In a gut-wrenching sight for Saint Louis fans, star center Robbie Avila collapsed to the court in agony after twisting his right ankle on a drive late in Monday’s season-opening loss to Santa Clara. The 6-foot-10 sophomore, whose emergence last season at Indiana State earned him nicknames like “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” and “Steph Blurry,” had to be helped off the floor and into the locker room.
Though Avila later returned to the bench with ice on his ankle, he was unable to put any weight on the leg—an ominous sign for a Billikens squad with high hopes in the Atlantic 10 this year. Head coach Josh Schertz didn’t offer an immediate update on Avila’s status after the game.
Avila’s Breakout Freshman Campaign
One of the most unexpected stars of the 2023-24 season, Avila followed Schertz from Indiana State to Saint Louis and proceeded to take the A-10 by storm. The bespectacled big man with a unique inside-out skill set averaged 17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in leading the Sycamores to 32 wins.
Avila’s exploits made him a viral sensation and earned him first-team all-conference honors as well as preseason accolades heading into this season. His passing ability and smooth outside stroke for a near 7-footer drew comparisons to all-time greats.
He’s one of the most skilled players I’ve ever coached. His basketball IQ and feel for the game are off the charts.
– Indiana State coach Josh Schertz on Robbie Avila last season
Injury Troubles in Preseason
Worryingly, this is not Avila’s first brush with the injury bug recently. He missed a large chunk of preseason practice with a sprained ankle before suiting up for 17 minutes in SLU’s exhibition win over Maryville last week.
While the severity of this latest injury is not yet known, any extended absence for Avila would be a huge blow to a Saint Louis team picked to finish second in the A-10. The Billikens already faced an uphill battle to unseat reigning champion Dayton.
Who Steps Up for the Billikens?
If Avila does miss significant time, Saint Louis will need increased contributions from a supporting cast that includes guards Yuri Collins and Gibson Jimerson (the recipient of Avila’s fateful kick-out pass on the play in question).
- Collins led the nation in assists last season at 10 per game
- Jimerson is a career 38% 3-point shooter through four seasons
- Senior G Fred Thatch Jr. made the A-10 All-Defensive team last year
But there’s simply no replacing the across-the-board production and floor-stretching ability of a talent like Avila. Without their “Nerd Lord,” the Billikens become a much more guard-centric team overly reliant on Collins to create offense. Avila is the rare center who can punish teams for double-teaming leading scorer Jimerson.
Coach Schertz will earn his money figuring out how to maximize a roster built around its injured star. For SLU fans dreaming of a deep March run behind college hoops’ resident folk hero, all eyes now turn to the training room and Avila’s rehab outlook. The Billikens’ fate may well hinge on the health of those goggles-clad ankles.
