The nation’s second-longest active winning streak meets a program in freefall tonight when No. 18 Saint Louis visits Loyola Chicago at Gentile Arena, February 13th, at 8:30 PM EST. The Billikens arrive at 23-1 and a perfect 11-0 in Atlantic 10 play, riding 17 consecutive victories while leading the country in scoring margin at +23.3 points per game. Loyola Chicago, picked fifth in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll with two first-place votes, has been decimated by injuries and sits at 6-19 with a 2-10 conference mark. This A10 matchup features a 316-spot gap in offensive rating between the two programs, setting up a mismatch on ESPN2’s Friday Night Showcase.
| Metric | Saint Louis | Loyola Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Record (Conf) | 23-1 (11-0) | 6-19 (2-10) |
| Points Per Game | 91.0 (5th) | 67.6 (337th) |
| Points Allowed | 67.7 (37th) | 77.6 (280th) |
| Offensive Rating | 124.6 (4th) | 102.2 (318th) |
| Defensive Rating | 92.7 (2nd) | 117.4 (354th) |
| FG% Defense | 36.4% (1st) | 44.5% (213th) |
Market Analysis
The spread has settled around 18.5 points in favor of the Bilikens, with the implied probability sitting at 92.4%. Saint Louis owns the nation’s best field goal percentage defense at 36.4%, holding opponents to the lowest shooting clip in Division I basketball. The Billikens also rank second nationally in defensive rating (92.7) while simultaneously boasting the fourth-best offensive rating (124.6). Saint Louis’ two-way dominance has produced seven 100-point games, tied for the NCAA lead. Loyola Chicago’s defensive rating of 117.4 ranks 354th nationally, suggesting the Ramblers will struggle mightily to contain a Billikens attack averaging 91.0 points per contest. The 23.4-point scoring differential between these programs represents one of the largest gaps in any conference matchup this season.
Billikens’ Balanced Attack Poses Matchup Nightmare
Saint Louis presents a unique challenge with seven players averaging 9.5 points or more per game. Robbie Avila leads the charge at 12.8 points per game while also leading all Division I centers in assists (4.3 per game) and three-pointers made (1.9 per game). Trey Green adds 12.0 points per game and tops the A-10 with 3.13 three-pointers made per contest, shooting 47.1% from deep, which ranks third nationally. The Billikens’ depth means eight different players have led the team in scoring this season, making defensive game-planning nearly impossible. Kellen Thames (.677 FG%) and Dion Brown (.615 FG%) are posting shooting percentages that rank among the top three in program history for a single season. Against a Loyola defense allowing 77.6 points per game, this multifaceted attack should find consistent success.
Injury-Ravaged Ramblers Face Uphill Battle
Loyola entered the season with legitimate A-10 title aspirations, earning two first-place votes in the preseason poll. Injuries have derailed those hopes entirely. The Ramblers snapped a nine-game losing streak last week against La Salle, with Joshua Ola-Joseph leading four double-figure scorers in a 71-61 home victory. Miles Rubin remains Loyola’s most consistent performer, averaging 11.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while leading the A-10 with 2.4 blocks per contest, ranking 15th nationally. His rim protection represents Loyola’s best chance at disrupting Saint Louis’ attack. Justin Moore (11.4 ppg) and Xavier Amos (11.0 ppg) round out the primary scoring options. The Ramblers defeated Saint Louis 72-64 in last season’s A-10 tournament, but that version of Loyola bore little resemblance to the injury-depleted squad taking the floor tonight. The 352-spot gap in defensive rating between these teams illustrates just how difficult it will be for the Ramblers to slow down a Billikens squad chasing school history.