Saint Louis is off to a 6-0 start, but the Billikens’ improved offense will be put to the test in a visit to Minnesota on Sunday.
The Billikens were dead last in the country last season among 353 teams in free throw shooting percentage, but have worked on that. They enter Sunday shooting 74.8 percent from the line, which is 65th in the country.
This pairs well with the fact that Saint Louis was the only Division I team last season to have two players — Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French — average at least 10 rebounds per game, and both returned.
Minnesota has gotten its offense going by drawing fouls. The Gophers rank second in the nation in free throws attempted on a per-possession basis, with each of their top five scorers attempting at least 3.9 free throws per game. Saint Louis is in the bottom 35 percent of the country in opponents free throw attempts per possession but counter beyond the arc.
Because the Billikens rank fifth in the country in 3-point shooting percentage and Minnesota ranks in the bottom half of the country in 3-point shooting percentage defense, it should allow Saint Louis to remain unbeaten and get bettors to the window.
The Play: Saint Louis, -2.5