The Saint Louis Billikens, boasting a 24-1 record, are set to face off against the Rhode Island Rams, who are 14-11, in a crucial Atlantic 10 matchup, with the Billikens averaging 88 points per game over their last 5 contests, outscoring their opponents by a whopping 18.8 points per game, including a 102-71 thrashing of Dayton, while Rhode Island has been averaging 72 points per game over their last 5, but being outscored by 2.8 points per game, highlighting the significant disparity in their recent form, as the Billikens have won all 5 of their last games, including an 86-59 rout of Loyola Chicago, whereas the Rams have gone 2-3, with losses to Fordham and George Washington, and a narrow 81-76 win over Dayton.
The Rhode Island Rams have struggled to find consistency, with their recent trend showing a mix of highs and lows, including an 82-77 win over Richmond, but also a 61-76 loss to Duquesne, and they must shore up their defense, which has allowed 74.8 points per game over their last 5, if they hope to contain the high-powered Saint Louis offense, which has been clicking on all cylinders, with an average margin of victory of 18.8 points over their last 5 games, including a 91-82 win over Davidson, and a 79-76 win over George Washington, demonstrating their ability to win close games, and their 12-0 conference record is a reflection of their dominance in the Atlantic 10, with their last loss coming over a month ago, and they have since won 5 straight, including a 5-game winning streak, with their most recent win being a 79-76 nail-biter over George Washington.
Key Matchups
The individual matchups matters in this game, with Saint Louis's high-scoring offense, which has averaged 88 points per game over their last 5, led by players who have been on a tear, including a 31-point performance against Loyola Chicago, and a 28-point outing against La Salle, and they want to exploit Rhode Island's defensive struggles, which have seen them allow 74.8 points per game over their last 5, and the Rams must find a way to slow down the Billikens' offense, which has been nearly unstoppable, with a 52.1% field goal percentage over their last 5 games, including a 55.1% shooting performance against Dayton, and a 51.9% outing against George Washington, and Rhode Island's offense, which has averaged 72 points per game over their last 5, must be more efficient, with a 44.7% field goal percentage over their last 5 games, including a 45.1% shooting performance against Richmond, and a 43.1% outing against Duquesne.
The Billikens' recent form has been nothing short of impressive, with 5 straight wins, including a 102-71 thrashing of Dayton, and an 86-59 rout of Loyola Chicago, and they have outscored their opponents by an average of 18.8 points per game over their last 5, and their offense has been clicking on all cylinders, with an average of 88 points per game over their last 5, and they have shot 52.1% from the field over their last 5 games, including a 55.1% shooting performance against Dayton, and a 51.9% outing against George Washington, and their defense has been stingy, allowing just 69.2 points per game over their last 5, and they have held their opponents to 41.3% shooting from the field over their last 5 games, including a 38.5% defensive performance against Loyola Chicago, and a 40.4% outing against La Salle, and Rhode Island must find a way to slow down the Billikens' offense, which has been nearly unstoppable, and their own offense must be more efficient, with a 44.7% field goal percentage over their last 5 games, including a 45.1% shooting performance against Richmond, and a 43.1% outing against Duquesne.
CHD Scout Prediction
Saint Louis
82
Rhode Island
67
The CHD Scout prediction has Saint Louis winning by 14.9 points, with an 11.1% win probability for Rhode Island, and this is largely due to the significant disparity in their recent form, with the Billikens outscoring their opponents by an average of 18.8 points per game over their last 5, while the Rams have been outscored by 2.8 points per game over their last 5, and the Billikens' offense has been clicking on all cylinders, with an average of 88 points per game over their last 5, and they have shot 52.1% from the field over their last 5 games, including a 55.1% shooting performance against Dayton, and a 51.9% outing against George Washington, and their defense has been stingy, allowing just 69.2 points per game over their last 5, and they have held their opponents to 41.3% shooting from the field over their last 5 games, including a 38.5% defensive performance against Loyola Chicago, and a 40.4% outing against La Salle, and Rhode Island's defense, which has allowed 74.8 points per game over their last 5, must find a way to slow down the Billikens' offense, which has been nearly unstoppable, and their own offense must be more efficient, with a 44.7% field goal percentage over their last 5 games, including a 45.1% shooting performance against Richmond, and a 43.1% outing against Duquesne.
The Rams' tournament hopes are still alive, but they desperately need a quality win to bolster their resume, and a win over the 17th-ranked Saint Louis Billikens would be a significant boost, and would likely move them up in the NET rankings, and improve their chances of making the tournament, and on the other hand, a loss would be a significant setback, and would likely drop them in the NET rankings, and make it even more difficult for them to make the tournament, and the Billikens, who are projected as a top-4 seed, want to maintain their momentum, and a win over Rhode Island would be their 6th straight, and would keep them atop the Atlantic 10 standings, with a 13-0 conference record, and they have a significant lead in the conference, with a 2-game lead over the second-place team, and they want to keep their winning streak alive, and maintain their position as one of the top teams in the conference.
Tournament Stakes
A win for Rhode Island would be a huge resume-booster, and would give them a much-needed quality win, and would likely move them up in the NET rankings, and improve their chances of making the tournament, and it would also give them a significant confidence boost, and would show that they can compete with the top teams in the conference, and on the other hand, a loss would be a significant setback, and would likely drop them in the NET rankings, and make it even more difficult for them to make the tournament, and the Billikens, who are projected as a top-4 seed, want to maintain their momentum, and a win over Rhode Island would be their 6th straight, and would keep them atop the Atlantic 10 standings, with a 13-0 conference record, and they have a significant lead in the conference, with a 2-game lead over the second-place team, and they want to keep their winning streak alive, and maintain their position as one of the top teams in the conference, and a loss would be a significant upset, and would give Rhode Island a huge boost, and would likely move them up in the NET rankings, and improve their chances of making the tournament.
The Billikens' dominance in the Atlantic 10 has been impressive, with a 12-0 conference record, and they have outscored their opponents by an average of 18.8 points per game over their last 5, and their offense has been clicking on all cylinders, with an average of 88 points per game over their last 5, and they have shot 52.1% from the field over their last 5 games, including a 55.1% shooting performance against Dayton, and a 51.9% outing against George Washington, and their defense has been stingy, allowing just 69.2 points per game over their last 5, and they have held their opponents to 41.3% shooting from the field over their last 5 games, including a 38.5% defensive performance against Loyola Chicago, and a 40.4% outing against La Salle, and Rhode Island must find a way to slow down the Billikens' offense, which has been nearly unstoppable, and their own offense must be more efficient, with a 44.7% field goal percentage over their last 5 games, including a 45.1% shooting performance against Richmond, and a 43.1% outing against Duquesne, and the Rams must be able to contain the Billikens