Saint Louis is going to be a popular team this season. They've added a new coach, Indiana State’s Josh Shertz, and the Sycamore’s Robbie Avila and Isaiah Swope via the transfer portal. Santa Clara returns five of their six top scores and within that same group is three of their top rebounders and assisters. The Broncos have more continuity coming into the season and the Billikens Avila, just returned to practice a week ago after a significant ankle strain.

New Billikens HC John Schertz, who propped up Indiana State nicely the past three years and nearly won the NIT a season ago, makes his SLU debut today along with a couple of key transfers from Terre Haute, bespectacled 6-10 Robbie Avila and hot-shooting Isaiah Swope. Herb Sendek's Santa Clara, however, is a rugged campaigner that beat some power conference foes (Stanford, Oregon, Washington State) plus Gonzaga with much the same look that won 20 a season ago. With one bonus, G Carlos Stewart, who starred two years ago for Sendek before transferring home to LSU. He's now back in Silicon Valley, where Stewart earned honorable mention All-WCC with the Broncos when scoring 15.2 ppg in 2022-23. Play Santa Clara (at Sioux Falls, SD)

Josh Schertz comes to St. Louis from Indiana St and I expect the Billikens to be a contender in the A-10 this season. However, Schertz is depending on a lot of transfers and it might take time for them to adjust to his unique offensive system. Santa Clara is one of the most experienced teams in the country, returning seven players who accounted for 72% of its scoring and 69% of its rebounding last season. The Broncos' huge frontline should also control the boards, something that is important in neutral game sites early in the season. I'll back the deeper, more experienced team in the opener.