The momentum that came with three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament had dissipated at St. Louis University by the time coach Jim Crews was fired in March 2016 after posting an 11-21 record in back-to-back seasons.
The basketball program was at a tipping point, and the same was true at Missouri and Illinois, which joined the Billikens that season in creating a trio of sub-.500 teams. It was a low point for area college basketball fans.
In 2013, all had reached the NCAA Tournament and combined for 74 wins. By the spring of 2017, they had new coaches with contracts and salaries that demonstrated confidence in the hiring decisions.