Senior guard Gibson Jimerson was a preseason first-team all-conference choice. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The Saint Louis University men’s basketball team was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason poll, which was released Monday morning during the league’s media day festivities in Washington, D.C.
Saint Louis, which came in second-to-last place (14th out of 15 teams) last year in what was then-head coach Travis Ford’s last season with the Billikens, received two first-place votes and 371 total points in this year’s poll, which was conducted among league head coaches and media members that cover the conference.
VCU had the most first-place votes (14) and total points (421) and was the preseason pick to win the A-10. Dayton, which received six first-place votes, was picked to finish second, and Saint Joseph’s, which got five first-place votes, was picked to finish third.
Ironically, Saint Louis will play all three teams picked ahead of them twice this season, along with Loyola Chicago, which was picked to finish fifth.
The SLU Billikens will begin the 2024-25 season on November 4, with a game against Santa Clara in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The Billikens also had three players make the preseason All-Conference team. Senior guard Gibson Jimerson and new junior center Robbie Avila were both preseason First Team choices, while fellow newcomer Isaiah Swope was a preseason Third Team selection.
SLU will be entering its first season under new head coach Josh Schertz, who comes to Saint Louis after leading Indiana State to the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title last season.
“I think the size and physicality are a level above what it is in the Missouri Valley,” Schertz said at media day. “I think the top is pretty similar, but when you get outside the top three or four teams, the depth in the A-10 is significantly better. Conceptually, each team has its own nuances, and that’s pretty normal. The biggest adjustment will be size, physicality and the level of competition on a night-in, night-out basis.”
The Billikens have already begun training camp for the season and will host exhibition games at Chaifetz Arena against Rockhurt and Maryville on October 18 and 25.
SLU’s season opener is set for November 4, when the Billikens will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to play in the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase against Santa Clara.
The Billiken home opener at Chaifetz Arena is on November 10 against Avila.
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Player School Yr. Pos. Ht.
Nate Santos Dayton Sr. F 6-7
Des Watson Loyola Chicago Sr. G 6-5
Erik Reynolds II Saint Joseph’s Sr. G 6-2
Robbie Avila* Saint Louis Jr. C 6-10
Gibson Jimerson Saint Louis R-Sr. G 6-5
Max Shulga VCU Sr. G 6-5
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Player School Yr. Pos. Ht.
Posh Alexander* Dayton R-Sr. G 6-0
Darius Maddox George Mason Sr. G 6-5
Darren Buchanan Jr. George Washington R-So. F 6-7
Xzayvier Brown Saint Joseph’s So. G 6-2
Joe Bamisile VCU Gr. G 6-4
Zeb Jackson VCU Gr. G 6-5
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE THIRD TEAM
Player School Yr. Pos. Ht.
Reed Bailey Davidson Jr. F 6-11
Rahsool Diggins Massachusetts Jr. G 6-2
Miles Rubin Loyola Chicago So. C 6-10
Jaden House Rhode Island Sr. G 6-4
Rasheer Fleming Saint Joseph’s Jr. F 6-9
Isaiah Swope* Saint Louis Sr. G 5-10
PRESEASON ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Player School Yr. Pos. Ht.
Posh Alexander* Dayton R-Sr. G 6-0
Enoch Cheeks Dayton Sr. G 6-3
Abdou Tsimbila Fordham Gr. F 6-9
Miles Rubin Loyola Chicago So. C 6-10
Zeb Jackson VCU Gr. G 6-5
* – denotes a transfer in his first year with the current A-10 institution. Statistics are from his previous school.
2024-25 SLU BILLIKENS MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 18, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Rockhurst (exhibition) | Chaifetz Arena | |
| October 25, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Maryville (exhibition) | Chaifetz Arena | |
| November 4, 2024 (Monday) | 2 pm | Neutral | Santa Clara | Sioux Falls, S.D. | |
| November 10, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Home | Avila | Chaifetz Arena | |
| November 16, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Loyola Marymount | Chaifetz Arena | |
| November 22, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Neutral | Wichita State | Kansas City, Mo. (T-Mobile Center) | |
| November 25, 2024 (Monday) | TBA | Home | Quinnipiac | Chaifetz Arena | |
| November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) | TBA | Home | UMass Lowell | Chaifetz Arena | |
| December 2, 2024 (Monday) | TBA | Home | Jackson State | Chaifetz Arena | |
| December 5, 2024 (Thursday) | Time TBA | Away | San Francisco | San Francisco, Calif. (War Memorial) | |
| December 8, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Home | Chicago State | Chaifetz Arena | |
| December 15, 2024 (Sunday) | TBA | Away | Illinois State | Normal, Ill. (CEFCU Arena) | |
| December 18, 2024 (Wednesday) | TBA | Home | Wofford | Chaifetz Arena | |
| December 22, 2024 (Sunday) | 3 p.m. | Away | Grand Canyon | Phoenix, Ariz. (Global Credit Union Arena) | |
| December 28, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | William Woods | Chaifetz Arena | |
| December 31, 2024 (Tuesday) | Time TBA | Away | Fordham | New York, N.Y. (Rose Hill Gym) | |
| January 3, 2025 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Saint Joseph’s | Chaifetz Arena | ESPN Networks |
| January 8, 2025 (Wednesday) | 7 pm | Home | St. Bonaventure | Chaifetz Arena | Peacock |
| January 14, 2025 (Tuesday) | TBA | Away | VCU | Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center) | USA Network |
| January 18, 2025 (Saturday) | 1:30 pm | Away | Richmond | Richmond, Va. (Robins Center) | |
| January 22, 2025 (Wednesday) | TBA | Home | La Salle | Chaifetz Arena | |
| January 25, 2025 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | George Washington | Washington, D.C (Smith Center) | |
| January 28, 2025 (Tuesday) | TBA | Home | VCU | Chaifetz Arena | CBS Sports Network |
| January 31, 2025 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Dayton | Chaifetz Arena | ESPN Networks |
| February 4, 2025 (Tuesday) | TBA | Away | Massachusetts | Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center) | |
| February 7, 2025 (Friday) | TBA | Away | Saint Joseph’s | Philadelphia, Pa. (Hagan Arena) | ESPN Networks |
| February 11, 2025 (Tuesday) | TBA | Home | George Mason | Chaifetz Arena | |
| February 14, 2025 (Friday) | TBA | Away | Loyola Chicago | Chicago, Ill. (Gentile Arena) | ESPN Networks |
| February 22, 2025 (Saturday) | 1:30 pm | Home | Rhode Island | Chaifetz Arena | USA Network |
| February 25, 2025 (Tuesday) | TBA | Away | Davidson | Davidson, N.C. (Belk Arena) | |
| March 1, 2025 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Loyola Chicago | Chaifetz Arena | CBS Sports Network |
| March 4, 2025 (Tuesday) | TBA | Away | Dayton | Dayton, Ohio (UD Arena) | |
| March 8, 2025 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Duquesne | Chaifetz Arena | |
| March 12-16 | TBA | Neutral | Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament | Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena) |