Banged-Up Vermont Tries To Regroup in Tough Road Test

Vermont played like UMBC on Saturday. They got out-rebounded and outworked by Yale en route to a 68-52 loss. Four McGlynn scored points; other players didn't. A game sandwiched in between two marquee match-ups -- the home game against Harvard and this upcoming away game against Saint Louis -- nobody figured this Yale game would be a huge issue. Yale is a good team, and this was by no means a lock for Vermont, but I don't think anyone saw a blowout coming, not after Vermont gave Harvard all it could handle in Burlington. I'm ready to chalk this one up to a Harvard-hangover. Time to move on and get ready for Saint Louis.

Rick Majerus' Billikens flirted with the top 25 poll this week after being ranked no. 23 last week. I have no idea why they received so many votes considering that they lost to Loyola Marymount, who owns home losses to Columbia and North Texas. But that is the nature of polls -- those whose votes create them are not fast to admit they were wrong a week earlier. Regardless of whether or not Saint Louis is one of the top 30 basketball teams in the country, they are still a very good basketball team -- they won the 76 classic, beating a field of mediocre to less-than-mediocre teams: BC, Villanova, Washington, and Oklahoma. That is how they became ranked in the first place. This would be an enormous win for Vermont and America East if the Catamounts could somehow pull it off.

UVM will be without starting big man Ben Crenca due to his recent knee surgery (the big man confirmed yesterday that he should only be sidelined for 2-3 weeks). Luke Apfeld made his first career start in place of Crenca, but ended up hobbling off the court with an apparent injury. Whenever Luke Apfeld is hobbling -- or even walking -- Vermont fans hold their breath, due to his history of knee injuries. This was said to be ankle-related and minor, so he should be on the court against Saint Louis.

The Saint Louis lineup after the jump.

Kwamain Mitchell, 5'10", Jr.

Brian Conklin, 6'6", Sr.

Kyle Cassity, 6'4", Sr.

Dwayne Evans, 6'5", Soph.

Rob Loe, 6'11", Soph.

Key bench players: Cody Ellis, 6'8", Jr., Jordair Jett, 6'1", Soph.

(music comes to a screeching halt)

Did I just type "Jordair Jett"?

Imagine this:

"Hey, I'm Cody Ellis."

"Hey man, my name is Jordair Jett."

(End scene).

Your 2011-2012 Saint Louis Billikens, folks!

Fun Fact Of The Day: What is a "Billiken?": Please hold on while I search on Wikipedia. You know what, you're going to have to read this for yourself to believe it. Good lord.

Enjoy the game.