Saint Louis officially begins the 2023-24 men's basketball campaign on Monday, Nov. 6, when it hosts the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles at Chaifetz Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Billikens return two starters from last year's squad that went 21-12 overall and 12-6 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. The Bills' roster features eight scholarship newcomers – five freshmen and three transfers.

The Eagles went 16-17 overall and 9-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference last season, their inaugural season of NCAA Division I. USI played in the postseason College Basketball Invitational.

Here are five additional facts in advance of Monday's game against Southern Indiana:

1 // This is the 109th season of Billikens men's basketball and the 16th playing inside Chaifetz Arena.

2 // Preseason first-team All-Conference selection Gibson Jimerson has led the Billikens in scoring in each of the last two seasons. He enters the year third all-time at SLU in 3-pointers made and is on pace to break Erwin Claggett's school record by season's end.

3 // Saint Louis is 83-25 all-time in season openers, including a 13-2 mark in season debuts at Chaifetz Arena. SLU head coach Travis Ford is 24-2 in season openers in his career, 6-1 during his time at SLU.

4 // USI is in its second season in NCAA Division I after a long and successful stint in Division II, including the 1995 season when the Eagles won the national championship under then head coach Bruce Pearl. Current head coach Stan Gouard played on that 1995 Eagles championship team.

5 // It's a busy week for the Billikens with three home games to start the year. After Monday's game, they take on Lincoln (Mo.) on Wednesday night, then host Illinois State Saturday night at Chaifetz Arena. All games this week will be televised on Bally Sports Midwest and will air on KMOX 1120 AM.