ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis, which knocked off Washington Sunday at Chaifetz Arena to move to 3-0 on the season, has started to garner national attention and is “receiving votes” in this week’s AP poll and ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll.
The Billikens, who came into the season with lofty expectations after being picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 Conference, opened the year with a 71-37 victory against Tennessee State, a 61-42 triumph against Southern Illinois and a 77-64 win against the Huskies.
Defense has been the key early on for the Bills, as they lead the A-10 by yielding 47.7 ppg. Offensively, three Billikens score in double figures, led by senior forward Brian Conklin (16.7 ppg), who scored a career-high 25 points against Washington. Junior point guard Kwamain Mitchell pumps in 12.0 ppg, while junior forward Cody Ellis averages 10.0 ppg.
The Billikens received votes in the 2006-07 preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, and was last ranked in the top 25 poll during the 1993-94 season, earning a ranking as high as 16th in week 15.
Saint Louis returns to action on Thanksgiving with a 1 p.m. (CT) tip against Boston College at the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif. On Friday, the Billikens
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