The Billikens travel to…wherever Iona University is located…for a non-conference showdown with the Fightin’ Pitinos. We’ll take a Whatsabilliken look at the matchup as we do, by looking at how everyone fared the last time these two met and how these players rate versus others in the program’s recent history.

SLU prevailed 68-67 in January’s tightly contested game at Chaifetz Arena. The Bills overcame 21% three-point shooting and 19 turnovers thanks to the outsized efforts of Francis Okoro (13 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Fred Thatch Jr. coming off the bench (9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals). Assuming everyone regresses to their mean tonight, the difference should come from players the Gaels did not have to face last year — Javon Pickett (transfer from Missouri), Jake Forrester (transfer from Temple, Indiana), and Javonte Perkins (injured all last year). The quality depth of the Billikens and multiple scoring options have allowed Perkins to ease into his return slowly.

As for the Gaels, in last season’s game Quinn Slazinski drew fouls on virtually every member of the Chaifetz family and was a perfect 8-8 from the foul line to lead the Iona attack. Slazinski has not played since the first two games of the year and appears to be out due to a high ankle sprain. No word on his availability tonight. Geographically-appropriately-named Nelly Junior Joseph (come on) also battled Okoro down low but could not overtake the SLU big man. With Slazinski likely out, and assuming Walter Clayton Jr returns to form a bit the one we’ll have our eye on is newcomer Daniss Jenkins. The 6’3″ junior from Dallas, TX transferred from Pacific this year and is putting up lots o’ shots, with games of 14 heaves, 14 jacks, and even 15 launches. But in the Gaels last game vs Canisius, Jenkins handed out 9 assists — a career-high by far — so we’ll see how much he’s in a sharing mood. Tis the season and whatnot.

The Gaels this year do not turn the ball over (#2 in the country in Off TO% per KenPom) and they block a lot of shots (#5 in Defensive Block %). They are likely to push the pace while the Bills slow it down. SLU’s advantage in Offensive Rebounding is likely to be offset by Iona’s advantage in Three-Point Shooting. KenPom gives SLU the slight edge (53% win probability) and we also expect this one to come down to the wire, once again. Ring out 2022 just as we rang it in.

References

Data from Basketball Reference and Ken Pomeroy and SLUBillikens.com and the NCAA

Game Score metric created by John Hollinger detailed here

Plot format by Aaron Baggett

Inspiration from Ken Pomeroy

Inspiration from Rock M Nation

Team colors courtesy:

Benjamin S. Baumer and Gregory J. Matthews (2020). teamcolors: Color Palettes for Pro Sports Teams. R package version 0.0.4.