As many of you know, I am one of the radio voices of the Saint Louis University Billikens basketball team. I just completed my 35th season, and it was one of the most rewarding years of my broadcasting career.
Led by head coach Josh Schertz and his talented staff, the Billikens won a school-record 29 games along with a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship. A great season culminated in a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the first for SLU in seven years.
The Billikens were a perfect 19-0 in Chaifetz Arena, and there were sellout crowds for the last two months of the season. The kiddos played an exciting brand of basketball as they averaged nearly 90 points per game.
The season ended with a loss to No. 1 seed Michigan in the second round, but the highlight of the week was the Billikens’ 102-77 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in the first round. It was a marvelous performance by the Billikens against a very talented Georgia team from the powerful Southeastern Conference.
The victory over Georgia was a near-perfect performance and one that I have waited 35 years to witness. I’ve enjoyed many great moments over the years with the Billikens, but this particular beatdown of Georgia just hit different.
The fact that it was against a team from a power conference on national television, on the biggest stage — the NCAA Tournament — was a big reason why. That meant everything to me. That was because throughout the season, there were many who questioned how good the Billikens really were, despite their gaudy record.
I heard those comments from the naysayers. “Yeah, they’re OK, but they haven’t played anybody. Wait until they play a real team from a power conference. They will have no chance.”
That chance came on a cold Thursday night in Western New York against that very talented Georgia team. I couldn’t wait for tipoff, and our kids delivered in a very big way. At one point, we had them down by 40 points. I looked up at the scoreboard and it read “100-60.” It wasn’t even close. Back in the hotel, I stayed up until 3 a.m. because I was so excited. I told the coaching staff, fellow media colleagues and anyone else who would listen, “I’ve waited 35 years for this night to happen.”
Another reason was seeing how many Billikens fans clad in blue made the trip to Buffalo for the game. Buffalo is not an easy place to get to from St. Louis, especially on a few days’ notice. But thousands of them were in the house, and it was a beautiful sight.
The national television audience got a chance to see what Billiken basketball was all about. The teamwork, ball movement and unselfishness were on full display. Everyone had a chance to see the greatness of A-10 Player of the Year Robbie Avila. They saw the electricity of St. Louisan Kellen Thames, who threw down a thunderous dunk over 7-foot-3 Aday Mara of Michigan.
And if this season proved anything, it’s that this group belonged on that stage all along. For me, after 35 years, it was a reminder that some moments are worth the wait.