Saint Louis star big man and reigning A-10 Player of the Year Robbie Avila has been granted a preliminary injunction by Missouri judge Jason Sengheiser, allowing him a fifth year of eligibility. However, the College Sports Commission (CSC) is currently blocking his return to the floor due to a roster-limit crunch. The legal and administrative battle hit a late snag just ahead of the Billikens' major non-conference matchup against rival Missouri.
Robbie Avila Saint Louis Eligibility Ruling Explained
Judge Jason Sengheiser issued a court order stating that the NCAA was not allowed to enforce its roster limits to block Robbie Avila from returning to the Saint Louis roster, which was already filled with 15 players. Adding Robbie Avila would bring the team total to 16 players.
However, the College Sports Commission released a statement explaining their roadblock:
"While we take no position on Mr. Avila's eligibility, we cannot effectuate a state court order that requires us to violate the explicit terms of a federal injunctive relief settlement by giving Saint Louis University an additional roster slot," the CSC stated. "Mr. Avila may be eligible to play college basketball this season, but there is no roster slot available for him at Saint Louis University."
According to Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated, there are currently over 50 fifth-year seniors who are eligible and 16 who are not at the high-major ranks. Legal representation for Robbie Avila is expected to fight the CSC ruling.
Impact on Josh Schertz and the Saint Louis Billikens
If he is ultimately permitted to play, the return of Robbie Avila—affectionately known by nicknames like Milk Chamberlain, Larry Nerd, Cream Abdul-Jabbar, or Rob Wave—is a massive boost for head coach Josh Schertz and college basketball.
Last season, Robbie Avila averaged 12.8 points while shooting 41% from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts. His presence helped power a Saint Louis offense that finished second in the country in effective field goal percentage. The team started 24-1 last year, secured an at-large bid as the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, defeated Georgia 102-77 in the first round for the program's first March Madness win since 2014, and eventually fell to champion Michigan in the Round of 32.
Key facts regarding the Saint Louis roster situation include:
- Robbie Avila was granted a preliminary injunction by Missouri judge Jason Sengheiser.
- The College Sports Commission is blocking his return because a 16th player violates roster limits from the House v. NCAA settlement.
- Robbie Avila averaged 12.8 points and shot 41% from deep last season.
- Saint Louis retained four starters and two key rotation players from the previous tournament run.
- The squad features three high-volume 40% 3-point shooters: Robbie Avila, Trey Green, and Ishan Sharma.
Offense and Roster Outlook
With Robbie Avila back in the fold, Saint Louis would boast four returning starters and valuable depth. The team is uniquely positioned as the only program in America to retain three high-volume 40% 3-point shooters who combined for 233 triples last season: Robbie Avila, Trey Green, and Ishan Sharma.
Furthermore, Robbie Avila's floor-spacing opens up the paint significantly. When he was on the floor last year, Saint Louis shot 63% at the rim, with nearly half (45%) of their total shots coming at the rim due to his passing reads and ability to pull shot-blockers away from the basket.
Saint Louis' projected starting lineup features Trey Green, Quentin Jones, Ishan Sharma, Kellen Thames, and Robbie Avila. Top bench options include Alon Michaeli, Amari McCottry, Jax Kerr, Cam Hutson, Luke Laczkowski, and Sheek Pearson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Robbie Avila?
Robbie Avila is the reigning A-10 Player of the Year and star big man for Saint Louis University, widely recognized by fans and media for his stellar shooting and passing abilities.
Why is the College Sports Commission blocking Robbie Avila from playing?
The CSC is blocking his return because adding him as a 16th player would violate roster limits imposed by the injunctive relief settlement in House v. NCAA, despite a state judge's ruling that the NCAA could not enforce those limits against him.
What were Robbie Avila's stats last season?
Robbie Avila averaged 12.8 points per game and shot 41% from beyond the arc on 4.6 attempts per game, helping lead Saint Louis to an NCAA Tournament win.