Forums

[steve]

Originally Posted by flyer016 I wonder if this team can find it's stride with a defense-first identity. Getting Chatman back is obviously the catalyst here, but Weaver's a good defensive player as well. Tshimanga does a good job protecting the paint. Nwokeji can do a lot on defense. Blakney, for better or worse, is a ball of energy out there. It could have just been a down night for Saint Louis, but I thought the team's defense looked excellent and especially cohesive. They were really active, cleared the boards well and appeared dialed-in. I still think they're light on talent as a roster, but maybe they can make up for any deficiencies with defensive intensity.

Just can't tell with this Jeckyl and Hyde team. Having Chatman back is a huge huge plus to at least get some defensive on-the-ball intensity back which can make them a far more consistent team. All defense is important but nothing like really good-on-the-ball pressure which takes time off the shot clock, allows less dribble penetration into the lane and creates much tougher and longer passing angles. Not a coincidence that getting Chatman back helped UD get the huge lead against RI with a continued overall good defensive game against St Louis.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.