Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 | 1 p.m. (CT) | Indianapolis, Ind. (Hinkle Fieldhouse)
TV: FS1 (Vince Welch, Nick Base) (channel listings)
Radio: 101 ESPN (Bob Ramsey, Earl Austin Jr.)
Online Coverage: FOX Sports Go | Listen | Live Stats | @SaintLouisMBB on Twitter
SETTING THE SCENE
– Saint Louis faces its first road test of the season on Saturday when it travels to Indianapolis Saturday to meet Butler. Game time at Hinkle Fieldhouse is 1 p.m. (CT) / 2 p.m. (ET).
– The game will be televised on FS1. Vince Welch and Nick Bahe 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.
ABOUT THE BILLIKENS
Roster | Schedule | 2017-18 Statistics
– The Billikens enter Saturday’s game against Butler with a 3-3 record.
– It will be Saint Louis’ first true road game of the season. The Billikens’ other two games away from Chaifetz Arena took place on a neutral court at Madison Square Garden.
– Saint Louis won its first three games of the season, but has dropped the last three. The Billikens are coming off a 65-51 home loss against Western Michigan on Tuesday.
– Junior guard Javon Bess continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 14.2 ppg. Nearly half of his points have come from the charity stripe. His 41 free throws made and 48 free throws attempted rank third in the conference.
– Junior forward D.J. Foreman leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in shooting percentage, connecting on 69.2 percent (18-of-26) from the field.
– Sophomore forward Jalen Johnson is second on the Billikens with 10.2 ppg. He has scored in double figures in two straight games, including a career-high 24 points against Detroit Mercy.
– Freshman guard Jordan Goodwin is third in the Atlantic 10 Conference in steals per game (2.7) and fourth in assists per game (4.7).
– Freshman forward Hasahn French leads the team and is sixth in the A-10 in rebounding (7.5 rpg). He is fourth in the A-10 in blocked shots (13).
– Senior guards Davell Roby and Aaron Hines average 8.5 ppg and 8.2 ppg, respectively.
– SLU and Butler were conference rivals in two leagues – the Midwest Collegiate Conference from 1980-91 and the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2012-13. The Billikens lead the all-time series 19-11. Butler leads 7-6 in games played at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Roster | Schedule | 2017-18 Statistics
– Butler is receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches poll and enters Saturday’s game with a 5-2 record.
– Three Bulldogs score in double figures, led by Kelan Martin’s 16.0 ppg. He was the BIG EAST Player of the Week Nov. 13 after registering back-to-back 20-point games as Butler won two games over opening weekend.
– Butler is coming off the PK80 Invitational in Portland, Oregon, where it defeated Portland State and Ohio State after opening the tourney with a loss to Texas.
– The Bulldogs are coached by LaVall Jordan, a Butler alum who was hired in June after coaching one year at Milwaukee.
SERIES HISTORY
Saint Louis owns a 19-11 series lead over the Bulldogs … this is the first game of a home-and-home series – SLU will host the Bulldogs next season on Dec. 1 at Chaifetz Arena … Butler leads 7-6 in games played at Hinkle Fieldhouse … the teams last met during the 2012-13 season when Butler was a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference … that year, SLU won both games during the regular season, defeating the Bulldogs at Chaifetz Arena when Butler was ranked No. 9, then again at Hinkle Fieldhouse when Butler was ranked No. 15 … the Billikens also knocked off the Bulldogs in the A-10 semifinals in Brooklyn, N.Y. … the teams played regularly in the 1980s and early 1990s as members of the MCC.
