The most concerning element of Saint Louis basketball’s 85-78 defeat to Santa Clara during the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Monday was not just the loss itself. It was the fate of junior center Robbie Avila, who needed help to exit the court in the second half due to a significant ankle injury.
With less than five minutes left in the game, Avila drove to the basket and attempted to pass to redshirt senior guard Gibson Jimerson. Unfortunately, he landed awkwardly, resulting in a painful fall. He was subsequently assisted to the locker room and did not reenter the contest.
Avila had already been struggling with injuries leading up to the season, having sustained an ankle injury during practice that raised doubts about his readiness for Saint Louis’ season opener.
After the game, college basketball insider Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 offered an update on Avila’s status following a conversation with Saint Louis basketball head coach Josh Schertz.
“I talked to Josh Schertz afterwards, it doesn’t sound great,” Goodman remarked. “It appears to be pretty much the same injury. He previously sustained a grade 2 sprain that sidelined him for three to four weeks in the offseason.”
“My assumption is they will take a cautious approach, which is exactly what Josh indicated to me,” Goodman continued. “We’re not going to put him in harm’s way. We’re going to proceed slowly with him. He left the arena on crutches with his mom. I anticipate he will be out for four to six weeks. I’m not sure if we’ll see him back before league play begins.”
Future Outlook for Robbie Avila and Saint Louis Basketball in the 2024-25 Season
After a disappointing 2023-24 season that saw the Billikens finish 14th in the Atlantic 10 and resulted in the firing of longtime head coach Travis Ford, Saint Louis has made significant changes to its roster in preparation for the upcoming season.
Saint Louis’ first major move was hiring Schertz, who previously led Indiana State to a second-place finish in the NIT last season, to take over for Ford. Importantly, Schertz brought along Avila, who is recognized as one of the most outstanding and skilled players in college basketball.
During his sophomore year at Indiana State, the 6-10 Avila averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, with shooting percentages of 39.4% from beyond the arc and 53.6% from the floor. His unique versatile playing style as a big man, along with his trademark goggles, has made him a fan favorite.
In the likely absence of Avila, Saint Louis will need to rely on players like Jimerson and senior guard Isaiah Swope, who also followed Schertz from Indiana State.
If Saint Louis can achieve success throughout their non-conference schedule and if Avila returns as Goodman anticipates before league play commences, the Billikens could still emerge as strong contenders for an at-large invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
Image Source: Robbie Avila @ Instagram
