Saint Louis Team Report

GETTING INSIDE

Without a doubt, the 2009-10 Saint Louis squad will again be one of the youngest in the nation. Head coach Rick Majerus has declared it the youngest.

Entering his third season leading the Billikens, Majerus will not have a senior on the roster after graduating top two players Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell. Junior guard Paul Eckerle is the lone upperclassman, leaving plenty of coaching for Majerus, which would seem a good thing.

“I can say unequivocally we’re the youngest team in America. Period,” Majerus told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We’re young and it’s going to be a season of learning and growth. I’m excited about the direction the program is going.”

Sophomore Kwamain Mitchell leads a talented four-member sophomore class which will be bolstered by another sterling recruiting class featuring six newcomers and a redshirt freshman.

Mitchell was a member of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie squad last season after averaging 11 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds. The point guard set the SLU freshman assists record with 113 and also notched 38 steals, good for fourth on the all-time freshman list.

Mitchell will play a major role in any Billikens’ success and has already been named team captain.

The young Billikens will go as far as Mitchell can take them.

NOTES, QUOTES

• F Cody Ellis from Australia is having difficulties with his eligibility status. At odds is one of the classes on his transcript, and that has kept him from being eligible. The school and Ellis’ family have appealed to the NCAA, and the situation is under review.

• Head coach Rick Majerus is looking to lead Saint Louis to a postseason berth for the first time in his third season. The Billikens have yet to finish an A-10 season with a winning record, going 7-9 in 2007-08 and 8-8 last season.

• F Willie Reed, a sophomore, appeared in all 32 games last year and if he can add strength and size to his 6-foot-9 frame—which happens to make him the tallest player on the roster—the team’s leading returning rebounder (4.6 a game) could have a big year.

Last Year:   18-14 overall, 8-8 in the A-10.

Head Coach:   Rick Majerus (career 456-176); 3rd year at Saint Louis (34-29).

Quote To Note:   “It’s the single most frustrating thing maybe in my coaching career.”—Coach Rick Majerus on recruit Cody Ellis’ eligibility issues.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   A pair of Australian standouts headline the six-player freshman class, all of whom have the potential to see valuable minutes. Forward Cody Ellis (if he becomes eligible) and 6-foot-4 guard Christian Salecich were teammates at the Australian Institute of Sport and bring valuable international experience, including playing at the FIBA U-19 World Championships in New Zealand. Guard Justin Jordan was the second-leading scorer in the state of Indiana, while 6-5 guard Jeff Reid was named “Mr. Basketball” in the state of Kansas.

Key Early-season Games:   Nebraska is Saint Louis’ first big-conference test at home (Nov. 18). They play Iowa State at Chicago (Nov. 27) and play at Georgia (Dec. 2), the only of seven games on the road in December.

Program Direction:   Rick Majerus has yet to take the Billikens to the NCAA Tournament and unless some of the youngsters step up and player older than their age, Saint Louis will likely be sitting on the sidelines again.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Kwamain Mitchell, G Christian Salecich, F Brian Conklin, F Willie Reed, F Cody Ellis (if eligible).

Roster Report:  

• G Paul Eckerle guard played in 30 games a year ago, but he tore his ACL during the summer and will miss the early portion of the season, if not all of the season. The junior averaged 11 minutes a game last season.

• G Femi John, who redshirted last season and then got injured, has recovered and coach Rick Majerus said the freshman is ready to play.