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 11 times, most recently in 2026.
History
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. 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, 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.Saint Louis fires Jim Crews 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 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 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 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 had been hired as the head coach for the St. Louis Billikens, replacing Ford. While Schertz's first season in charge was marked by frustrations stemming from an injury from star transfer forward Robbie Avila, the 2025-26 season saw a return to prominence for the Billikens with a school-record 29 wins, the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship, and both their first national ranking and NCAA Tournament win since 2014.
Postseason appearances
NCAA tournament results The Billikens have appeared in 11 NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 7–11.
1952 Sweet SixteenElite Eight Kansas W 62–53L 55–74 1957 Sweet SixteenRegional 3rd Place Game L 66–75L 68–78 1994 #7 First Round #10 Maryland L 66–74 1995 #9 First RoundSecond Round #8 Minnesota#1 Wake Forest W 64–61OTL 59–64 1998 #10 First RoundSecond Round #7 UMass#2 Kentucky W 51–46L 61–88 2000 #9 First Round #8 Utah L 45–48 2012 #9 First RoundSecond Round #8 Memphis#1 Michigan State W 61–54L 61–65 2013 #4 First RoundSecond Round #13 New Mexico State#12 Oregon W 64–44L 57–74 2014 #5 First RoundSecond Round #12 NC State #4 Louisville W 83–80OTL 51–66 2019 #13 First Round #4 Virginia Tech L 52–66 2026 #9 First RoundSecond Round #8 Georgia#1 Michigan W 102–77L 72–95
NIT results The Billikens have appeared in 21 National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 18–20. They were NIT champions in 1948 and runner-up in 1961, 1989, and 1990.
1948 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal Western Kentucky W 69–53W 60–53W 65–52 1949 Quarterfinals L 74–80 1951 First RoundQuarterfinals W 73–61L 68–75 1952 Quarterfinals L 58–68 1953 First Round L 66–81 1955 First RoundQuarterfinals Connecticut W 110–103L 81–97 1956 First Round L 80–84 1959 Quarterfinals L 72–75 1960 Quarterfinals L 53–64 1961 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal W 58–56W 59–53W 67–60L 59–62 1963 Quarterfinals L 49–84 1965 First Round L 66–70 1987 First RoundSecond Round Southern Miss W 76–60L 78–83 1989 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal WisconsinMichigan StateSt. John's W 87–54W 73–68W 66–65W 74–64L 65–73 1990 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal W 85–74W 58–54W 54–47W 80–73L 72–74 1996 First Round L 52–68 2003 First Round L 52–62 2004 First RoundSecond Round IowaNotre Dame W 70–69L 66–77 2021 First Round Mississippi State L 68–74 2022 First Round Northern Iowa L 68–80 2025 First Round Arkansas State L 78–103
CBI results The Billikens have appeared in one College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their record is 3–2 and they were the CBI runner-up in their only appearance.
2010 First RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals Game 1Finals Game 2 Indiana StateGreen BayPrincetonVCUVCU W 63–54W 68–62 2OTW 69–59L 56–68L 65–71
Individual honors Retired numbers
Saint Louis Billikens retired numbers No.PlayerPos.CareerRef. 50 Ed Macauley C / PF 1945–1949 Retired Numbers and Jerseys at SLBillikens.com
Honored jerseys Jerseys were honored/retired, but numbers remained active and can be chosen by future players
24 Dick Boushka F 1951–1955 34 Anthony Bonner PF / SF 1986–1990 43 Bob Ferry PF / C 1956–1959
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 Player Attended SLU Current team Years played professionally Marque Perry 1999–2003 BG Göttingen 2003–2015 Itzik Ohanon 2002–2005 Ironi Ramat Gan 1999–2011Ian Vouyoukas 2003–2007 Ionikos Nikaias B.C. 2007–present Marcus Relphorde 2007–2008Poiters 2011–present Kevin Lisch 2005–2009 Sydney Kings 2009–2020 Brian Conklin 2008–2012 Yalovaspor BK 2012–present Cory Remekun 2009–2013 Caen Basket Calvados2013–2019Cody Ellis 2009–2013 Illawarra Hawks 2013–2018 Dwayne Evans 2010–2014 Ryukyu Golden Kings 2014–present Jordair Jett 2010–2014 Nelson Giants2014–2019Mike McCall Jr. 2010–2014 Cheshire Phoenix 2014–present Rob Loe 2010–2014 New Zealand Breakers 2014–present Javon Bess2017–2019Tindastóll2019–presentTramaine Isabell2018–2019KK Dubrava2019–2022Jordan Goodwin2017–2021Phoenix Suns2021–presentHasahn French2017–2021Krka2021–present
+Billikens in the NBA and ABA Player Attended SLU Team(s) Year(s) played D.C. Wilcutt 1944–1948 St. Louis Bombers 1949–1950 Marv Schatzman 1947–1949 Baltimore Bullets 1950 Ed "Easy Ed" Macauley 1945–1949 St. Louis Bombers, Boston Celtics, St. Louis Hawks 1950–1959 Bevo Nordmann 1958–1961 Cincinnati Royals, St. Louis Hawks, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics 1962–1965 Richard Parks 1964–1966 Pittsburgh Pipers 1968 Bob Ferry 1956–1959 St. Louis Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Baltimore Bullets 1960–1969 Don Dee 1962–1964Indiana Pacers 1968–1969 Barry Orms 1965–1968 Baltimore Bullets, Indiana Pacers, Pittsburgh Pipers 1969–1970 Rich Niemann 1965–1968 Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Carolina Cougars, The Floridians, Dallas Chaparrals 1969–1972 Gene Moore 1965–1968 Kentucky Colonels, Dallas Chaparrals, New York Nets, San Diego Conquistadors, Spirits of St. Louis 1969–1975 Harry Rogers 1970–1973 Spirits of St. Louis 1976 Robin Jones 1972–1975 Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets 1977–1978 David Burns 1979–1981 New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets 1982 Anthony Bonner 1986–1990 Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic 1991–1996 Larry Hughes 1997–1998 Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic 1999–2012 Willie Reed 2008–2010 Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons2015–2018 Jordan Goodwin 2017-2021Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Lakers2021-present
Career statistical leaders
Points 1) 1,972 – Anthony Bonner, 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, 2019-2025 6) 1,703 – Scott Highmark, 6' 5" F, 1991–1995 7) 1,687 – Kevin Lisch, 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, 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, 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, 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, 6' 11" F, 2008–2010
References
External links
Saint Louis at Sports Reference