Nov. 30, 2009

THIS WEEK: The Saint Louis Billikens (4-2) close out a stretch of three games away from home with a 6 p.m. (CT) tilt at Georgia Wednesday, Dec. 2. SLU then begins a six-game homestand Saturday, Dec. 5, as Southern Illinois comes to Chaifetz Arena for a 7 p.m. contest. During halftime of the SIU game, the 1947-48 Billiken NIT championship team will be honored as part of the "Billiken Legends" program, which will recognize great SLU teams from the past.

TV TIME: The game at Georgia will be televised by Fox Sports Midwest, and the Southern Illinois contest airs on KPLR.

ABOUT GEORGIA: The Bulldogs have won two straight and stand at 3-2. Sophomore forward Trey Thompkins, who was an All-SEC Freshman team selection, tops the team with 15.6 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Travis Leslie adds 12.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg and is tied for second on the team with 13 assists. The Bulldogs average 65.2 ppg while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 27.5 percent from 3-point range and shoot 68.3 percent from the line. Head coach Mark Fox is in his first year at UGA and is 126-45 in six seasons overall. This will be the first meeting between the schools.

ABOUT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: The Salukis are 3-1 and have won all three of their games by double digits. Their lone loss was at UNLV. Carlton Fay comes off the bench with a team-high 14.8 ppg, with Kevin Dillard right behind at 13.8 ppg. Nick Evans tops SIU in rebounding at 6.0 per contest. The Salukis score 79.5 ppg while shooting 44.9 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from 3-point range and 78.8 percent from the line. Head coach Chris Lowery is 112-60 in his sixth season at his alma mater. The Billikens lead the series 25-24 with the teams splitting the last seven meetings.

BILLIKEN BITS: The Billikens dropped both games at UIC Pavilion to close out the Chicago Invitational Challenge, 65-54 to Iowa State and 64-52 to Notre Dame. Willie Reed registered career highs against the Irish with 20 points and 15 rebounds. He is averaging a double-double with 13.7 ppg and 10.8 rpg. Kwamain Mitchell adds 11.3 ppg and has handed out 21 assists, while Brian Conklin averages 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds.

HEAD COACH Rick Majerus: Coach Rick Majerus is in his third campaign as head coach of the Billikens with a 38-31 slate. He has a 22-year career mark of 460-178 and has never had a losing season. Majerus has taken 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament and four to the NIT. At the start of the 2009-10 season, his .722 career winning percentage tied for 13th among active coaches, and Majerus' 456 wins ranked 23rd on the active list.

FAMILIAR FACES: Billiken redshirt freshman Femi John and sophomore Saluki forward Anthony Booker were teammates at McCluer North High School and helped the Stars win a state championship. SLU senior graduate manager Tony Young is a 2007 graduate of Southern Illinois and spent two seasons as a graduate manager for the Salukis.

YOUTH WILL BE SERVED: By two measures, the 2009-10 Billikens will be the youngest team in America. Considering only scholarship players, the Billikens' roster is 90.9 percent underclassmen (10 of 11), the highest percentage in the nation. In addition, the Billikens have the fewest upperclassmen (one - Paul Eckerle) in the country.

VERSUS NON-CONFERENCE FOES: In Chaifetz Arena, the Billikens are 12-1 against non-conference teams and have won 11 straight versus teams outside the Atlantic 10. The only non-league team to emerge from Chaifetz Arena with a victory has been Kent State Nov. 19, 2008.

PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Sophomore guard Kwamain Mitchell was named to the Atlantic 10 preseason men's basketball All-Conference third team as selected by a poll of the league's coaches. Last season, Mitchell was chosen to the league's All-Rookie team. He averaged 11 ppg and 3.2 rpg and was second on the team with 42 3-pointers and 38 steals.

ON THE AIR: For the second consecutive year, Billiken basketball can be heard on 101.1 FM ESPN. Billiken Hall of Famer Bob Ramsey is in his 24th season as the play-by-play "Voice of the Billikens." Earl Austin Jr., sports editor of the St. Louis American, is in his 19th year in the analyst's role.

BILLIKEN ALL-ACCESS: Billiken regular-season home games this season are video streamed live through Billiken All-Access at www.slubillikens.com. Subscriptions are available for $79.95 annually or $9.95 a month. GameTracker is again available free of charge in 2009-10.

TICKETS: Season tickets and individual game tickets are on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at www.slubillikens.com or www.metrotix.com, by phone at (314) 977-4SLU or toll free at (800) 293-5949, and at the Chaifetz Arena Ticket Office.

Saint Louis Billikens Men's Basketball