As the NCAA tournament moves along, tonight’s action will see the debut of one of the most popular players in the tournament. While not a household name, Saint Louis center Robbie Avila will initially be known for his appearance and the ensuing nicknames that follow, but his game is no laughing matter. He helped the Billikens tie a school record for wins (28). At 9:45pm Eastern, the ninth-seeded St. Louis faces the eighth-seeded Georgia (22-10) in Buffalo.
The Billikens, under second-year coach Josh Schertz, use Avila as the focal point of the offense. Additionally, the junior could be the team’s best passer, averaging 4.6 assists per game. Schertz recruited Avila to Indiana, and the six-foot-ten pivot played two seasons for the Sycamore. When Schertz left for Missouri, Avila followed him. The head coach acknowledged what his star player means.
I felt no bigger responsibility than to Robbie for his belief in me and staying here and everything he’s done for me over the last four years. I can never repay him.”
Together, the coach and star player boast a 102-40 record. While the national jokes catch headlines, Avila makes buckets and helps his team win. In 2024, Schertz told The Athletic what his final recruiting pitch to Avila was.
“You don’t look like a player; I don’t look like a coach, but I do think we could connect and really do something special if you trust me.”
Viral Popularity Doesn’t Completely Overshadow Avila’s Skill Set
Instead of wincing from the jokes about his appearance, Avila leans into the attention. Avila made the round, appearing on national sports shows.
As mentioned, he stands six foot ten and weighs 240 pounds. Additionally, he does not possess a classic basketball player build. In fact, that’s one of his nicknames, College Jokic. Like the future Hall of Fame center, Avila confounds NCAA-level defenses with vision and awareness.
Moreover, wearing goggles and originally playing his first two seasons at Indiana State earned him two disparate nicknames, homages to NBA legends. “Cream Abdul-Jabbar” refers to his bespectacled look. Meanwhile, “Larry Blurred” refers to his presumed poor eyesight, excellent three-point shooting, and attendance at Indiana State. Yet, nicknames don’t really tell the story.
Humor Aside, Avila Could Key an NCAA First-Round Upset
Avila won the Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 51.8% field goal shooting. On top of that, the junior from Oak Forest, Ill., connects on 41.8% of his three-point attempts.
Despite his Jokic-inspired build, Avila logs the second-most minutes of any Biliken, playing 26.2 minutes per game. Saint Louis extensively uses the three in their offensive approach, connecting on 40.1% from beyond the arc, ranking second in Division 1. Yet, an underrated stat is that the Billikens rebound well on the defensive glass, with 29.7 each game.
UGA’s Style of Play Lends Itself to a Potentially Big Moment for Avila
Saint Louis will play a Georgia team that focuses on one side of the court. The Bulldogs, under head coach Michael White, want to push the ball and run. They average 89.8 points, ranking fifth out of the 365 NCAA teams. In contrast, the defense surrenders 79.2 points per contest, ranking 316th in the nation.
Avila will probably be defended by UGA center Somto Cyril. Cyril is a shot blocker (2.3 bpg). Yet, he doesn’t like to veer too far from the basketball. Furthermore, he’s fouled out five times this year, suggesting his approach could be a recipe for Avila’s success.
While a nine-seed win will never resonate as a profound NCAA upset, if Avila heats up, the Billikens could extend their tournament stay longer.
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