 Bills Face Rhode Island in A-10 Championship Quarterfinals
March 9, 2010
TOURNEY TIME: Winners in eight of their last 10 games, the No. 4-seeded Saint Louis Billikens (20-10, 11-5 Atlantic 10) begin play in the A-10 Championship Friday, March 12, against No. 5 seed Rhode Island. Tip time at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., is 1:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised by CBS College Sports Regional and can be seen in the St. Louis area on Charter Communications' CCIN. ABOUT RHODE ISLAND: The Rams are 22-8 and posted a 9-7 record in league play. URI opened the A-10 Championship with an 87-76 win over No. 12 seed Saint Joseph's. Keith Cothran, a third-team All-Conference selection, tops URI with 15.0 ppg and 53 steals. Delroy James, another All-League third team choice, adds 12.7 ppg, and Lamont Ulmer averages 11.8 ppg and a team-high 7.3 rpg. Rhode Island ranks second in the league in scoring at 77.4 ppg and shoots 45.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from 3-point range and 70.3 percent from the free-throw line. The Rams top the A-10 in blocked shots per game (5.1) and assists per game (15.4). Head coach Jim Baron is 153-126 in nine years at Rhode Island and 359-328 in 23 seasons overall. The Billikens lead the series 5-2 and rallied for a 62-57 win in St. Louis Feb. 17. SLU overcame a 12-point deficit in that game for the victory. TV TIME: The Billikens' quarterfinal game can be seen in the St. Louis area on Charter Communications' CCIN channel 3. Charter will also televise the three other A-10 quarterfinal games on channel 8 in St. Louis. CBS College Sports will televise both semifinal games, and CBS will air the championship game. FOLLOW ONLINE: Quarterfinal round action can be viewed live on www.atlantic10.com. SLU fans who do not have a season Billiken All-Access account can subscribe beginning Wednesday, March 10, for the cost of $7.95 per game. BILLIKEN BITS: Kwamain Mitchell led four Billikens in double figures with 20 points as SLU clinched a first-round bye with a 71-66 win at Dayton to close the regular season. The Billikens tied a season high with 12 3-pointers in posting a season sweep over the Flyers. Mitchell leads the team and is ninth in the A-10 in scoring at 16.1 ppg and leads the team with 51 3-pointers and 41 steals. Willie Reed adds 11.8 ppg and 8.0 rpg, with his rebounding average ranking sixth in the league. In 16 games with the Bills, Cody Ellis is averaging 11.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg. He ranks second on the team with 37 3-pointers.
A-10 HONORS: The Billikens had four individuals earn All-Conference recognition. Kwamain Mitchell was a second-team All-Conference selection, while Willie Reed picked up honorable mention accolades. Cody Ellis was voted to the All-Rookie squad, and Brian Conklin earned Academic All-Conference honors. HEAD COACH Rick Majerus: Coach Rick Majerus is in his third campaign as head coach of the Billikens with a 54-39 slate. He has a 22-year career mark of 476-186 and has never had a losing season. Majerus has taken 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament and four to the NIT. At the start of the 2009-10 season, his .722 career winning percentage tied for 13th among active coaches, and Majerus' 456 wins ranked 23rd on the active list. FOUR FOR THE ROAD: With victories at Dayton, Massachusetts, Saint Joseph's and La Salle, the Billikens have won four straight road games for the first time since Dec. 1, 1993, through Jan. 15, 1994. In addition, the Billikens won four straight conference tilts away from home for the first time since winning five straight Missouri Valley Conference road games from Jan. 10, 1959, through Feb. 23, 1959. FEELINGS OF REJECTION: The Billikens have set a record for blocks in a season with 147, besting the 142 by the 2006-07 team. YOUTH WILL BE SERVED: By two measures, the 2009-10 Billikens are the youngest team in America. Considering only scholarship players, the Billikens' roster is 91.7 percent underclassmen (11 of 12), the highest percentage in the nation. In addition, the Billikens have the fewest upperclassmen (one - Paul Eckerle, who is injured) in the country. ON THE AIR: For the second consecutive year, Billiken basketball can be heard on 101.1 FM ESPN. Billiken Hall of Famer Bob Ramsey is in his 24th season as the play-by-play "Voice of the Billikens." Earl Austin Jr., sports editor of the St. Louis American, is in his 19th year in the analyst's role. |
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