Southeast tries to extend Bills' early troubles

After going 19-13 and winning an NIT game last year -- and returning many of its key players along with a solid recruiting class -- this had the look of a strong season for St. Louis University.

But the Billikens (2-8) are struggling big-time entering tonight's 7:10 p.m. tipoff against Southeast Missouri State University (3-6) at the Savvis Center in St. Louis.

"It's been disappointing," SLU coach Brad Soderberg said.

The Billikens' season began with a surprising overtime loss to Austin Peay in the Virgin Islands. The Govs are the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions but returned just one starter from that team -- and he missed the SLU game with an injury.

Before that trip to the Virgin Islands was over, the Billikens had suffered another upset loss, to Eastern Michigan. They have also been defeated at home by the likes of mid-major programs Oral Roberts, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Dayton.

Granted, SLU's eight losses have been to teams with a combined 55-20 record, including nationally ranked Gonzaga, undefeated Hawaii and Southern Illinois. And most of the defeats have been close. Still, the Billikens' expected to be doing a lot better at this point.

"It's been a very frustrating year so far, but we're going to keep fighting," Soderberg said. "It's been one of those should have been, could have been. It's not out of the realm we could be 8-2 instead of 2-8."

According to Soderberg, SLU's biggest problem so far has been an offense that hasn't been able to shoot straight -- and the statistics bear that out.

The Billikens are shooting just 37.6 percent from the field overall and 29.2 percent from 3-point range. They're even struggling from the free-throw line at 64.9 percent, as they are averaging only 52.8 points per game.

"For some reason, we're not able to get the ball in the basket," Soderberg said. "But we just have to keep believing in ourselves and try to keep getting good shots. We've got guys who can shoot the ball."

But SLU's defense, a staple under Soderberg, has been solid. The Billikens lead Conference USA in scoring defense at 59.6 points per game allowed, and opponents are shooting just 40 percent.

Reggie Bryant, an explosive 6-foot-2 senior guard, is SLU's top scorer at 14.2 points per game. Last year, he was Conference USA's fifth-leading scorer with a 16.4 average. Bryant is by far the Billikens' top 3-point threat at 38.8 percent (26 of 67).

SLU's only other player averaging in double figures is 6-9 senior forward Izik Ohanon (10.1 ppg). Ohanon is one of four Billikens standing at least 6-9 who receive significant minutes -- which could pose problems for Southeast's small lineup.

"Bryant is their best player. He's very good," Southeast coach Gary Garner said. "And they're a big, strong team inside, which causes us problems because we're just not very big.

"I know they thought they were really going to have a good team this year. They're apparently not a good shooting team, but they are apparently good defensively."

SLU leads the all-time series with Southeast 7-3, but the teams have played just once since 1945, with the host Billikens romping 88-62 in 2001-2002.

This will be the last of Southeast's three "guarantee" games, as SLU is paying Southeast about $45,000. Southeast received about $40,000 apiece for earlier contests at Bradley (77-73 loss) and Western Kentucky (74-53 loss), with all the money going to the university's athletic department and not specifically the basketball program.

"There's a reason they're paying us to come play at their place, and that's because they expect to win," Garner said. "They're the favorites, but I think if we play well, we'll have a shot."

Garner is particularly encouraged regarding a potential upset by the fact SLU -- a notoriously strong home team -- is just 1-4 at the Savvis Center so far, the losses coming to Oral Roberts, Hawaii, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Dayton.

"Those are all good teams, but teams that you'd figure they'd beat at home," Garner said. "They've still got a lot of talent, and they'll be tough to beat. We're going to have to play good to have a chance, but if we do play good, hopefully we'll be right in there."