Loyola Ramblers Preview – https://loyolaramblers.com/news/2026/2/12/mens-basketball-loyola-no-18-saint-louis-to-play-friday-in-gentile.aspx

Saint Louis Stats and Intel - https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/sc ... /2026.html

Record: 23-1 (11-0, 1st in A-10 MBB)
Rank: 18th in the Feb 9th AP Poll
Coach: Josh Schertz
PS/G: 91.0 (5th of 365)
PA/G: 67.7 (37th of 365)
SRS: 21.34 (22nd of 365)
SOS: 0.56 (133rd of 365)
ORtg: 124.6 (4th of 365)
DRtg: 92.7 (2nd of 365)
Preseason Odds: Championship +30000


Saint Louis Billikens 23-1 (11-0) at Loyola Chicago Ramblers 6-19 (2-10) – 7:30PM CST, Gentile Arena, Chicago IL

The #18 ranked Billikens, riding a 17-game winning streak, will look to remain sharp when they visit Loyola Chicago tonight in what will be a sold out game nationally broadcast on ESPN2.

Saint Louis (23-1, 11-0 Atlantic 10) turned up the intensity in the second half of a resounding 82-58 home win over La Salle on Saturday. The Ramblers (6-19, 2-10) are coming off an 84-64 defeat at Davidson on Feb. 6. Both teams have been off all week, so it will be interesting to see how either responds from this break, having time to scout heavily and game prep.

SLU has one of the country's top defenses, holding their opponents to 36.4 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range, ranking first and second in the country respectively. The Billikens also rank in the nation's top-5 in effective field goal percentage, fast break points, defensive rebounds per game, scoring margin, three-point percentage, and three pointers per game.

Head coach Josh Schertz believes it’s the defense that allows the Billikens to get on the run. Saint Louis ranks fourth nationally with 18.67 fastbreak points per game. The Billikens are first in the country in field-goal-percentage defense at 36.3%. On the other end of the floor, Saint Louis rates third in effective field-goal percentage at 61.3%.

Saint Louis averages 91 points per game (fourth in college basketball) while giving up 67.7 per outing (37th in college basketball). It has a +559 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 23.3 points per game. Saint Louis connects on 4.9 more threes per game than the opposition, 11.4 (eighth-most in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 6.5.

Robbie Avila has been bringing his best stuff in his senior season, leading Saint Louis in both points per game (12.8) and assists per game (4.3), while being a dominating force down low on defense. Despite his strong season, he hasn't had his best stuff in the Billikens' last few games, failing to shoot 36% or better from the floor. He has 14 games with at least 10 points scored, including a season-high 22 vs. George Washington.

SLU’s other starters are very good too - Dion Brown has 10.9 PPG with a team-high 5.8 RPG to lead the Billikens in rebounding. Amari McCottry has 10.7 PPG with 5.5 RPG and 2.8 APG. Trey Green has 12 PPG with 3.1 RPG and Quentin Jones has 10.1 PPG with 4 RPG and 3.1 APG to cap off the scoring in double figures for the Billikens this season. Kellen Thames has 9.7 PPG with 5.1 RPG and 2.1 APG and Ishan Sharma has 9.5 PPG with 2.8 RPG. As a team, Saint Louis is averaging 91 PPG on 52% shooting from the field, 40.8% from three and 73.5% from the foul line this season.

This is a very complete team.

I don't know what the Ramblers can do tonight to remain competitive with Saint Louis, other than we’ve historically played very well against them in all home games, winning the prior 2, and we took two wins on SLU in 2024-25. The Billikens are the best shooting team in the country, ranking first in effective field goal percentage at 61.1%. Not only that, but they're dominant defensively as well, ranking ninth in defensive efficiency. They are one of just three teams alongside Michigan and Iowa State that rank inside the top 10 in the country in both those metrics.
By comparison, the Ramblers rank 258th and 333rd in those two respective metrics.

To make matters worse, Loyola Chicago relies on shots from the perimeter, and the Billikens have the fifth-best perimeter defense, keeping teams to shooting just 27.7% from beyond the arc.

One of the best stories of the college basketball season has been the Saint Louis Billikens, who have been this season’s king of the mid-major conferences. Nothing is stopping SLU tonight from dropping 100 on us.

If nothing else positive comes from tonight, we’ll get to watch greatness come to our building and it’s an honor to host a special squad that might go very deep into March Madness.


Stats You Don’t Want to See

• Loyola (IL) ranks 365th among Division 1 teams for opponent assist to turnover ratio this season (1.90).
• Loyola (IL) ranks 365th among Division 1 teams for opponent free throw percentage this season (78.8%).
• Saint Louis ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for point differential per game this season (+23.3).
• Saint Louis ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal percentage this season (36.4%).


Saint Louis Probable Starters – 6-10 C Robbie Avila, 6-0 G Trey Green, 6-3 G Dion Brown, 6-6 G Amari McCottry, 6-5 G Quentin Jones

Loyola Probable Starters - Rubin, Amos, Ola-Joseph, Moore, Dotson


LAST 10 GAMES FOR BOTH SQUADS

Ramblers: 1-9, averaging 65.8 points, 32.5 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.4 points per game.

Billikens: 10-0, averaging 85.3 points, 35.0 rebounds, 19.0 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.9 points.


Watch / Listen – Friday night’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Mike Corey and John Giannini on the call, and can be listened to Rambler Sports Network with our friends Sudikoff and CT.

Postgame Show - Tune in to Sudikoff on RSN, followed by TalkinBlers Spaces on the X: https://x.com/blerstalking?s=21


Odds: SLU -18.5

Friday night, ESPN2, Top 25 opponent visiting... who's excited!?

I predict a 94-61 loss.

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Just told my game mates I'm bringing with tonight that we haven't hosted an elite squad like this in what's been like an eternity. Nevada 2018 maybe the last time if that counts? Then the old Wichita State and Butler games....

We already know what the outcome will be. So I'm eager for the partylike atmosphere with many of you, and then to see how good SLU is.

I certainly wouldn't recommend watching this team sober

Would be great if we can hold them under 100.

Should be interesting to see the home v road colors with 10 minutes to play. This assumes we falter as scheduled. But still pulling for something good, regardless.

I'm going to hope for the best here. But it will show what type of team is out on the court for LU. If they have any ability or love of basketball.

Incredible stats. Gotta guard that free throw line better.

Great preview. Worth noting that it doesn't even mention Brady Dunlap, a flamethrower off the bench who went full-Chef Curry 10 days ago at Davidson and put up 22 on 6-6 3P shooting. When it's a five of Avila, Green, Sharma, Dunlap, and take your pick of McCottry/Otieno/Thames, good luck covering that 3P line.

Go Ramblers!

Held 'em under 90! And loss by less than 30!

Exceeded expectations!

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