ST. LOUIS (AP) -Instead of baby-sitting young players, Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus has a stiffer challenge this season.
Days before practice began last month, Saint Louis lost its best two returning players to university disciplinary action. Minus point guard Kwamain Mitchell and center Willie Reed, suspended for violating the school’s code of conduct, Majerus must now replace a combined 60 minutes, 28 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Reed also blocked 73 shots and Mitchell averaged three assists a year ago.
Majerus’ perfect run of 23 seasons without a losing record could be in jeopardy.
“It’s just sad that you lose upperclassmen,” Majerus said. “You lose your leading scorer, point guard, best perimeter defender, best shot blocker, your best rebounder and two guys you’ve invested two years in.
“That’s like your wife leaving you and she’s got the money in the family.”
The 6-9 Reed is seeking to enroll at Kansas State. Mitchell could return at the semester break.
Majerus isn’t counting on help from Mitchell during the Atlantic 10 schedule. If Mitchell is readmitted, the coach said his advice would be to concentrate on school and come back next fall with two years of eligibility.
“First of all, there’s no guarantee that they’ll let him back,” said Majerus, citing “the vagaries of all these mysterious tribunals and boards and things like that.
“If he tells me ‘I absolutely want to play,’ I’m going to sit him down and tell him I wouldn’t do that,” Majerus said.
Majerus had envisioned a deep roster that could contend in the conference. Pared down, the Billikens were picked to finish sixth and it’s all hands on deck heading into Friday’s opener at home against Austin Peay.
“We’re going to be short-handed again,” said Majerus, who’s 57-52 his first three seasons. “There’s no help on the way.”
Saint Louis was 23-13 last season, losing in the final of the CBI tournament with a roster that had no seniors. Top returnees on the reconstituted roster are guards Kyle Cassity and Christian Salecich, and forwards Cody Ellis and Brian Conklin.
Ellis becomes the top returning scorer at 10.5 points, and averaged 4.5 rebounds. Cassity was second on the team with 41 3-pointers, and Conklin shot 46 percent. Sophomore Cory Remekun had 32 blocks.
More is expected out of all four players heading to an early season schedule that has a couple of challenges, a home game against Georgia on Nov. 20 and a game at Duke on Dec. 11.
“It’s different, that’s for sure,” Cassity said. “We have to play with what we’ve got, We can’t play with anybody else.”
Conklin made 16 starts last season while hampered by an ankle injury.
“Guys have to find their niche, kind of feel what their role is,” Conklin said. “Those two roles are gone, but maybe someone is going to do something different that will benefit the team.”
Always outspoken, Majerus didn’t hesitate to tick off perceived roster shortcomings after a sloppy exhibition victory over Cardinal Stritch last week – playing down to the competition, taking too many 3-point attempts, being impatient and dumb turnovers by veterans.
In general, Majerus said, everyone just wanted to score.
“Very few high school kids, defense is important to them, and very few are held accountable defensively,” Majerus said. “All those guys are in the let-me-outscore-you mindset.”
Majerus is generous with compliments for junior guard Paul Eckerle, who missed last season with a knee injury.
“Look at his leg, watch him limp,” Majerus said. “He just plays his guts out, he plays on heart. I never had an issue with him.”
Others are not so lucky.
Salecich, a sophomore, is “smart in the classroom, not smart on the court,” according to Majerus. Conklin, who had three turnovers in the opening exhibition, “is a smart player. Supposedly.”
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