| 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.
See also: List of Saint Louis Billikens men's basketball seasons.
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 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]
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]
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 | ||||
| First Round | L 66–74 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 64–61OT L 59–64 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 51–46 L 61–88 | |||
| First Round | L 45–48 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 61–54 L 61–65 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 64–44 L 57–74 | |||
| First Round Second Round | W 83–80OT L 51–66 | |||
| First Round | L 52–66 |
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 |
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 |
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="" | Player | width=60px style="" | Pos. | width=100px style="" | Career | width=px style="" | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 1945–1949 | [14] | |||||||
Jerseys were honored/retired, but numbers remained active and can be chosen by future players
| 24 | F | 1951–1955 | |||
| 34 | 1986–1990 | ||||
| 43 | 1956–1959 |
| Player | Attended SLU | Current team | Years played professionally | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2003 | 2003–2015 | |||
| 2002–2005 | 1999–2011 | |||
| 2003–2007 | 2007–present | |||
| 2007–2008 | 2011–present | |||
| 2005–2009 | Sydney Kings[15] | 2009–2020 | ||
| 2008–2012 | 2012–present | |||
| 2009–2013 | Caen Basket Calvados | 2013–2019 | ||
| 2009–2013 | 2013–2018 | |||
| 2010–2014 | 2014–present | |||
| 2010–2014 | Nelson Giants | 2014–2019 | ||
| 2010–2014 | 2014–present | |||
| 2010–2014 | 2014–present | |||
| Javon Bess | 2017–2019 | Tindastóll | 2019–present | |
| Tramaine Isabell | 2018–2019 | KK Dubrava | 2019–2022 | |
| Jordan Goodwin | 2017–2021 | Washington Wizards | 2021–present | |
| Hasahn French | 2017–2021 | Krka | 2021–present |
| 1944–1948 | 1949–1950 | |||
| 1947–1949 | 1950 | |||
| 1945–1949 | 1950–1959 | |||
| 1958–1961 | 1962–1965 | |||
| 1964–1966 | 1968 | |||
| 1956–1959 | 1960–1969 | |||
| 1962–1964 | 1968–1969 | |||
| 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 Pistons | 2015–2018 | ||
| 2017-2021 | Washington Wizards | 2021-present |