In terms of size, Vandy will be SLU's biggest challenge of the season
ST. LOUIS -- The biggest challenge of the season awaits the Saint Louis Billikens Wednesday afternoon at Chaifetz Arena (1 p.m., Fox Sports Midwest).
Literally, that is.
Figuratively, playing at nationally ranked Wichita State was a tougher task than playing host to the Vanderbilt Commodores, who were the media's preseason pick to finish 11th in the Southeastern Conference (Missouri was picked seventh, for what rankings are worth).
But size-wise, the Commodores not only will be the tallest team that the Billikens have faced but, said SLU coach Jim Crews, "They've got more size than most teams period."
Added Crews, "They're 6-10 and 7-foot on the front line and their guards are 6-3 and they have a 6-6 kid. They're very big and they move."
One of the big guys for Vanderbilt, 6-10 sophomore Damian Jones, earned high praise from the veteran SLU coach. "He's the best big kid that we've played against in the four years I've been here," Crews said before the Billikens practiced on Tuesday. "That kid is very, very talented. He is quick and explosive."
Jones leads Vanderbilt in scoring with 16.5 points per game and is the SEC's leader in field goal percentage at 58.3. His sharpshooting is a key reason why the Commodores are shooting 51.1 percent as a team, the sixth-best mark in the nation. Jones led Vanderbilt with 11 points in their 57-49 loss to SLU last Dec. 30 in Nashville. This season, Jones has scored more than 11 in every game except one.
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A 19-year-old out of Baton Rouge, Jones poses such a scoring threat that SLU is changing its usual defensive plan. Instead of relying on man-to-man defense, Crews said the Billikens plan to use more zone with the hopes of better limiting Jones. With no player able to match Jones' skills on the inside, the Billikens don't have much choice. Since returning from their holiday break, SLU has been practicing its zone defense so often that even the coaches are getting tired.
"Coach (Jim) Platt has lost his voice yelling at us about the zone," freshman Davell Roby said.
The Billikens also are looking at a different rotation, too. For what would be one of the few times this season, Crews said SLU is likely to put two of its three big men on the court at the same time. Senior John Manning figures to get the start as usual but freshmen Austin Gillman and Brett Jolly are in line to see more minutes than usual. SLU will need all the size it can muster on the defensive boards. Vanderbilt has out-rebounded opponents by an average of 4.8 per game while SLU has been out-boarded for the season.
The matinee contest will serve as SLU's final tune-up before opening Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday afternoon with a home game against Rhode Island.
TALE FROM THE RECRUITING TRAIL
Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings, a product of Collinsville High, is a long-time Crews' crony and they have spent a lot of time recruiting in the same gyms around the Midwest. Though Crews couldn't remember the exact details, he recalled a time when the two were the only coaches at a high school practice talking to the same prospect. According to Crews, they started showing off for the youngster a little bit. Crews thought he was holding his own by firing off hook shots from half court. But Stallings one-upped him by taking -- and making -- behind-the-back shots from three-quarters court.
"I got out-recruited that day," Crews said, smiling.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @StanMcNeal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
