Zya Nugent was looking forward to a simple grocery shopping errand but as she recalls it, a conversation with Saint Louis head coach Rebecca Tillett halted those plans and helped shape the future of her collegiate career.
“That really sold me,” the West Virginia transfer recalled. “We were on the phone for a good hour-and-a-half, I couldn’t even go to the grocery store and go shopping because we were on the phone. After that she stayed in contact and let me know I was needed there. That’s what you want in a head coach.”
Tillett understands that there are certain times in the recruiting process where a coach recognizes a valuable player immediately. Nugent proved herself to fill that standard, taking on a leadership role.
“She takes charges, is a joyful teammate that gets other people excited to play the game,” explained Tillett. “She plays both sides of the ball and can score it. We needed to replace some scoring. What she’s looking for in a team is very in line with what we believe makes the best teams the best, and that is every person’s important, that you have to do it with joy, love and intensity. You can be intense but still love the person by your side. Her leadership has already touched every part of our program.”
Here is a look at the Billikens:
Coach- Rebecca Tillett - 4th season
Last year- SLU went 15-9 overall, 7-11 in the A-10 and tried to once again find some late-season magic -- falling short in the Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinals to eventual champion George Mason.
“We fell short of our expectations last season and are looking to make a run back to the championship level that we’re accustomed to,” Tillett reflected. “We have a group of three returners and a talented group of freshmen, so our ability to merge those two things will be critical to our success this season.”
They’ll miss- Brooklyn Gray (12.2 ppg/41.7% FG/48 stls), Peyton Kennedy (11 ppg/93.3% FT), Kennedy Calhoun (10.2 ppg/41.2% FG/80.2% FT/109 stls)
Impact returners- Mia Bergstrom (4.5 ppg), Hannah Wallace (3.2 ppg/19 starts)
Newcomers of note- Zya Nugent (9.6 ppg at West Virginia), Alexia Nelson (7.5 ppg at Towson)
Nugent earned a leadership role on day one, tremendously assisting in growing her confidence.
“That’s what I needed, someone to challenge me as a leader if I do go into coaching,” she offered. “Having that confidence again, she’s letting me be myself doing everything I can to help this team.”
Reasons to be optimistic: Reflection is crucial with any program but Tillett is particurly transparent about her team’s championship aspirations, the recovery process after falling short previously, and setting the first puzzle pieces for the upcoming season.
“When you reflect on which teams are able to elevate, when it matters the most, it’s the people in the room,” Tillett revealed. "As we went into this roster construction, it was what people can we put together to bring out the best of each other and also what do they bring to the whole group. I think we’ve done that in a lot of ways. This team is really joyful, there’s not a day that anyone doesn’t want to be together whether in the gym, another activity, this group wants to be together. I think that can lead teams a really long discussion in the journey of a season."
X Factor- A couple of SLU returners will be counted upon to take big jumps in their respective sophomore campaigns.
The Saint Louis staff agrees Hannah Wallace is an elite defender. Her quickness, length, smarts and ability to fit in tight spaces to avoid fouling while being disruptive set her apart. The staff asks for this to continue while also moving the offense to reflect success on that end.
It is clear that Bergstrom can hit the three-point shot, but what the Bills feel make her great is playing with teammates that love to have fun. This group tends to approach the game in that manner, and it allows for Bergstrom to thrive more often.
Circle the date- A very challenging month of November awaits SLU, beginning with the Nov. 3 season opener on the road against a Missouri State side which made the WBIT’s second round. SLU hosts Middle Tennessee three days later, also a WBIT participant. Next up is Northern Iowa on Nov. 9, another WBIT team. The Bills take on Northern Iowa, a WNIT competitor on Nov. 12, before facing Murray State and Illinois State on Nov. 15 and 21, respectively. Murray State made last season’s NCAA Tournament and Illinois State went to the WNIT’s Fab 4.
Bottom line: Every day there is a challenge from the coaching staff for the team to reach 212 degrees, the Fahrenheit temperature at which water boils.
"This team every day is 212," Tillett said. " Everyday, someone in the group chat is texting '212'. We’ve had that with certain teams, but this team, every day and it’s multiple people.
She continued by expanding on the anticipated results of that mindset.
“It’s a balance of getting back to our roots and also being open and innovative to where things can go,” Tillett broke down. “Infusing some of our new talent, watching them come in and what they were looking for in those conversations and how do you build the entire group together from the ground up. We really are looking forward to seeing if the studying, conversations and relationship building really leads us where we want to be.”