The SLU Billikens went 19-15 and lost in the first round of the NIT last season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
Earlier this spring, it was announced that the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team would play in the Acrisure Thanksgiving Invitational in Palm Desert, Calif., over Thanksgiving weekend.
Three other teams will participate in the event, which will be played on November 27 and 28 at Acrisure Arena in the Coachella Valley. The other teams are Minnesota, Santa Clara, and Stanford.
On Tuesday, the game matchups were set and announced. Saint Louis will play Santa Clara in the series opener on November 27 at 6 p.m. Minnesota and Stanford will play in the other game at 8:30 p.m.
Those games will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
The winners will advance to the championship game, which will be played at 6 p.m., on November 28. The third-place game will be that same night at 8:30 p.m.
The second-day games will be televised on TruTV.
Standout center Robbie Avila will be back for his second season with the Billikens this year. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
This will be the second straight year that SLU plays Santa Clara. The Broncos have made the NIT three out of the last four seasons under 10th-year head coach Herb Sendek.
Minnesota begins year one under new head coach Niko Medved. Stanford went to the NIT last season under Kyle Smith in his debut season with the Cardinal.
All four teams in the Acrisure Invitational have top-100 T-Rank projections per Bart Torvik, whose ratings take into account incoming players for the 2025-26 season.
Acrisure Invitational Schedule
Thursday, November 27
Saint Louis vs. Santa Clara, 6 pm (CBSSN)
Minnesota vs. Stanford, 8:30 pm (CBSSN)
Friday, November 28
Championship game, 6 pm (TruTV)
Third-place game, 8:30 pm (TruTV)