For the first time in a quarter-century, Saint Louis and Missouri will share a hardwood Friday night. The Billikens and Tigers meet at 6 p.m. CT in the Regions Bank Show Me Showdown at Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis, with the game televised on ESPNU.
The series, which dates to 1931, stands at Missouri’s 21-19 advantage after 40 meetings. The most recent came in December 2001 in St. Louis, when the Tigers edged the Billikens 69-67 on a buzzer-beater. A new three-game agreement brings the programs back together at Enterprise Center, restoring a matchup that has been sporadic for decades.
Saint Louis (1-0) arrives after a decisive season-opening 92-67 win over Lehigh on Monday at Chaifetz Arena. Six Billikens scored in double figures, led by Kellen Thames and Quentin Jones with 15 points apiece. The Bills shot 60 percent from the field as a team.
That opener continues momentum from one of the program’s best seasons. Last year the Billikens went 29-6 overall and 15-3 in the Atlantic 10, setting a school record for wins (surpassing the previous mark of 28 from 2012-13) and claiming a share of the regular-season title. They also set program records for points (3,053) and 3-pointers made (379). In the NCAA Tournament, SLU defeated Georgia 102-77 before falling to eventual national champion Michigan in the second round.
Five players who averaged at least 9.1 points per game return: Trey Green (10.7), Amari McCottry (10.5), Kellen Thames (9.7), Ishan Sharma (9.1) and Quentin Jones (9.1). Four of them—Thames, Green, McCottry and Sharma—earned spots on the A-10 preseason All-Conference team. The Billikens were picked to finish second in the league’s preseason poll, one vote behind VCU.
Head coach Josh Schertz is in his third season at Saint Louis. He owns a 49-21 record with the Billikens and a 452-130 career mark. His .777 winning percentage ranks among the top 10 of active NCAA head coaches across all divisions.
Missouri (1-0) opened with a school-record margin in a season debut, routing Cleveland State 111-50 on Tuesday at Mizzou Arena. Freshman Jason Crowe Jr. led the way in his collegiate debut with a team-high 23 points, including four 3-pointers.
The Tigers are looking to build on back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under fifth-year head coach Dennis Gates. Last season they finished 20-13 overall and 10-8 in the SEC before losing to Miami in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Missouri was picked eighth in the SEC preseason poll and is receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls. The Tigers face a demanding nonconference slate that includes 11 games against preseason AP Top 25 opponents, tied for the most nationally.
Friday’s game will be called on ESPNU by Mark Neely and King McClure. On the radio, 104.1 FM / 1120 AM KMOX and the Varsity Network App carry the action with Billiken Hall of Famers Bob Ramsey (in his 41st season as the radio voice of SLU hoops) and Earl Austin Jr. (in year No. 36). Live stats are available via StatBroadcast.
Both teams enter with early momentum and NCAA experience from a season ago. For the Billikens, the downtown setting offers a chance to build on last year’s breakthrough while renewing a long-dormant in-state series in front of a St. Louis crowd. Tipoff is 6 p.m. CT.
