The most troubling aspect of Saint Louis basketball’s 85-78 loss to Santa Clara during the Field of 68 Opening Day Showcase in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Monday was not merely the defeat. It was junior center Robbie Avila, who required assistance to leave the court in the second half due to a serious ankle injury.
With under five minutes remaining in the game, Avila drove towards the basket and attempted to pass the ball out to redshirt senior guard Gibson Jimerson. As he made the play, he landed awkwardly and fell hard to the floor. He had to be helped to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Avila had already been dealing with injury issues prior to the season, having hurt his ankle during practice, which raised concerns about his fitness leading into Saint Louis’ season opener.
Following the game, college basketball insider Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 provided an update on Avila’s condition after discussing it with Saint Louis basketball head coach Josh Schertz.
“I talked to Josh Schertz afterwards, it doesn’t sound great,” Goodman stated. “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 added. “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.”
Expectations for Robbie Avila and Saint Louis basketball in the 2024-25 season
Following a disappointing 2023-24 campaign that left the Billikens at 14th in the Atlantic 10 and resulted in the dismissal of longtime head coach Travis Ford, Saint Louis has revamped its roster and is poised to compete in the upcoming season.
Saint Louis’ first strategic move was to appoint Schertz, who previously guided Indiana State to a runner-up finish in the NIT last season, in place of Ford. Notably, Schertz brought along Avila, who stands out as one of the most prominent and talented players in college basketball.
In his sophomore year at Indiana State, the 6-10 Avila averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, boasting shooting percentages of 39.4% from three-point range and 53.6% from the field. His distinctive style of play as a versatile big man and his signature goggles have made him a fan favorite.
In Avila’s absence, Saint Louis will need to lean on players such as Jimerson and senior guard Isaiah Swope, who also followed Schertz from Indiana State.
If Saint Louis can perform well throughout their non-conference schedule and Avila makes a return as anticipated by Goodman before league play starts, the Billikens could still position themselves as strong candidates for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Image Source: Robbie Avila @ Instagram
