Game 25: GMU (19-5 / 10-1) at St. Louis (14-10 / 7-4) on Tuesday, February 11, at 8:00 PM.

[Patriotsince81]

Preseason predictions:
St. Louis was picked to finish 4th in A10 Preseason Polls. They are currently in 3rd place.
Robbie Avila - 1st Team
Gibson Jimerson - 1st Team
Isiah Swope - 3rd Team

The game is on ESPN+.

KenPom: Gives us a 53% chance of winning.
GMU - 74
St. Louis - 112
NET:
GMU - 70
St. Louis - 106

We are 5-11 (.313) against St. Louis all-time.

St. Louis is currently 14-10 on the season and 7-4 in A10 play. They are 11-2 at home, 3-6 on the road, and 0-2 at neutral sites. The Billikens are 0-2 against Quad 1 teams, 1-4 against Quad 2, 5-3 against Quad 3, and 6-0 against Quad 4 teams.

Schedule: https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

Wins: Avila (95-44), Loyola Marymount (77-71), Quinnipiac (81-67), UMass Lowell (93-90), Jackson St. (74-66), Chicago St. (85-62), William Woods (78-57), Fordham (88-63), St. Joe’s (73-57), St. Bonaventure (73-68), Richmond (63-59), La Salle (64-52), vcu (78-69), UMass (73-71),
Losses: Santa Clara (85-78), Wichita St. (88-63), San Francisco (78-61), Illinois St. (81-77), Wofford (74-71), Grand Canyon (73-72), vcu (78-62), GW (67-61), Dayton (71-63), St. Joe’s (76-63)

Probable Starters:
6’5” Gibson Jimerson - 17.4 ppg & 4.3 reb - 6th year - eligible for Medicare & SS.
6’10” Robbie Avila - 16.2 ppg & 6.5 reb - Junior
5’10” Isaiah Swope - 16.0 ppg - Senior
6’8” Kalu Anya - 7.7 ppg & 8.8 reb - Junior
6’4” Kobe Johnson - 6.9 ppg & 3.3 reb - Senior

Reserves averaging double figure minutes:
6’6” Kellen Thames - 6.2 ppg - Sophomore
6’6” Amari McCottry - 3.1 ppg - Freshman
6’5” Dylan Warlick - 2.9 ppg - Freshman

Roster: https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Team Stats:

St. Louis averages 73.6 points per game (11th in the A10) while giving up 69.5 (9th in the A10).

The Billikens shoot 47.6% from the floor (1st in the A10) and 33.8% from 3 (6th in the A10). They are 2nd in the league with 216 made 3’s. For reference we have 150.
Opponents are shooting 40.9% from the field and 29.7% from 3.

They shoot 67.6% from the free throw line (12th in the A10).

The Billikens have out rebounded opponents by .3 boards per game and average 13.0 turnovers per contest.

Stats: https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats

Thoughts: They really are a 3 headed monster. Shut down or limit Jimerson, Avila, and Swope and our chances of pulling out yet another tough road win increase greatly. They rank 4th, 8th, and 9th respectively in the A10 in scoring.

Gibson Jimerson is in his 6th year of college basketball! That’s not a typo, the guy is in his 6th year. How is that even possible? Well, he received a hardship waiver in his freshman year after playing in 10 games and was also granted a covid year. He is SLU’s all time leading scorer with 2,234 points as of 2/6/25. He’s also the school leader in 3 pointers made (381) while shooting 39.5% from deep.

There was a ton of preseason hype about Robbie Avila’s move to St. Louis from Indiana St. Don’t let his looks fool you, he has Poindexter glasses, the body of a doughboy, and can barely jump over the painted lines on the floor, but has put up solid numbers in all regards.

Swope has been a solid performer all year.

It’s not going to be easy……….

Discuss.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Losing the occasional road game is good for the soul.

 

[GMUYoda]

I'd love to win this game, but I just get the feeling of a let down game.

 

[FlPatriot]

These guys are just getting started…thinking the team is making magic this season.

 

[GMU79]

Preseason predictions:
St. Louis was picked to finish 4th in A10 Preseason Polls. They are currently in 3rd place.
Robbie Avila - 1st Team
Gibson Jimerson - 1st Team
Isiah Swope - 3rd Team

The game is on ESPN+.

KenPom: Gives us a 53% chance of winning.
GMU - 74
St. Louis - 112
NET:
GMU - 70
St. Louis - 106

We are 5-11 (.313) against St. Louis all-time.

St. Louis is currently 14-10 on the season and 7-4 in A10 play. They are 11-2 at home, 3-6 on the road, and 0-2 at neutral sites. The Billikens are 0-2 against Quad 1 teams, 1-4 against Quad 2, 5-3 against Quad 3, and 6-0 against Quad 4 teams.

Schedule: https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule

Wins: Avila (95-44), Loyola Marymount (77-71), Quinnipiac (81-67), UMass Lowell (93-90), Jackson St. (74-66), Chicago St. (85-62), William Woods (78-57), Fordham (88-63), St. Joe’s (73-57), St. Bonaventure (73-68), Richmond (63-59), La Salle (64-52), vcu (78-69), UMass (73-71),
Losses: Santa Clara (85-78), Wichita St. (88-63), San Francisco (78-61), Illinois St. (81-77), Wofford (74-71), Grand Canyon (73-72), vcu (78-62), GW (67-61), Dayton (71-63), St. Joe’s (76-63)

Probable Starters:
6’5” Gibson Jimerson - 17.4 ppg & 4.3 reb - 6th year - eligible for Medicare & SS.
6’10” Robbie Avila - 16.2 ppg & 6.5 reb - Junior
5’10” Isaiah Swope - 16.0 ppg - Senior
6’8” Kalu Anya - 7.7 ppg & 8.8 reb - Junior
6’4” Kobe Johnson - 6.9 ppg & 3.3 reb - Senior

Reserves averaging double figure minutes:
6’6” Kellen Thames - 6.2 ppg - Sophomore
6’6” Amari McCottry - 3.1 ppg - Freshman
6’5” Dylan Warlick - 2.9 ppg - Freshman

Roster: https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster

Team Stats:

St. Louis averages 73.6 points per game (11th in the A10) while giving up 69.5 (9th in the A10).

The Billikens shoot 47.6% from the floor (1st in the A10) and 33.8% from 3 (6th in the A10). They are 2nd in the league with 216 made 3’s. For reference we have 150.
Opponents are shooting 40.9% from the field and 29.7% from 3.

They shoot 67.6% from the free throw line (12th in the A10).

The Billikens have out rebounded opponents by .3 boards per game and average 13.0 turnovers per contest.

Stats: https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats

Thoughts: They really are a 3 headed monster. Shut down or limit Jimerson, Avila, and Swope and our chances of pulling out yet another tough road win increase greatly. They rank 4th, 8th, and 9th respectively in the A10 in scoring.

Gibson Jimerson is in his 6th year of college basketball! That’s not a typo, the guy is in his 6th year. How is that even possible? Well, he received a hardship waiver in his freshman year after playing in 10 games and was also granted a covid year. He is SLU’s all time leading scorer with 2,234 points as of 2/6/25. He’s also the school leader in 3 pointers made (381) while shooting 39.5% from deep.

There was a ton of preseason hype about Robbie Avila’s move to St. Louis from Indiana St. Don’t let his looks fool you, he has Poindexter glasses, the body of a doughboy, and can barely jump over the painted lines on the floor, but has put up solid numbers in all regards.

Swope has been a solid performer all year.

It’s not going to be easy……….

Discuss.

John Belushi was in college for 8 years.
Or was that Grant Golden?

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

These guys are just getting started…thinking the team is making magic this season.

A10 Champs and Round of 32?

 

[MasonSAE4]

Watched their last few. If they don’t get home cooking with the refs, there’s no reason we can’t win. Avila is uber foul prone and everything else is average. Just gotta shutdown Hibberson Jimmerson.

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Avila has been deconstructed and essentially removed from the last couple games. He's gonna sit at the top of the post, screen, and try to dribble down the lane. Too easy to steal from a slow big man. Watch the tapes, shut em down, bring home another road dub.

 

[Jack Strop]

Avila has been deconstructed and essentially removed from the last couple games. He's gonna sit at the top of the post, screen, and try to dribble down the lane. Too easy to steal from a slow big man. Watch the tapes, shut em down, bring home another road dub.

Agree. I noticed that from Avila during their first A10 game this season (and he hasn't impressed me yet). He has scored 4, 6, and 9 in his last three games.

Avila may be high basketball IQ, but he is barely athletic enough to be an A10 center. Jaylen Haynes should be able to eat him alive in the paint on both ends of the court.

Also, Jimerson exited in the first half of Friday's game vs. St. Joe's with an ankle injury and did not return. He may be banged up on Tuesday.

 

[psyclone]

Avila has been deconstructed and essentially removed from the last couple games. He's gonna sit at the top of the post, screen, and try to dribble down the lane. Too easy to steal from a slow big man. Watch the tapes, shut em down, bring home another road dub.

I agree. In his last 4 games, he certainly hasn't played like a 1st team all-conference level.:
8-23 from 2,
0-4 from 3,
12 assists, but
20(!) TOs

That said, SLU did beat vcu (their first conference loss since losing their A10 opener).

Jimmerson hurt his ankle--didn't play in the 2d half vs St. Joe's. Not clear if he will be available for our game.

x.com

x.com

 

[Leesburg Chankenstank III]

Net ranking 64
Kenpom rank 69

 

[GMUMiked]

I agree. In his last 4 games, he certainly hasn't played like a 1st team all-conference level.:
8-23 from 2,
0-4 from 3,
12 assists, but
20(!) TOs

That said, SLU did beat vcu (their first conference loss since losing their A10 opener).

Jimmerson hurt his ankle--didn't play in the 2d half vs St. Joe's. Not clear if he will be available for our game.

x.com

x.com

I'm sure we're preparing as if he'll be 100% but If Jimmerson doesn't play this is a completely different ball game.

 

[PDGL Hoops]

Just win.

 

[dr. gunnie]

I’ve been working on my close combat skills in anticipation for Tuesday. Currently watching the vcu fight film to see if I can pick up any tendencies.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

 

[GMUgemini]

The next three games are huge.

SLU will want to knock us off the top and get a game back in the race for top 2. The key is to force SLU go to the bench and make the bench beat you.

St. Joes has the firepower to beat us if we are off our game.

And the of course is vcu, the team right on our heels.

If we can go 2-1 against these next three I’ll be extremely happy. 3-0 and I’m going to start yelling “at-large material.”

 

[Pablo]

https://atlantic10.com/standings.aspx?path=mbball

2024-25 Men's Basketball Standings​

SCHOOL	CONF	CPCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	STREAK
George Mason	10-1	.909	19-5	.792	W9
vcu	9-2	.818	19-5	.792	W3
Saint Louis	7-4	.636	14-10	.583	L1
Dayton	6-5	.545	16-8	.667	L1
UMass	6-5	.545	11-13	.458	W1
Loyola Chicago	5-5	.500	14-9	.609	L1
Saint Joseph's	5-5	.500	14-9	.609	W1
George Washington	5-6	.455	16-8	.667	W1
Duquesne	5-6	.455	10-14	.417	W1
St. Bonaventure	5-7	.417	17-8	.680	L2
Davidson	4-6	.400	14-9	.609	W1
Rhode Island	4-7	.364	15-8	.652	L2
La Salle	4-7	.364	12-12	.500	L2
Fordham	3-7	.300	11-12	.478	W1
Richmond	3-8	.273	8-16	.333	L1

 

[thebiasedannouncer]

Agree. I noticed that from Avila during their first A10 game this season (and he hasn't impressed me yet). He has scored 4, 6, and 9 in his last three games.

Avila may be high basketball IQ, but he is barely athletic enough to be an A10 center. Jaylen Haynes should be able to eat him alive in the paint on both ends of the court.

Also, Jimerson exited in the first half of Friday's game vs. St. Joe's with an ankle injury and did not return. He may be banged up on Tuesday.

Whispers Jimerson won’t be ready Tuesday- takes away one of their two real guys who let loose from three (along with Swope) if that ends up being the case.

Have to plan for him though. Can’t expect nothing.

 

[GreenLantern]

Us 64
Them 62
OT

 

[GMU79]

Whispers Jimerson won’t be ready Tuesday- takes away one of their two real guys who let loose from three (along with Swope) if that ends up being the case.

Have to plan for him though. Can’t expect nothing.

To sort of quote Ivan Drago, "If they're a man down, they're a man down."