SLU Men’s Basketball Preview: Western Michigan at Saint Louis Tuesday at 7 p.m

Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 | 7 p.m. | St. Louis, Mo. (Chaifetz Arena)
TV: FOX Sports Midwest (Dan McLaughlin, Scott Highmark) (channel listings)
Radio: 101 ESPN (Bob Ramsey, Earl Austin Jr.)
Online Coverage: A-10 Digital Network stream (info) | FOX Sports Go App stream (info) | Live Stats | @SaintLouisMBB on Twitter

++SLU Game Notes++

– Saint Louis welcomes Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Mich.) to Chaifetz Arena on Tuesday night. Game time is 7 p.m.

– Tuesday’s game will be televised on FOX Sports Midwest. Dan McLaughlin and Scott Highmark are on the call.

– The radio broadcast will air on 101 ESPN (101.1 FM and 101Sports.com). As always, Billiken Hall of Famer Bob Ramsey provides the play-by-play, while St. Louis American Sports Editor Earl Austin Jr. handles the analysis.

– The Billikens enter Tuesday’s game against Western Michigan with a 3-2 record.

– Saint Louis won its first three games of the season, but has dropped the last two matchups. The Billikens are coming off a 72-70 loss against Detroit Mercy last Wednesday.

– Junior guard Javon Bess leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.2 ppg. Nearly half of his points have come from the charity stripe. His 35 free throws made and 42 free throws attempted both rank third in the conference.

– Sophomore forward Jalen Johnson is coming of a career-high (and team-season-high) 24 points against Detroit Mercy. He was 8-of-15 from the field and 3-of-6 from long range. For the season, he is second on the Billikens with 10.2 ppg.

– Freshman guard Jordan Goodwin is second in the Atlantic 10 Conference in assists per game (5.4) and third in steals per game (2.6). He posted a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win against Virginia Tech.

– Freshman forward Hasahn French is coming off his first-career double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds against Detroit Mercy. He also posted five blocks. French is fourth in the A-10 in blocks (11) and rebounds per game (8.0).

– Junior forward D.J. Foreman leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in shooting percentage, connecting on 70.8 percent (17-of-24) from the field.

– Senior guards Davell Roby and Aaron Hines average 9.0 ppg and 8.8 ppg, respectively. The Detroit Mercy game was the 100th appearance in Roby’s career.

– The Billikens lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in rebounding margin (+7.2).

– SLU head coach Travis Ford is in is second season at SLU and his 21st year as a collegiate head coach. He has a 15-23 record at SLU and a 351-289 record overall.

– Western Michigan (3-3) is led by guard Thomas Wilder, who averages 19.8 ppg. He tested the NBA waters last spring before opting to return to WMU.

– The Western Michigan University Broncos (Kalamazoo, Mich.) enter Tuesday’s game 3-3 overall.

– Western Michigan played in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament, which was relocated to Myrtle Beach, S.C., due to the impact of Hurricane Maria.

– The Broncos went 1-2 in Myrtle Beach, defeating Appalachian State and falling to Tulsa and South Carolina.

– Guard Thomas Wilder, who returned for his senior season after testing the NBA waters last spring, leads the team in scoring (19.8 ppg), assists (26) and steals (17).

– Guard Bryce Moore averages 9.7 ppg, while guard/forward Josh Davis brings down a team-best 6.3 rpg.

– Western Michigan was picked to win the MAC in the league’s preseason poll.

– Wilder was named preseason All-MAC West by the league’s coaches and media. He was also named to the All-High Major third team by College Sports Madness. Wilder was named to the Lou Henson Player of the Year Award Watch List, which is given annually to the nation’s top Division I mid-major player.

– Western Michigan won nine of its final 10 games in 2016-17 and finished with a 16-16 overall record. The Broncos captured the MAC West regular-season crown.

– Head coach Steve Hawkins is in his 15th season leading the Broncos. Hawkins served as head coach at Quincy University from 1991 to 2000.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams.