Two undefeated teams get together on the hardwood Tuesday night in an early-season non-conference tilt between the St. Louis Billikens and the No. 11 Memphis Tigers. This will be the first test for both programs this season though it lost some luster when SLU star Javonte Perkins tore his ACL at the end of October. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET at FedEx Forum in Memphis, and the game will air on ESPN+.
These teams used to play annually when both were in Conference USA. They have not met since the 2012 season, and Memphis leads the all-time series 32-26. St. Louis last won in Memphis in 1994 and have lost six straight on the road in the series but have won three of the last four overall against the Tigers.
St. Louis Still Finding Themselves
The Billikens are a team in transition this season with the graduation of Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French. Losing Perkins to the ACL injury in October was a big blow as he was expected to be the top scorer and playmaker on the team. St. Louis made the NCAA Tournament two years ago but had their season derailed last year by COVID postponements, and they never recovered.
The Billikens are off to a 3-0 start this season and are led by Gibson Jimerson at 18.7 points per game. He is shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and 51 percent overall while leading the team in minutes played.
Overall, SLU is shooting 42 percent from 3-point range as Jordan Nesbitt (38.5%), and Rashad Williams (41.2%) have made five each. Nesbitt is averaging 13.3 ppg while Martin Linssen (11.7) and Francis Okoro (11.0) are also in double figures.
Okoro leads the team with 9.0 rebounds per game, while Yuri Collins has handed out 9.3 assists per game and leads SLU with eight steals. Collins is listed at 6-feet and may struggle against the taller Memphis guards.
Tigers Ready for PrimeTime
Memphis has definitely underachieved in the past and had off-court issues, but this is by far the most talented team Penny Hardaway has put together. The Tigers have one of the tallest teams in the nation and have used that on both ends of the floor so far this season. They are shooting 55 percent from the field, holding opponents to 32 percent shooting, and are +6 in the rebounding margin.
The biggest way the Tigers have used that height is on defense, where they already have 24 blocked shots in just two games. Jalen Duren has eight blocks while Malcolm Dandrige has four off the bench, and eight players have already recorded at least one block this season.
Freshman Emoni Bates leads the team in scoring at 16 ppg while shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 6-of-12 from deep. Duren, also a freshman, is averaging 12.5 ppg, eight rebounds per game, and shooting 77 percent from the field.
The Tigers have two others in double figures as Lester Quinones averages 12.5 ppg, and Landers Nolley II is at 11 ppg off the bench. Alex Lomax and DeAndre Williams are the other starters, and they combine for 10.5 ppg, and Lomax leads the team with five steals.
Betting Analysis
- St. Louis Billikens +11.5 (-110).
- Memphis Tigers -11.5 (-110)
- Total Points: 143.5 Over -115. Under -105
Memphis is not only the home team in this one, but they also have a lot more experience and height than SLU. The Billikens will battle and play hard for Travis Ford, but they just don’t have the talent to stay with the Tigers if Memphis is ready to make a statement and become a top 10 team.
Betting Pick: Memphis -11.5
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