SLU lands nine seed in West Region in NCAA Tournament

It has been a long time coming for St. Louis Billikens fans.  In fact, it has been 13 seasons since the Bills had qualified for the NCAA Tournament field of 68.  SLU last qualified for the NCAA Tournament during the 1999-2000 season with a team coached by Lorenzo Romar.

After suffering a loss to Xavier in the semi-finals of the Atlantic 10 conference tournament, anxiety was high that  SLU may one again not qualify for the Big Dance. Nothing was guaranteed and with Saint Bonaventure stealing an at-large bid by winning the A10 tournament, anything was possible, including SLU not making the field.

But finally the wait was over as the Billikens and their 25-7 record are headed to the NCAA Tournament.

Rick Majerus and his bunch were revealed as a nine seed in the West Regional of the 68 team tournament field and will head to Columbus, Ohio to take on former Conference USA opponent Memphis in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

If the Billikens are able to get by the Memphis Tigers, it would set up a second round match-up with number one seed Michigan State.

The Billikens finished second in the A10 conference this season, their highest finish since joining the league in 2005.