The Saint Louis Billikens didn’t need a perfect start to show why they’ve become one of the most complete teams in the Atlantic 10. Even with VCU jumping out to a 20–8 lead behind early buckets from Luka Djokovic and Jadrian Tracey, Saint Louis stayed composed. The Rams hit 47% of their first 15 shots, while the Billikens opened just 31% from the field and 0-for-6 from deep. But the moment Saint Louis tightened its defensive rotations, the tone of the afternoon shifted.
Terrence Hill Jr. and Tracey found fewer clean looks as the Billikens’ length on the perimeter began to smother VCU’s spacing. The Rams’ early rebounding edge faded, and Saint Louis’ ability to turn stops into transition chances helped erase the deficit. Paul Otieno’s work on the glass steadied the interior, and the Billikens’ guards began dictating pace instead of reacting to it.
Billikens Find Their Offense When It Matters
The Billikens’ offense rarely stays quiet for long, and once they settled in, their balance returned. Kellen Thames, who opened the scoring for Saint Louis, kept probing VCU’s defense. Brady Dunlap missed his first two threes but continued to stretch the floor, forcing the Rams to honor his range and opening driving lanes for the rest of the lineup.
VCU’s 12‑point lead proved unsustainable once the Billikens began controlling the tempo. Their ball movement sharpened, their shot selection improved, and their physicality in the paint forced VCU into deeper defensive possessions. The Rams thrive on chaos, but the Billikens refused to let the game tilt in that direction.
Billikens Win the Physical Battle
What separated St. Louis and VCU was St. Louis’s willingness to embrace the grind. VCU’s identity is built on pressure, turnovers, and pace, but Saint Louis matched the Rams’ energy and then outlasted them. St. Louis won the 50‑50 plays, controlled the defensive glass, and leaned on their depth to wear VCU down…