Game of the Night
St. Louis Billikens vs St. Joseph’s Hawks
In what will be the first and only meeting between the Hawks and the Billikens this year, we expect to see a low scoring game. Both teams have solid defenses, which rank in the top 5 in the A10. This game doesn’t have big implications if you’re the Billikens, but the Hawks will need to be victorious to stay in the NCAA Tournament. The Billikens have played spoiler this year, beating GW at home. All things considered, KenPom gives St. Joe’s a 95% chance to win and we think it’s hard to disagree.
Coming off a disappointing 3 point loss to Dayton, the Billikens will look to rebound against St. Joe’s. The Billikens have a tough task of stopping the duo of DeAndre Bembry and Isaiah Miles. While it will be tough, but the young Billikens could be up for the task. St. Louis ranks 6th in the A10 in defensive efficiency, while ranking last in offensive efficiency. Jim Crews and his squad will look to Ash Yacoubou to lead them offensively. The senior guard is averaging 11.8 points per game along with 5.8 rebounds. If the Billkens even want a chance, they’ll have to hold it down defensively.
ESPN’s Bracketology has St. Joe’s as a safe “Should Be In” team right now, but they need to keep winning. Look for DeAndre Bembry and Isaiah Miles to lead the Hawks to a win. Both players are strong contenders for A10 POY, and will have a chance to improve their position against a weak St. Louis team. While the Billikens have a good defense, the Hawks have an even better one. The Hawks rank 3rd in the A10 in defensive efficiency. St. Joe’s can’t afford a loss here, so look for them to take care of business at home.
