By CHUCKIE MAGGIO The St. Bonaventure Bonnies suddenly resemble the Saint Louis team that crushed their hopes of making the NCAA Tournament in 2019. That Billikens program entered the 2018-19 season rife with expectation, favored to win the Atlantic 10 title after adding high-major transfers Javon Bess and Tramaine Isabell and top 100 recruit Carte’Are Gordon. A 6-1 start … [Read more...] about Maggio: Bonnies resembling 2018-19 Saint Louis team that beat them in A-10 title game
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Bonnies’ hot first half enough to sweep Saint Louis
By CHUCKIE MAGGIO St. Bonaventure nearly went wire-to-wire, again, regardless of how tense the ending developed. Saint Louis made the first basket of the game, allowing the Billikens 26 seconds with the lead until Bona tied the score. What followed was a scoring explosion, with the Bonnies posting 48 first half points and entering the halftime break up 16 points. That burst, … [Read more...] about Bonnies’ hot first half enough to sweep Saint Louis
Quick turnaround for Bonnies, Billikens in Monday rematch
By CHUCKIE MAGGIO Game preparation looks different when you meet a team for the second time in four days. A St. Bonaventure coaching staff that examines copious amounts of game film to scout each opponent has a lighter load for Round 2 against Saint Louis. The Bonnies’ initial game plan worked against the Billikens; now the focus is on minor adjustments for Monday's rematch … [Read more...] about Quick turnaround for Bonnies, Billikens in Monday rematch
Bonnies, back as the “hunters” rather than the “hunted,” blitz Billikens for best road victory of season
By CHUCKIE MAGGIO St. Bonaventure, long comfortable in the role of the “hunter” and only recently becoming a “hunted” team with a target on its back, is again playing spoiler- and just fine with that designation. The Bonnies, fortified by a stingy defense that swiped 12 steals and held the league’s top offense to its lowest output of Atlantic 10 play, used a 16-0 run and … [Read more...] about Bonnies, back as the “hunters” rather than the “hunted,” blitz Billikens for best road victory of season
Bonnies start home-and-home with surging Collins, Saint Louis
By CHUCKIE MAGGIO The rest of the Atlantic 10 has as much right to be upset about Yuri Collins’s Cousy Award watch list snub as Collins himself. Saint Louis’s point guard leads the nation in assists per game and has led the Billikens to a 17-6 record without star backcourt mate Javonte Perkins, who tore his ACL in October. Collins was not included on the 10-person midseason … [Read more...] about Bonnies start home-and-home with surging Collins, Saint Louis