting it done from the line. He has taken a team-high 44 shots, knocking down 37 for an 84.1 percent shooting rate.
Right behind Conklin is redshirt-junior Kwamain Mitchell. Though he got off to a slow start, Mitchell is back to his sophomore season form. He currently leads the team in assists (29) and is second on the team — behind Conklin — in scoring (12.6 ppg). He also gives Head Coach Rick Majerus the most minutes, 31.7, per game, allowing the coaching staff to mix match-ups around their prolific point guard.
And perhaps the biggest surprise of the season so far has been the resurgence of junior Cody Ellis. After finishing last season averaging just 6.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg, Ellis has returned re-energized and refocused. He’s currently averaging 12.3 ppg and 3.4 rpg, but most importantly, he is shooting 48.5 percent from the arc, a near 20 percent improvement over his sophomore season.
What makes the LMU loss so disheartening for SLU is the December awaiting them. The Billikens do not leave Chaifetz Arena until Dec. 31, to visit New Mexico.
Six opponents – none currently receiving votes in the AP poll – visit St. Louis; and while no game should be taken for granted, it is possible the Billikens could have finished the year moving up the polls instead of likely fighting to get back in. A win at New Mexico, no easy task, would certainly help their cause before A-10 play begins Jan. 4 at Dayton.
