Game facts
- Time: December 10, 2022, 6:00 PM MST
- Location: Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis, MO
- Tipoff weather: Rainy and cold
- Odds: No one has a line out as of Friday morning, so I’ll just assume the Broncos are 40 point favorites
- Radio: KBOI 93.1/670
- TV: ESPN+
Other fun and cool facts
A first for the Broncos The Boise State men’s team has never ever not once played a game of basketball in the Show Me state. The closest they have come to playing in Missouri that I can find was when they took down Creighton in 2012 in Omaha, so less than 100 miles from the border.
The GOAT had a birthday! Our fearless leader JD had his birthday yesterday. Everyone say “HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERAMIAH” in the comments!
What even is a Billiken??? I was very confused on this one. Last year when SLU came to Boise, I just assumed that the Billiken was a bird. Upon further review (I Googled it and read on the SLU website), this is what I found.
The Billiken is a mythical good-luck figure who represents “things as they ought to be.”
Before he was Saint Louis University’s mascot, he was a national sensation. His figure was reproduced as dolls, marshmallow candies, metal banks, hatpins, pickle forks, belt buckles, auto-hood ornaments, salt and pepper shakers, bottles and more.
To buy a Billiken gives the purchaser luck, but to have one given to you is better luck.
Saint Louis University Website
Well well well… the weird bird mascot team thinks they can use luck and magic against the Broncos? As a current resident of Missouri I can tell you there is nothing lucky about living in St. Louis (Kansas City is better, just sayin). Hate to burst your bubble SLU but the Broncos don’t need luck to take care of business.
Streaks
Boise State- Won 6
SLU- Lost 1
Player to Watch
Yuri Collins, G
A native of St. Louis, Collins is putting up just over 11 points a game.. oh yeah, and he leads the nation in assists, averaging 11.1 a game, three higher than anyone else. I don’t think I need to explain how insane that is… but just in case: that’s just flat out wild. I know we aren’t even into conference play yet, but just to give some perspective, only two people have ever averaged higher than that in a college season. This kid can play ball.
Keys to victory
- Be ready from the jump This SLU team is desperate. They lost to Iona on Tuesday, and now sit at 81 in the NET rankings. It’s early, but the A10 isn’t exactly filled with quad one wins. In fact, SLU is the highest ranked NET team in the conference, and only Massachusetts and Fordham (97 and 99) crack the top 100 NET. Saint Louis knows that a win over a quality BSU team can change the dynamic of their season, so they are going to come out playing with their backs against the wall. The Broncos need to be ready.
- Defense is king Saint Louis has scored less than 80 four times this season, and three of those times were losses. If the Broncos want to come out of St. Louis with a win, then 80 is the magic number. Hold SLU under 80 and you win.
Score Prediction
It’s tough to make a call on the score when you don’t see the other team play much. I think this SLU team is solid. They gave a very good Auburn team a scare on the road a few weeks back. If the Broncos can slow down Yuri Collins, I think they can take care of business. I say the Broncos win, 77-63. Chibuzo Agbo might just go off again, I just have a feeling.
So, The Billiken represents what ought have been a win for SLU but in all reality is a big defeat.
Was a good win. They are a decent team. Will be interesting to see if Rice can get these guys over the hump this year. Making the tournament and advancing past round 1 would be huge. Last years draw was rough. That team has some young studs that showed up in the tournament.
Regardless, Rice is a Bronco legend at this point. What a great head of our program. We are consistently competitive. Couldn’t ask more from a program at a football school.