The double-overtime thriller against Dayton has given the Billikens a lot of exposure lately. Three separate St. Louis Post-Dispatch writers have all written about the upstart Bills this week. Basketball analysts across the country, from ESPN’s Andy Katz, the Sporting News’ Ryan Fagan and even the outspoken Dick Vitale have all brought up Saint Louis University’s outside chance of dancing in the NCAA tournament this March.

For this simple feat alone, SLU deserves to be commended. This is the youngest team in Division I basketball, a team that won’t suit up a single junior or senior this season, a team that had to play its first 14 games without its best offensive threat; and yet, here we are in mid-February talking about the Billikens being on the bubble.

A lot is being said about RPI, the tough remaining schedule, the strength of the Atlantic 10 and a handful of other résumé-building factors for SLU; but I feel a very important factor is being overlooked when it comes to building a case for SLU.

Rick Majerus is this factor.

I’m not talking about Majerus’ great basketball mind or his uncanny ability to teach the game, although those certainly have helped this team. I am talking about Majerus himself. SLU’s head coach could be a huge contributing factor on selection Sunday.

Majerus’ reputation and record speak for themselves. The man is a proven winner. Every program he has been at has won. If SLU can stay relevant in the NCAA bubble conversation, and that is a big if, Majerus could swing the votes SLU’s way. If the selection committee is choosing between the Bills and another mid-major team like Wichita State or Tulsa University, having Majerus is certainly not going to hurt their chances.

While I’m sure the members of the selection committee are all objective, fair and honest people; they are still people. Majerus is a proven commodity, and if he has a team with 20-plus wins, it will get respect.

Majerus has taken 11 different teams to the big dance, and in only one of those years did his team bow out in the first round. His teams aren’t satisfied with just being there; they make deep runs into the tournament. He even took his ’97-98 Utah squad, a team from a mid-major conference like SLU, to the national title game. His teams have seen the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen several times, as well.

For now, none of this matters to SLU. The Billikens need to concentrate on finishing the season strongly. The team needs to avoid any slip-ups against the two remaining “easy” teams—Duquesne and UMass, and pull off at least two upsets of the other three teams. Being home for two of those games will certainly help, as the Bills are currently 14-1 at Chaifetz after the Rhode Island game.

This Billiken team needs a lot of help down the stretch if they even want to consider a NCAA berth, but if the team can do its part, the presence of its big-time coach just may do the rest.