The Basics
The Drake men's basketball team looks to rebound at another Atlantic 10 conference opponent as the Bulldogs will battle the Saint Louis Billikens at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Broadcast Information
The game will be televised on Bally Sports Midwest and streamed online via ESPN+.
Scouting Saint Louis
Saint Louis is off to a 7-4 start to the season after being picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll with seven first place votes.
The Billikens are 3-0 against the Missouri Valley Conference so far this season with wins over Murray State (91-68 on Nov. 7), Evansville (83-65 on Nov. 12) and Southern Illinois (85-72 on Dec. 3). Saint Louis is coming off back-to-back losses after an 84-62 setback at Iona on Dec. 6 and a narrow loss in a defensive battle at home against Boise State, 57-52 on Dec. 10.
Preseason All-A10 First Team guard Yuri Collins has dished out an incredible 10.5 assists per game this season. The St. Louis native also averages 12.3 points per game.
Redshirt sophomore guard Gibson Jimerson paces SLU with 13.2 points per game while Oregon transfer Francis Okoro has hauled in a team-best 9.2 rebounds a contest.
Last year, Saint Louis finished 23-12 overall in a season that ended with an 80-68 loss in the NIT against MVC opponent UNI.
Travis Ford is in his seventh season at the helm in St. Louis. The former Eastern Kentucky, UMass and Oklahoma State head coach owns a 119-81 record in charge of the Billikens.
Series vs. Saint Louis
The two programs have not met since Nov. 29, 1986. The last time these two squared off in St. Louis was Dec. 22, 1984, when the Bulldogs won 65-62.
Saint Louis was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference from 1937-1976.
The Billikens lead the all-time series, 53-30.
Veteran Unit
Fifth-year seniors
Garrett Sturtz (143),
D.J. Wilkins (137),
Darnell Brodie (90) and
Roman Penn (95) have combined to appear in 465 games. Sturtz is tied for fourth among active NCAA Division I players in games played and Wilkins ranks 15th in that same category.
Three players have scored 1,000 or more career points:
D.J. Wilkins (1,358),
Roman Penn (1,301) and
Garrett Sturtz (1,160).
3J
D.J. Wilkins is closing in on Josh Young to become Drake's all-time leader in career 3-point baskets made. Wilkins currently ranks 21st among active Division I players in career 3-pointers made.
Name 3 Ptrs Yrs
1. Josh Young 255 2006-10
2. D.J. Wilkins 252 2018-
3. Luke McDonald 241 1981-85
3. Klayton Korver 241 2003-08
Mid-Major Poll
Drake checked in at No. 5 in the latest collegeinsider.com men's basketball mid-major poll.
Up Next
Drake will play No. 17 Mississippi State at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. as part of the Battle in the Vault.
