Final Week to Set Up March Madness For SLU

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Terriffic 'must' win for St. Louis U. on Saturday against Duquesne.  The Billikens are in 4th place by themselves.  Win out and get a bye in the A-10 tournament.  Before Saturday SLU was going to need some help to get it done and they got it as Charlotte lost at George Washington.  But, the SLU final two games are brutal.  Arguably the toughest two on the schedule. 

First, Temple comes to town on Wednesday.  The Owls are still my pick to win the league outright and the tournament.  Probably the best team SLU will face at Chaifetz.  Big, strong, veteran athletes who know how to win.  It will be a battle.

On Saturday, the Bills head to Dayton.  The Flyers, once considered the league favorite, have off the bubble for the big dance.  Their precipitoius drop began with a loss at St. Louis and the slide continues.  As an aside, I really admire the Dayton goes about their business.  In particular, their game day folks and fans are as good as it gets.  But Dayton will be laying in the weeds waiting to hammer SLU in the season finale.

The Billikens finish no worse than 10-6.  If they can win one of the last two they can stay in the favored 4-5 spots in the A-10.  Dropping to sixth asks for trouble as, while you would still get the 1st round home game, you would face Richmond, Xavier or Temple in the quarters in Atlantic City.  Not a desirable position.