Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball explained

Saint Louis Billikens
Current:2023–24 Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team
University:Saint Louis University
Conference:Atlantic 10
Location:St. Louis, Missouri
Coach:Josh Schertz
Tenure:1st
Arena:Chaifetz Arena
Capacity:10,600
Nickname:Billikens
Studentsection:SLUnatics
H Pattern B:_thinsidesonwhite
H Body:003DA5
H Shorts:003DA5
H Pattern S:_blanksides2
A Pattern B:_thinwhitesides
A Body:003DA5
A Shorts:003DA5
A Pattern S:_whitesides
Ncaaeliteeight:1952
Ncaasweetsixteen:1952, 1957
Ncaaroundof32:1995, 1998, 2012, 2013, 2014
Ncaatourneys:1952, 1957, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019
Conference Tournament:2000, 2013, 2019
Conference Season:1947, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1971, 2013, 2014

The Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Saint Louis University. They compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The head coaching position is currently filled by Josh Schertz. Chaifetz Arena is home to the Billikens. 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 ten times, most recently in 2019.

History

See also: List of Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball seasons.

Rick Majerus era

On April 27, 2007, Rick Majerus 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.[1] 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.[2] Jim Crews, one of his assistants, took over for him on a temporary basis for that season.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] Crews was paid a $1.86 million buyout in 2016-17, according to tax forms.[6]

Travis Ford era

On March 30, 2016, Saint Louis University announced that Travis Ford has been hired as the head basketball coach.[7] He inherited a Billikens team that had gone a disappointing 11–21 each of the previous two seasons under Jim Crews.[8] Due to a lack of talent from the previous regime, SLU was predicted to finish dead last of the Atlantic 10 conference during the 2016–17 season.[9] Basketball statistician Ken Pomeroy predicted the Billikens as the team most likely to go winless throughout its conference schedule.[10] Ford led the Billikens to six Atlantic 10 conference wins and a 12–21 overall record.[11] The Billikens and Travis Ford gained the attention of national news in January 2024 after it was discovered Travis Ford's son created a burner Twitter account to defend his dad as fans and people online were calling for him to be fired.[12] Travis Ford and SLU parted ways concluding the 2023-24 season. [13]

Postseason appearances

NCAA tournament results

The Billikens have appeared in ten NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–11.

Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
W 62–53
L 55–74
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place Game

L 66–75
L 68–78
  1. 7
First Round L 66–74
  1. 9
First Round
Second Round
W 64–61OT
L 59–64
  1. 10
First Round
Second Round
W 51–46
L 61–88
  1. 9
First Round L 45–48
  1. 9
First Round
Second Round
W 61–54
L 61–65
  1. 4
First Round
Second Round
W 64–44
L 57–74
  1. 5
First Round
Second Round
W 83–80OT
L 51–66
  1. 13
First Round L 52–66

NIT results

The Billikens have appeared in 20 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 18–19. They were NIT champions in 1948 and runner-up in 1961, 1989, and 1990.

Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final

Western Kentucky
W 69–53
W 60–53
W 65–52
Quarterfinals L 74–80
First Round
Quarterfinals

W 73–61
L 68–75
Quarterfinals L 58–68
First Round L 66–81
First Round
Quarterfinals
Connecticut
W 110–103
L 81–97
First Round L 80–84
Quarterfinals L 72–75
Quarterfinals L 53–64
First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final



W 58–56
W 59–53
W 67–60
L 59–62
Quarterfinals L 49–84
First Round L 66–70
First Round
Second Round

W 76–60
L 78–83
First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
W 87–54
W 73–68
W 66–65
W 74–64
L 65–73
First Round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final




W 85–74
W 58–54
W 54–47
W 80–73
L 72–74
First Round L 52–68
First Round L 52–62
First Round
Second Round
W 70–69
L 66–77
First Round L 68–74
First Round L 68–80

CBI results

The Billikens have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their record is 3–2 and they were the CBI runnerup in their only appearance.

First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals Game 1
Finals Game 2
Indiana State
Green Bay
Princeton
VCU
VCU
W 63–54
W 68–62 2OT
W 69–59
L 56–68
L 65–71

Individual honors

Retired numbers

See main article: List of NCAA men's basketball retired numbers. thumb|200px|Ed Macauley is the only Billiken whose number (#50) is retired

Saint Louis Billikens retired numbers
width=40px style="" No.width=140px style="" Playerwidth=60px style="" Pos.width=100px style="" Careerwidth=px style="" Ref.
501945–1949 [14]

Honored jerseys

Jerseys were honored/retired, but numbers remained active and can be chosen by future players

24F1951–1955
341986–1990
431956–1959

Home courts

Billikens in the pros

Player Attended SLU Current team Years played professionally
1999–2003 2003–2015
2002–2005 1999–2011
2003–2007 2007–present
2007–20082011–present
2005–2009 Sydney Kings[15] 2009–2020
2008–2012 2012–present
2009–2013 Caen Basket Calvados2013–2019
2009–2013 2013–2018
2010–2014 2014–present
2010–2014 Nelson Giants2014–2019
2010–2014 2014–present
2010–2014 2014–present
Javon Bess2017–2019Tindastóll2019–present
Tramaine Isabell2018–2019KK Dubrava2019–2022
Jordan Goodwin2017–2021Washington Wizards2021–present
Hasahn French2017–2021Krka2021–present
Billikens in the NBA and ABA !Player !Attended SLU !Team(s) !Year(s) played
1944–1948 1949–1950
1947–1949 1950
1945–1949 1950–1959
1958–1961 1962–1965
1964–1966 1968
1956–1959 1960–1969
1962–19641968–1969
1965–1968 1969–1970
1965–1968 1969–1972
1965–1968 1969–1975
1970–1973 1976
1972–1975 1977–1978
1979–1981 1982
1986–1990 1991–1996
1997–1998 1999–2012
2008–2010 Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons2015–2018
2017-2021Washington Wizards2021-present

Career statistical leaders

Points

Rebounds

Assists

Steals

Blocks

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saint Louis sets modern record for fewest points in 49-20 loss to George Washington. ESPN.com.
  2. Web site: Held. Kevin. Rick Majerus to sit out 2012-13 season with health issues. 24 August 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20130127125457/http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/334737/3/Majerus-to-miss-2012-13-season-with-health-issues. January 27, 2013. mdy-all.
  3. News: Majerus takes medical leave at SLU, won't coach 2012-13 . . August 24, 2012.
  4. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8640242/rick-majerus-not-return-coach-saint-louis-billikens Rick Majerus won't return to SLU
  5. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14945697/saint-louis-billikens-fire-coach-jim-crews Saint Louis fires Jim Crews
  6. Web site: Illinois, Mizzou, SLU hope record pay results in big hoops payoff.
  7. Web site: Travis Ford Tabbed Men's Basketball Coach. Saint Louis University. March 30, 2016. 2016-03-30.
  8. News: Travis Ford will be hired as new SLU coach. Durando. Stu. stltoday.com. 2017-06-02. en.
  9. News: Flyers Picked to Win 2016-17 Men's Basketball. Atlantic10.com. 2017-06-02.
  10. Web site: The most likely winless teams The kenpom.com blog. kenpom.com. en-US. 2017-06-02.
  11. Web site: Men's Basketball – Schedule – SLUBillikens.com – The Official Athletics Website of Saint Louis University. www.slubillikens.com. 2017-06-02.
  12. https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3499329/anything-for-family-travis-fords-son-is-being-accused-of-creating-multiple-burner-accounts-to-defend-his-dads-coaching-job-at-saint-louis
  13. https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/slu-fires-travis-ford-after-eight-seasons-with-one-ncaa-tournament-appearance/article_bd66468a-e17f-11ee-b450-3fc1a5dc1bb2.html
  14. https://slubillikens.com/documents/2011/8/30/RetiredNumbersandJerseys.pdf Retired Numbers and Jerseys
  15. Web site: Kevin Lisch Basketball Australia. www.basketball.net.au. en-AU. 2017-01-25.