The Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team is the
intercollegiate men's basketball program representing
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Missi ...
. They compete in the
Atlantic 10 Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference whose schools compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I. The A-10's member schools are located most ...
. The head coaching position is currently filled by
Josh Schertz
Josh Schertz is an American basketball coach who is the currently the head coach at Saint Louis University.
Coaching career
Schertz's coaching career began as a student assistant with Florida Atlantic for the 1999–2000 season. He then moved ...
.
Chaifetz Arena
Chaifetz Arena ( ), is a 10,600 seat multi-purpose arena in St. Louis, Missouri, located on the Saint Louis University campus. The arena began construction on August 28, 2006, and opened on April 10, 2008.
In February 2007, Chicago-based busine ...
is home to the
Billiken
The Billiken is a doll, charm doll created by an American art teacher and illustrator, Florence Pretz of Kansas City, Missouri, who is said to have seen the mysterious figure in a dream. It is believed that Pretz found the name Billiken in Bliss ...
s. The Billikens have reached the championship game of the NIT tournament four times and have won it once (1948). They have appeared in the
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, branded as March Madness, or The Big Dance, is a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion of the NCAA Division I, Di ...
ten times, most recently in 2019.
History
Rick Majerus era
On April 27, 2007,
Rick Majerus
Richard Raymond Majerus (February 17, 1948 – December 1, 2012) was an American basketball coach and TV analyst. He coached at Marquette University (1983–1986), Ball State University (1987–1989), the University of Utah (1989–2004), and S ...
accepted the head coaching position. His tenure at SLU got off to a rocky start; in their first conference game, the Billikens set an NCAA Division I record for fewest points scored in a game in the modern era of college basketball, losing 49–20 to
George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
. However, as he had done previously at other programs, Majerus eventually made SLU a winning program. In 2012, he led the Billikens to their first NCAA Tournament in 12 years, and their first appearance in a major poll in 17 years.
On August 24, 2012, Majerus announced he would not coach the
2012–13 season due to serious heart problems.
Jim Crews
James S. Crews (born February 14, 1954) is an American former men's college basketball coach for Saint Louis University. He was promoted to head coach after serving on an interim basis following the health concerns and eventual death of former Bi ...
, one of his assistants, took over for him on a temporary basis for that season.
On November 16, it was announced that Majerus was retiring when it was apparent that his heart condition would not improve enough to allow him to return.
[Rick Majerus won't return to SLU]
ESPN, 2012-11-16.
Majerus compiled a 95–69 (.579) record at St. Louis University and retired with an overall NCAA record of 517–215 (.706).
Jim Crews era
Jim Crews was promoted to head coach after serving on an interim basis following the health concerns and eventual death of Majerus. He was on Majerus' staff since 2011. After leading the Billikens to a school-record 28 wins, Crews was formally named SLU's 25th head coach on April 12, 2013. He was fired after the
2016 Atlantic 10 tournament resulted in the elimination of the Billikens and marked the end of two 11–21 Billikens seasons. Crews was paid a $1.86 million buyout in 2016-17, according to tax forms.
Travis Ford era
On March 30, 2016, Saint Louis University announced that
Travis Ford
Travis Ford (born December 29, 1969) is an American former college basketball coach. He was head coach at Saint Louis University, Oklahoma State, Massachusetts, Eastern Kentucky and Campbellsville University. Prior to that, he played at the Uni ...
has been hired as the head basketball coach. He inherited a Billikens team that had gone a disappointing 11–21 each of the previous two seasons under Jim Crews. Due to a lack of talent returning from the previous regime, SLU was predicted to finish last in the Atlantic 10 conference during the 2016–17 season. Basketball statistician
Ken Pomeroy
Ken Pomeroy is the creator of the college basketball website and statistical archive KenPom. His website includes his College Basketball Ratings, statistics for every NCAA men's Division I basketball team, with archives dating back to the 2002 ...
also predicted the Billikens as the team most likely to go winless during its conference schedule. Ford led the Billikens to six Atlantic 10 conference wins and a 12–21 overall record. The Billikens and Ford gained the attention of national news in January 2024 after it was discovered that Ford's son had created burner
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
accounts to defend his father, as fans were calling for his firing. Ford and SLU parted ways following the 2023-24 season.
Josh Schertz era
On April 6, 2024, it was announced that
Josh Schertz
Josh Schertz is an American basketball coach who is the currently the head coach at Saint Louis University.
Coaching career
Schertz's coaching career began as a student assistant with Florida Atlantic for the 1999–2000 season. He then moved ...
had been hired as the head coach for the St. Louis Billikens, replacing Ford.
Postseason appearances
NCAA tournament results
The Billikens have appeared in ten
NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–11.
NIT results
The Billikens have appeared in 21
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Since 2023, all rounds of the tournament are played at various sites across the country whi ...
s (NIT). Their combined record is 18–20. They were NIT champions in 1948 and runner-up in 1961, 1989, and 1990.
CBI results
The Billikens have appeared in one
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational (CBI) is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI sel ...
(CBI). Their record is 3–2 and they were the CBI runner-up in their only appearance.
Individual honors
Retired numbers
200px, Ed Macauley is the only Billiken whose number (#50) is retired
Honored jerseys
Jerseys were honored/retired, but numbers remained active and can be chosen by future players
Home courts
*1915, 1917 Muegge's Gymnasium (Grand Ave. and Hickory St.)
*1919–1920 Rock Springs Turner Hall (Boyle Ave. and Chouteau Ave.)
*1920–1921 College Hall
*1921–1922 First Regiment Armory and Macabee's Hall (911 Vandeventer Ave.)
*1922–1923 First Regiment Armory and Battery A Armory (1 game)
*1923–1924 First Regiment Armory
*1924–1925 SLUH Gymnasium
*1925–1926 First Regiment Armory, SLUH Gymnasium and St. Louis Coliseum
*1926–1945 St. Louis University Gymnasium (West Pine Gym)
*1945–1968 Kiel Auditorium
*1968–1973 St. Louis Arena
*1973–1991 Kiel Auditorium
*1991–1994 St. Louis Arena
*1994–2008 Scottrade Center (Kiel Center, Savvis Center)
*2008–present Chaifetz Arena
Billikens in the pros
Career statistical leaders
Points
*1) 1,972 –
Anthony Bonner
Anthony Bonner (born June 8, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Saint Louis.
High school
Bonner attended Vashon High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he also played basketball. Du ...
, 6' 8" F, 1986–1990
*2) 1,910 –
Erwin Claggett, 6' 1" G, 1991–1995
*3) 1,880 – Roland Gray, 6' 5" F, 1985–1989
*4) 1,877 – Monroe Douglass, 6' 4" G, 1985–1989
*5) 1,825 – Gibson Jimerson, 6’ 5” G, 2019-present
*6) 1,703 – Scott Highmark, 6' 5" F, 1991–1995
*7) 1,687 –
Kevin Lisch
Kevin John Lisch (born May 16, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player and coach, most known for his time spent in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) as a player. He also holds an Italian passport and is an Austr ...
, 6' 2" G, 2005–2009
*8) 1,575 – Kwamain Mitchell, 5' 10" G, 2008–2013
*9) 1,547 – Tommie Liddell III, 6' 4" G, 2005–2009
*10) 1,499 –
Dwayne Evans, 6' 6" F, 2010–2014
Rebounds
*1) 1,424 –
Anthony Bonner
Anthony Bonner (born June 8, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Saint Louis.
High school
Bonner attended Vashon High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he also played basketball. Du ...
, 6' 8" F, 1986–1990
*2) 1,157 –
Jerry Koch, 6' 4" F, 1952–1955
*3) 1,128 – Jim McLaughlin, 6' 4" F, 1953–1956
*4) 998 – Jordan Goodwin, 6' 3" G, 2017–2021
*5) 982 – Hasahn French, 6' 7" F, 2017–2021
Assists
*1) 878 – Yuri Collins, 6' 0" G, 2019–2023
*2) 436 – Josh Fisher, 6' 2" G, 2001–2004
*3) 424 – Charles Newberry, 6' 3" G, 1987–1990
*4) 422 – Jordair Jett, 6' 1" G, 2010–2014
*5) 420 – Kwamain Mitchell, 5' 10" G, 2008–2013
Steals
*1) 225 – Jordan Goodwin, 6' 3" G, 2017–2021
*2) 192 –
Anthony Bonner
Anthony Bonner (born June 8, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Saint Louis.
High school
Bonner attended Vashon High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he also played basketball. Du ...
, 6' 8" F, 1986–1990
*3) 179 – Josh Fisher, 6' 2" G, 2001–2004
*4) 176 – Yuri Collins, 6' 0" G, 2019–2023
*5) 174 –
Jordair Jett, 6' 1" G, 2010–2014
Blocks
*1) 226 – Hasahn French, 6' 7" F, 2017–2021
*2) 135 –
Ian Vouyoukas
Ian Vougioukas (alternate spelling: Ian Vouyoukas) (Greek: Ίαν Βουγιούκας; born May 31, 1985) is a Greek former professional basketball player. Standing at , he plays at the center position. He played college basketball in the United ...
, 6' 11" C, 2003–2007
*3) 127 – Melvin Robinson, 7' 0" C, 1989–1992
*4) 113 – Cory Remekun, 6' 9" F, 2009–2013
*4) 113 –
Willie Reed
Willie Reed Jr. (born May 16, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Cocodrilos de Caracas of the Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto (SPB). He played college basketball for Saint Louis University.
College career
Reed spe ...
, 6' 11" F, 2008–2010
References
External links
*
Saint Louisat Sports Reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Louis Billikens Men's Basketball