In the highly competitive landscape of Division I men’s basketball, many programs guard their NCAA Tournament résumés with caution, often steering clear of elite mid‑major opponents that could jeopardize their metric‑driven at‑large bids.
Saint Louis, however, is rewriting that script. Under first‑year head coach Josh Schertz, the Billikens have announced a slate that includes matchups against St. Mary’s and High Point, two programs that consistently rank among the nation’s strongest mid‑major contenders.
The move is more than a scheduling curiosity; it reflects an intentional effort to elevate the profile of mid‑major competition while positioning the Atlantic 10 powerhouse as a serious threat in March.
A bold scheduling experiment
The decision to pit the Billikens against St. Mary’s and High Point is not merely a publicity stunt; it is a calculated gamble rooted in data and ambition.
Saint Louis’s athletic department, in partnership with CBS Sports, has highlighted the move as a way to showcase the depth of talent in conferences outside the Power Five, while also providing a platform for emerging coaches like Schertz to test his systems against diverse styles of play.
Matt Norlander, a noted college basketball analyst, has praised the Billikens’ approach, noting that ‘the willingness to schedule quality opponents early in a coach’s tenure can accelerate recruiting and fan engagement.’
The ripple effect could be felt across the Atlantic 10, where rival schools may now reconsider their own non‑conference calendars, potentially leading to a cascade of challenging matchups that benefit the entire ecosystem.