 Billikens Begin Chicago Invitational Challenge
Nov. 20, 2009
CHICAGO INVITATIONAL CHALLENGE: The Saint Louis Billikens begin the Chicago Invitational Challenge with two home games. SLU hosts Kennesaw State Sunday, Nov. 22, in a 1 p.m. contest at Chaifetz Arena. Mississippi Valley State comes to town Tuesday, Nov. 24, for a 7 p.m. tilt. Then teams head to Chicago for the final two games played at UIC Pavilion. SLU takes on Iowa State Friday, Nov. 27, at 5 p.m., and plays either Northwestern or Notre Dame Saturday, Nov. 28, at 4:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. TV TIME: If the Billikens play Northwestern at the Chicago Invitational Challenge on Saturday, the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. ABOUT KENNESAW STATE: The Owls, who are in their first full season in Division I as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference, are 2-0 after victories over North Greenville and North Georgia. Markeith Cummings leads Kennesaw State with 16.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg, and Jon-Michael Nickerson adds 16 ppg. The Owls average 83.5 ppg while shooting 48.5 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from 3-point range and 62.8 percent from the line. Head coach Tony Ingle is in his 10th year at Kennesaw State with a 159-121 record, including the 2004 Division II national championship, and is 229-191 overall. The Billikens won the only previous meeting, 74-60, played Dec. 17, 2005. ABOUT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE: The Delta Devils stand at 1-2 after a 102-56 victory over Champion Baptist following losses at Washington State and Gonzaga. D'Angelo Jackson, Tashan Nesome and Michael Mayo all average double digits in scoring for MVSU. The Delta Devils score 80.7 ppg while shooting 45.0 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from 3-point range and 65.2 percent from the line. Head coach Sean Woods is in his second season at MVSU with an 8-27 record. This will be the first meeting between the teams. BILLIKEN BITS: The Billikens used an 11-0 run early in the second half to take control in a 69-55 triumph over Nebraska on Wednesday. Kwamain Mitchell hit 7-of-10 shots to lead all scorers with 20 points, and Christian Salecich added 11 points. Willie Reed had seven points and nine rebounds, while Kyle Cassity chipped in eight points and a career-high seven rebounds. The Billiken defense held the Cornhuskers to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half.
YOUTH WILL BE SERVED: By two measures, the 2009-10 Billikens will be the youngest team in America. Considering only scholarship players, the Billikens' roster is 90.9 percent underclassmen (10 of 11), the highest percentage in the nation. In addition, the Billikens have the fewest upperclassmen (one - Paul Eckerle) in the country. HEAD COACH Rick Majerus: Coach Rick Majerus is in his third campaign as head coach of the Billikens with a 36-29 slate. He has a 22-year career mark of 458-176 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. NOT MUCH BEYOND THE ARC: Last season, the Billikens finished third in the country in 3-point field goal percentage defense at 28.2 percent. The SLU perimeter defense has been tough again this year from beyond the arc as opponents are only 2-of-18 from 3-point range (11.1 percent). VERSUS NON-CONFERENCE FOES: In Chaifetz Arena, the Billikens are 10-1 against non-conference teams and have won nine straight versus teams outside the Atlantic 10. The only non-league team to emerge from Chaifetz Arena with a victory has been Kent State. PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Sophomore guard Kwamain Mitchell was named to the Atlantic 10 preseason men's basketball All-Conference third team as selected by a poll of the league's coaches. Last season, Mitchell was chosen to the league's All-Rookie team. He averaged 11 ppg and 3.2 rpg and was second on the team with 42 3-pointers and 38 steals. 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. BILLIKEN ALL-ACCESS: All Billiken regular-season home games this season are video streamed live through Billiken All-Access at www.slubillikens.com. Subscriptions are available for $79.95 annually or $9.95 a month. GameTracker is again available free of charge in 2009-10. TICKETS: Season tickets and individual game tickets are on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at www.slubillikens.com or www.metrotix.com, by phone at (314) 977-4SLU or toll free at (800) 293-5949, and at the Chaifetz Arena Ticket Office. |
|
