Saint Louis will close out its exhibition slate Friday night when the Billikens host Bradley at Chaifetz Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., with live statistics available via StatBroadcast. No television, streaming, or radio broadcast is scheduled for the contest.
Coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, Saint Louis finished 29-6 overall and 15-3 in Atlantic 10 play last year. The 29 victories established a new school record, surpassing the previous mark of 28 set in 2012-13. The Billikens also shared the 2025-26 A-10 regular-season championship, with their 15 conference wins marking the most in program history. SLU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time, defeating Georgia 102-77 in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Michigan in the Round of 32.
The Billikens set school records for points scored (3,053) and three-pointers made (379), averaging 87.2 points and 10.8 threes per game. They return five players who averaged at least 9.1 points per contest last season: Trey Green (10.7), Amari McCottry (10.5), Kellen Thames (9.7), Ishan Sharma (9.1), and Quentin Jones (9.1).
Saint Louis enters the 2026-27 campaign picked second in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, just one point behind favorite VCU. Green and Thames earned preseason first-team All-Conference honors, McCottry was named to the second team, and Sharma received third-team recognition. Thames and McCottry were also selected to the preseason All-Defensive team.
Head coach Josh Schertz is in his third season at Saint Louis after posting a 48-21 record (.696) through his first two years. He guided the Billikens to 19-15 in 2024-25 before the program-record 29-win campaign and NCAA Tournament appearance last season. Schertz owns a 451-130 career record (.776) across all levels and ranks among the top active coaches in the NCAA by winning percentage.
Bradley arrives as a rebuilding Missouri Valley Conference squad after finishing 21-13 overall and 13-7 in league play last season. The Braves earned an at-large bid to the NIT but fell at home to Dayton in the first round. Head coach Brian Wardle is in his 12th season at Bradley with a 207-160 record. The Braves have undergone significant roster turnover, welcoming 10 newcomers, and will be without top returning scorer Timoty van der Knaap (6.5 ppg), who is sidelined with a foot injury.
Friday’s exhibition offers Saint Louis an opportunity to continue integrating its returning core and newcomers while Bradley works to establish chemistry amid its personnel changes. The Billikens will look to carry the momentum from last season’s high-powered offense into the new year as they prepare for the regular-season opener.
