How SLU basketball adjusted without Yuri Collins to win at George Washington
Yuri #Yuri
Adjustments abounded in St. Louis University’s final preparation for its game vs. George Washington men’s basketball when word came that Yuri Collins would not be able to play due to illness.
Walk-on Larry Hughes Jr. was named a starter for the first time. Javonte Perkins and Javon Pickett ended up with significant ball-handling duties. Gibson Jimerson had his defensive assignment switched to cover the nation’s fifth-leading scorer.
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Tweaks are one thing. Tweaks on the road are a little more challenging.
But the Billikens made it work, often with great effectiveness, to earn an 81-74 win in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
“We really wanted to do everything we could to manage the game with the offense and win with defense,” SLU coach Travis Ford said. “It didn’t work that way in the first half. Once we got a feel of how they were defending us, we went to two or three different sets and kept getting a lot out of them. We weren’t trying to make it overly complicated.”
SLU won the game with a run of 25 consecutive points with 20 coming at the start of the second half when the Colonials went nine minutes before scoring. The Billikens then dug in to protect the lead, which dwindled to two with 2:49 remaining.
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Saint Louis Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford fist-bumps reporters and commentators before the start of a basketball against the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at the Chaifez Arena. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford celebrates his team’s win over St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the A-10 quarterfinals basketball game on Friday, March 11, 2022 Capital One Arena in Washington , DC. Photo by Shaban Athuman
St. Louis University’s head coach Travis Ford shows frustration after a foul was called against his team during a basketball game against Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Joseph Cooke, jcooke@post-dispatch.com
Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford coaches during first half action against the Dayton Flyers on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford directs his players from the sideline in the second half of a Billikens game against the Fordham Rams at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. The St. Louis Billikens beat the Fordham Rams with a score of 63-45. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford yells while his team is huddled during a timeout in the first half of a game against the Iona Gaels at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. The Billikens had been scheduled to play an away game against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, but the game was postponed due to COVID protocols on Thursday. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford reacts to a foul call in the second half of a basketball game between the St. Louis Billikens and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. The Billikens lost 77-72 in their first regular season home loss. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Saint Louis Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford talks to his players during a time out in the first half of a basketball game between Saint Louis Billikens and Harris-Stowe Hornets on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Chaifetz Arena. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Saint Louis Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford coaches during the frist half of an exhibition game between the SLU Billikens and the Rockhurst Hawks on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Saint Louis University guard Jordan Goodwin (0) points to his family in the stands and gestures for them to join him on the court while Head Coach Travis Ford smiles during the senior night celebration that followed the game against the University of Massachusetts at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on March 1, 2021. The Billiken’s won the game, their last regular season match-up, 78-57. Photo by Sara Diggins, sdiggins@post-dispatch.com
Travis Ford coaches the Billikens on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in the second half of a game against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Christian Gooden
Saint Louis head coach Travis Ford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Davidson in the semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 men’s tournament Saturday, March 16, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Saint Louis coach Travis Ford leaps over players to jump onto the pile, celebrating after Saint Louis defeated St. Bonaventure during an NCAA college basketball game in the final of Atlantic 10 men’s tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in New York. Saint Louis won 55-53. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Saint Louis coach Travis Ford waves the net after Saint Louis defeated St. Bonaventure during an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Atlantic 10 men’s tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in New York. Saint Louis won 55-53. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Saint Louis coach Travis Ford cuts the net after the team defeated St. Bonaventure during an NCAA college basketball game in the Atlantic 10 men’s tournament final Sunday, March 17, 2019, in New York. Saint Louis won 55-53. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
St. Louis head coach Travis Ford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)
Saint Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford celebrates his team’s win over St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the A-10 quarterfinals basketball game on Friday, March 11, 2022, Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Saint Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford reacts during the A-10 quarterfinals basketball game on Friday, March 11, 2022 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
St. Louis University men’s basketball head coach Travis Ford talks to the media before the first practice of the 2022-2023 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University men’s basketball head coach Travis Ford talks to his team during the first practice of the 2022-2023 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University men’s basketball head coach Travis Ford talks to the media before the first practice of the 2022-2023 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University men’s basketball coach Travis Ford talks to his team during the first practice of the 2022-23 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Saint Louis Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford fist-bumps reporters and commentators before the start of a basketball against the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, at the Chaifez Arena. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford celebrates his team’s win over St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the A-10 quarterfinals basketball game on Friday, March 11, 2022 Capital One Arena in Washington , DC. Photo by Shaban Athuman
St. Louis University’s head coach Travis Ford shows frustration after a foul was called against his team during a basketball game against Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Joseph Cooke, jcooke@post-dispatch.com
Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford coaches during first half action against the Dayton Flyers on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford directs his players from the sideline in the second half of a Billikens game against the Fordham Rams at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. The St. Louis Billikens beat the Fordham Rams with a score of 63-45. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Billikens head coach Travis Ford yells while his team is huddled during a timeout in the first half of a game against the Iona Gaels at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. The Billikens had been scheduled to play an away game against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, but the game was postponed due to COVID protocols on Thursday. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford reacts to a foul call in the second half of a basketball game between the St. Louis Billikens and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. The Billikens lost 77-72 in their first regular season home loss. Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
Saint Louis Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford talks to his players during a time out in the first half of a basketball game between Saint Louis Billikens and Harris-Stowe Hornets on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Chaifetz Arena. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Saint Louis Billikens Head Coach Travis Ford coaches during the frist half of an exhibition game between the SLU Billikens and the Rockhurst Hawks on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021, at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Saint Louis University guard Jordan Goodwin (0) points to his family in the stands and gestures for them to join him on the court while Head Coach Travis Ford smiles during the senior night celebration that followed the game against the University of Massachusetts at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on March 1, 2021. The Billiken’s won the game, their last regular season match-up, 78-57. Photo by Sara Diggins, sdiggins@post-dispatch.com
Travis Ford coaches the Billikens on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in the second half of a game against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Photo by Christian Gooden
Saint Louis head coach Travis Ford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Davidson in the semifinal round of the Atlantic 10 men’s tournament Saturday, March 16, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Saint Louis coach Travis Ford leaps over players to jump onto the pile, celebrating after Saint Louis defeated St. Bonaventure during an NCAA college basketball game in the final of Atlantic 10 men’s tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in New York. Saint Louis won 55-53. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Saint Louis coach Travis Ford waves the net after Saint Louis defeated St. Bonaventure during an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Atlantic 10 men’s tournament Sunday, March 17, 2019, in New York. Saint Louis won 55-53. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Saint Louis coach Travis Ford cuts the net after the team defeated St. Bonaventure during an NCAA college basketball game in the Atlantic 10 men’s tournament final Sunday, March 17, 2019, in New York. Saint Louis won 55-53. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
St. Louis head coach Travis Ford during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Dayton, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)
Saint Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford celebrates his team’s win over St. Bonaventure Bonnies in the A-10 quarterfinals basketball game on Friday, March 11, 2022, Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Saint Louis University Billikens head coach Travis Ford reacts during the A-10 quarterfinals basketball game on Friday, March 11, 2022 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
St. Louis University men’s basketball head coach Travis Ford talks to the media before the first practice of the 2022-2023 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University men’s basketball head coach Travis Ford talks to his team during the first practice of the 2022-2023 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University men’s basketball head coach Travis Ford talks to the media before the first practice of the 2022-2023 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis University men’s basketball coach Travis Ford talks to his team during the first practice of the 2022-23 season at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
Perkins scored a season-high 27 points and surpassed 1,000 for his career, and Pickett had 24, both scoring multiple times on drives that GW seemed incapable of stopping for a stretch. Hughes played 26 minutes with one turnover.
And Jimerson slowed James Bishop IV, who entered the game averaging 22.3 points. He was 5-for-23 with 14 points.
“Gibson’s defense might have been the best I’ve seen him play,” Ford said. “He played 40 minutes and did an incredible job on Bishop. I couldn’t be more proud. It took a lot out of him, so I don’t know if he had as much offensively.”
A big game from Perkins was exactly what SLU (12-6 overall, 4-1 in the A-10) needed, especially when the defense was struggling in the first half. He made 11 of 17 shots and helped turn the game in the second half while running the offense.
St. Louis University’s Javonte Perkins shoots over a missed block by George Mason’s Victory Bailey Jr. in the second half at Chaifetz Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
During the 25-0 run, Perkins scored 10 points and Pickett added eight. Perkins had three 3-pointers in the game, but his ability to challenge GW’s inside players led to an onslaught in concert with Pickett.
“It was something different that I probably haven’t done since high school,” Perkins said of playing point guard at times. “Their big was dropped down, so we knew we could get to the rim and had to make smart decisions. They weren’t challenging us, so we just had to make layups.”
SLU had numerous obstacles to overcome after the first half. The defense was porous, allowing the Colonials to take a 39-36 lead. And the rebounding was lackluster, with GW grabbing 10 more than the Billikens, who had no offensive boards in the first 20 minutes.
Jake Forrester emerged to grab 10 in the second half after recording none in the first. SLU rallied to finish with a three-rebound advantage.
St. Louis University forward Jake Forrester (10) goes up for a layup during the first half of their Atlantic 10 game against St. Bonaventure at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023.
Jordan Opp, Post-Dispatch
“I don’t know if someone could have a worse half and then be the difference in the game,” Ford said of Forrester. “Everything went against him in the first half. He couldn’t get it right and then wow, he was tremendous at both ends.”
SLU began working on playing without Collins the day before the game, according to Pickett. It was a huge task considering that the Billikens had just one previous win away from home this season.
They were allowing an average of 80 points in their road and neutral court games. The Colonials were well on their way to that number after 20 minutes.
“It’s important to go out and compete. I think we like to go on the road,” Pickett said. “To get those wins takes some grit, and it’s important for the long haul to stack up wins. The road is a different type of battle.”
St. Louis University guard Javon Pickett, 4, goes up for a shot during their game against Southern Illinois University-Carbondale at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. Photo by Jordan Opp, jopp@post-dispatch.com
Jordan Opp
The playmaking on offense was not at the same level without Collins, but SLU took advantage of what the defense allowed to shoot 53%. Pickett led in assists with four.
SLU has a three-game win streak that it will take to Loyola-Chicago on Wednesday. As for Collins’ status, Ford seemed uncertain as to whether he would be ready.
“Hopefully he’ll be back soon,” he said. “We don’t know when that will be. It could be a little while. We’ll see.”
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