Saint Louis University Archives

Billikens name Travis Ford as their new men’s basketball coach

March 31, 2016 By Bill Pollock

Travis Ford (photo/SLU Athletics)

Saint Louis University has named Travis Ford their new head coach of the Billikens’ men’s basketball program. SLU Director of Athletics Chris May announced the hiring Wednesday night. Coach Ford will be introduced at a press conference at Chaifetz Arena on Thursday, March 31, at noon (CT).

“We are thrilled to welcome Travis and his family into the program,” May said. “Our vision for Billiken basketball is to be nationally competitive, and Travis shares in that vision. He has had success everywhere he has coached. Travis is an accomplished recruiter and program-builder and is highly respected throughout college basketball. We are excited about the future of our program with Travis as our head men’s basketball coach.”

“First and foremost, my family and I are excited to be a part of the Billiken program,” Ford said. “I look forward to working with Chris May and Dr. Pestello in making this one of the top programs in America. We are going to deliver a brand of basketball that is fun, exciting, aggressive and up-tempo – one that recruits will love playing and fans will love watching.

In 19 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Ford has a 345-257 record. He has had head-coaching stints at Oklahoma State (eight years, 2008-16), Massachusetts (three years, 2005-08), Eastern Kentucky (five years, 2000-05) and Campbellsville University. Ford has led his team to the NCAA Tournament six times. He has coached six players who have gone on to play in the NBA and five who have been named conference player of the year.

Ford spent eight seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State University and led the Cowboys to a 155-111 record and five NCAA Tournament appearances, including three in the last four years. Ford is familiar with the Atlantic 10 Conference, having spent three years as head coach at the University of Massachusetts. He also coach at Eastern Kentucky and Campbellsville University, an NAIA school in Kentucky.

Ford played at Kentucky, for three seasons (1992, 1993, 1994) after he transferred from Missouri in 1990.

Ford, 46, is a native of Madisonville, Ky. He and his wife, Heather, have three children: Brooks, Kyleigh and Shane. Ford earned a bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Kentucky in 1994.

Story courtesy-SLU Athletics

College basketball recap: SLU and UMKC men lose on the road to Big XII teams

December 29, 2015 By Bill Pollock

UMKC was within six points of Oklahoma State with eight minutes to play, but went cold from the field and dropped a 61-43 decision on Tuesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Roos head to USC-Upstate in Spartanburg, SC. on Saturday.

K-State went on a 12-1 to open a 21 point lead over the Saint Louis Billikens 66-45 with just over two minutes remaining. The Billikens lose 75-47. Their A-10 opener is Saturday at Rhode Island.

Death penalty opponent, analyst consider reasons for limit to MO executions

July 8, 2014 By Mike Lear

The Corrections Department asked the State Supreme Court not to ask it to carry out more than one execution per month. The Supreme Court has honored that request and changed its own rules to reflect it.

Missouri executed two inmates at the same time on four occasions in its gas chamber between 1938 and 1953. (photo courtesy; Adam Roberts)

A Corrections spokesman hasn’t acknowledged the request was made, but some who watch how the death penalty is carried out in Missouri have ideas why it was made.

Rita Linhardt chairs the board of Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. She thinks one group the change would benefit would be the Corrections Department’s employees.

“The people down at Bonne Terre who are actually carrying out the executions,” Linhardt refers to specifically. “I would imagine that an execution is very disruptive to the normal prison routine, and so I would think the DOC needs time to prepare for this not just only logistically but also emotionally … so I would think this ruling of having no more than one a month would help in some way those type of burdens on DOC workers.”

A spokesman at the Missouri Correctional Officers Association says it has no comment on the rule change.

Linhardt thinks the one-per-month limit could also benefit attorneys who represent clients who are under a death sentence, who often represent multiple clients.

“They don’t even one want one (execution) a month, but the possibility that you could be facing two of your clients in the same month … I just think would be terribly emotionally draining,” says Linhardt.

Attorney John Mills is an attorney participating in a Saint Louis University law school study of the death penalty in Missouri. He says the Department could be sensing that Missourians’ limits would be tested by more frequent executions.

“The public may have a limit in what they will tolerate in terms of executions, and (the Department) may be feeling some pressure or may sense that the public may not be willing to tolerate more than one execution per month,” Mills tells Missourinet.

Mills concedes that it could be a matter of budgeting or staffing for the Department that makes multiple executions in a month too taxing on resources, though a Department spokesman declined to comment on whether that is a factor.

The rule change was ordered by Chief Justice Mary R. Russell. No commentary was provided explaining the rationale behind it.

Missouri currently has 41 men under a death sentence, meaning it would take at least three-and-a-half years for Missouri to execute all the men currently sentenced to death in the state.

Even before the rule took effect Missouri has been scheduling one execution every month since November 2013, with only one having been blocked by the courts. Executions have been scheduled to take place July 16 and August 6.

Missouri has not historically placed such limits on executions, though the last time two inmates were executed in the same month was in October, 2001, when Michael Roberts was executed on the October 3 and Stephen Johns was executed 21 days later.

On four occasions between 1938 and 1953 Missouri executed two people at the same time using lethal gas. Prior to 1938 when the state’s death penalty was carried out by hanging, sometimes two or more condemned individuals would be hung alongside each other.

SLU’s Jett named Atlantic-10 player of the year and head coach Jim Crews grabs the top coaching honor for the second year in a row.

March 12, 2014 By Bill Pollock

Saint Louis University Billikens Jordair Jett (5) runs through the pack in the first half as he scores two of his 16 points against the George Washington Colonials at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis on February 22, 2014. Saint Louis won the game 66-59. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Saint Louis University Billikens Jordair Jett (5) runs through the pack in a game against the George Washington Colonials on February 22, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Saint Louis senior guard Jordair Jett has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball Player of the Year, according to a vote of the league’s head coaches in advance of this week’s A-10 Championship at Barclays Center.

Jett is joined on the A-10 first team by senior forward Dwayne Evans, who was tabbed first-team All-Conference for a second consecutive year. Also, Saint Louis head coach Jim Crews was named A-10 Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season. Jett led the Billikens in scoring in A-10 play with 17 ppg. For the season, he averaged 13.8 ppg and led the team with 4.7 assists per game. Jett is the first Billiken to be named a conference Player of the Year since 1981, when David Burns earned the Metro Conference’s top honor.

Crews is the second coach in Billiken history to earn two conference Coach of the Year awards at SLU, and the first to do it in consecutive seasons. He is a finalist for the Henry Iba National Coach of the Year Award. In addition to capturing A-10 Coach of the Year honors last season, Crews was named National Coach of the Year by the Sporting News and the NABC.

The Billikens, A-10 regular-season champions for a second straight year, begin play in the A-10 Championship Friday at 11 a.m. (CT) as the No. 1 seed. They will take on the winner of Thursday’s game between No. 8 La Salle and No. 9 St. Bonaventure. Friday’s game will be televised on NBCSN.

Saint Louis baseball helps cap successful season for Billikens

June 3, 2013 By Bill Pollock

No. 17 Clemson hit three home runs en route to a 10-2 victory against the Saint Louis University baseball team on Saturday afternoon in an elimination game in the Columbia Regional at Carolina Stadium. Saint Louis ends its season with a 41-21 record, tying the school-record for victories.

In the first game of the regional, Saint Louis rallied from three runs down to tie it 3-3 in the top of the eighth, but South Carolina answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning and held on for a 7-3 victory Friday.

However, after the Billikens Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Championship last weekend completed a historic season: SLU is the only school in A-10 history to win conference titles in men’s soccer, men’s basketball and baseball in the same academic year. In addition, SLU is the only team in the country to accomplish the feat this year.

“I am truly proud of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and community as we continued to build a successful athletic program that focuses on our three goals – educating, competing and building community,” SLU director of athletics Chris May said. “We have an entire athletic program that is focused on these goals and it is rewarding to see our student-athletes succeeding at record levels. I congratulate the student-athletes, and also thank the University and Billiken athletic staff that has worked tirelessly to deliver championship level opportunities for our student-athletes.”

Last fall, the Billiken men’s soccer team defeated VCU for its second A-10 tournament title. In the winter, the SLU men’s basketball team topped VCU for its first A-10 men’s basketball crown. Last weekend, the baseball team defeated Charlotte in the championship game to claim the baseball title, its third tournament championship.

It is the first time in school history that the Billikens have won three conference tournament titles in the same academic year. In the last five years, SLU is also one of just three schools in the nation that have won conference titles in men’s soccer, men’s basketball and baseball in the same academic year – the others being Creighton and New Mexico (both in 2011-12).

Story courtesy of SLUBillikens.com

Crews named Billikens basketball coach

April 13, 2013 By Bill Pollock

Jim Crews laughs with reporters after it was announced he has been named the new head coach of the Saint Louis University Billikens mens basketball team in St. Louis on April 12, 2013. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Jim Crews, who led the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team to unprecedented success in 2012-13 as interim head coach, has been named the Billikens’ head coach. Crews was named interim head coach at the beginning of the 2012-13 season when it was announced that Rick Majerus would not coach this season. Majerus died Dec. 1. Crews led the Billikens to a school-record 28 victories (28-7), Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament championships and a second straight NCAA Tournament bid.

“I have said from day one that it is about the people – the players, staff, administration and fans – and the people here are 100 percent committed to this team and this program,” Crews said. “I’ve seen first hand the values that Saint Louis University possesses, and I believe strongly in those same values. They are paramount in the college experience. Moving forward, nothing changes. As a staff, our philosophy is to continue to get better each and every day, on the court and off the court, and we continue to do that.”

Crews earned national coach of the year awards from the Sporting News and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He was one of four finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year award. In addition, he earned his fifth conference coach of the year honor when he was named A-10 Coach of the Year.

[Read more…]

Oregon tops Billikens to end NCAA run

March 24, 2013 By Bill Pollock

A hot-shooting Oregon team defeated Saint Louis University 74-57 Saturday in NCAA Tournament third-round action at HP Pavilion. Saint Louis, the No. 4 seed in the Midwest and the Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament champions, ends the season 28-7. The 28 victories, which include a 64-44 NCAA Tournament second-round win over New Mexico State, are a school record.

Kwamain Mitchell led the Billikens with 18 points and a game-high five steals while adding three assists. Dwayne Evans (8-of-13 FG) had 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Jordair Jett tossed in 11 points.

Oregon, the No. 12 seed, advances to next week’s Midwest Regional in Indianapolis with a 28-8 mark. The Ducks, who won the Pac-12 Tournament title, captured a fifth straight victory.

Damyean Dotson led an Oregon offense that shot 52.8 percent from the floor overall and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from 3-point range. Dotson, who was 8-of-12 overall and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, scored 23 points.

Carlos Emory (6-of-10 FG) and E.J. Singler netted 14 points apiece. Arsalan Kazemi grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Ducks to a 38-27 advantage on the boards, while Johnathan Loyd dished out six assists.

The Billikens jumped out to a 7-2 lead on a Rob Loe free throw, Evans’ 19-footer from the right wing, two more Loe free throws and Jett’s fast-break layup on a pretty feed from Mitchell.

Oregon finished the first half with a 21-4 flurry that gave the Ducks a 35-19 lead at intermission. In the second, SLU narrowed the gap to 37-26, but Oregon answered with a 7-2 run to restore its 16-point halftime advantage, 44-28. A later Ducks run of 15-2 provided a 63-39 cushion.

Story courtesy of SLUBillikens.com

Missouri a #9 seed, Saint Louis #4 seed in Midwest Regional (VIDEO)

March 17, 2013 By Bill Pollock

The Missouri men’s basketball team is headed to Lexington, KY as the #9 seed and will face #8 seed Colorado State out of the Midwest Regional. If the Tigers win, they would play #1 Louisville. The game will tip approximately at 8:20 p.m. CT. Saint Louis is the #4 seed in the Midwest and will start in San Jose to play #13 New Mexico. SLU will play at 1:10 p.m. CT on Thursday.

The Billikens topped VCU to win the Atlantic-10 conference in a 62-56 win. The Billikens are 27-6 and ranked 16th in the AP poll.

NCAA Tournament Bracket

Colorado State is coached by Larry Eustachy, the former Iowa State coach, who led the Rams to a 25-8 record in his first season there. Eustachy took over for Tim Miles, who left to become Nebraska’s coach this season. The Rams finished second in the Mountain West conference this year behind New Mexico. They are led by 6’10 center/forward Colton Iverson who leads the team with 14.7 ppg and 9.8 rpg.

Colorado State stats

Mizzou responds to Selection Sunday…watch the video

The Billikens will face the Aggies of New Mexico State, who defeated UT Arlington, 64-55, to win its second consecutive WAC Tournament Championship. The Aggies (24-10) have won three WAC titles in four years and earned their 20th NCAA Tournament berth. NM State is the first team to win back-to-back WAC Tournament Championships since Hawai’i in the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

New Mexico State stats

Billikens knock off #24 VCU for 8th straight win

February 19, 2013 By Bill Pollock

Jordair Jett scored all 16 of his points in the second half and Mike McCall, Jr. added 15 to help the Saint Louis Billikens win its eighth straight and take sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 with a 76-62 victory over No. 24 VCU on Tuesday night. Saint Louis (20-5, 9-2) holds a half-game advantage over No. 15 Butler (21-6, 9-3), and the Billikens will visit Butler on Friday. SLU defeated the Bulldogs at home 75-58 on Jan. 31.

The Rams were averaging an Atlantic-10 best, 78.1 points, but the Billikens’ league-leading defense (57.8 ppg)held the Rams without a field goal for more than 10 minutes, and allowed just eight baskets during the first half. The Billikens built a 38-21 halftime lead.

VCU found its stroke to start the second half, as the Rams made their first five shots, but could only cut the lead to 11 points.

Rick Majerus dies at 64

December 1, 2012 By Bill Pollock

Rick Majerus (L), did not return to coach at Saint Louis University because of an ongoing heart condition. Majerus died Sat. Dec. 1 at the age of 64.

Rick Majerus, the jovial college basketball coach who led Utah to the 1998 NCAA finals and most recently coached at Saint Louis University died Saturday. He was 64.

Saint Louis athletic director Chris May released a statement that what he would remember Majerus for “his enduring passion to see his players excel both on and off the court. He truly embraced the term ‘student-athlete,’ and I think that will be his lasting legacy.”

The school announced Nov. 19 that Majerus wouldn’t return to Saint Louis as coach because of the heart condition.

Majerus was 95-69 in five seasons at Saint Louis and had a 25-year record of 517-216, with 15 20-win seasons and two 30-win seasons. He had his most success at Utah, going 323-95 from 1989-2004. He was at Marquette from 1983-86, and Ball State from 1987-89.