Saint Louis alone atop the A-10 after sweeping Butler in month to remember
Every college basketball team wants to be playing its best basketball in March. That's as true at Saint Louis as anywhere, but it might be hard for the Billikens to top their February.
Saint Louis is in sole possession of first-place in the Atlantic 10 after beating a pair of top 25 conference opponents this week and easily handling its four other A-10 opponents this month. The most recent victim was No. 15 Butler on Friday night in the closest game (65-61) SLU has been a part of since a late-November loss at Washington. It is the second time SLU has beaten the Bulldogs.
During its eight-game winning streak prior to Friday's game, which includes its first victory over Butler in January, SLU had beaten opponents by an average of more than 15 points. The streak has propelled it to the top of the league and a second straight 20-win season. The Billikens won 26 games last year and played in the NCAA tournament. If they can get back this year, and all indications are they will, it will be only the second time in school history they have played in the tournament in back-to-back seasons.
[Also: Wake Forest knocks off No. 2 Miami]
Saint Louis won Friday despite shooting . 176 from 3-point range and being outrebounded 36-27. This wasn't a loss Butler can chalk up to injuries. The Bulldogs were as healthy going into this one as they have been in awhile. With four games remaining in its regular season, SLU appears to be headed toward the top seed in the conference tournament and possibly much more.
Want to join the conversation? Follow @YahooDagger on Twitter and @KyleRingo and be sure to "Like" The Dagger on Facebook for basketball conversations and stuff you won't see on the blog.
College basketball video from Yahoo! Sports:
Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
• Manti Te'o coached, but poised in combine press conference
• Mark Cuban thinks the Lakers should amnesty Kobe Bryant
• Tigers ace Justin Verlander willing to test free-agent waters for $200M deal
• Danica Patrick bows out of Nationwide race; ready for Daytona 500
