Will the real Billikens please stand up?

St. Louis is in the middle of one of the most baffling stretches of conference play in recent memory. After opening the A-10 schedule with a record-setting 49-20 loss to George Washington, the Billikens took nationally ranked Dayton to overtime before falling 68-57.

The Billikens then hosted another nationally ranked conference foe in Rhode Island, and came away with a stunning 68-61 win on 54.5 percent shooting from the field.

So, things must have all come together for St. Louis, right?

Well, a home loss to Temple Jan. 20 would say otherwise.

The Billikens held the Owls to just nine of 29 (31 percent) from behind the arc, but managed to shoot only 38 percent from the floor themselves while turning the ball over 15 times in a 54-53 overtime loss.

As soon as things start to look positive in the home of the Arch, realization sets in that this will ultimately be a learning year -- for both coach Rick Majerus and his players.

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