ACE

100% Taj is stuck in 1977. Goodwin is a GREAT SLU story.

Indeed. The list I provided of transfer rankings was questioned. because it didn't align with a poster's premise. Here is another list, which ranks the transfers before their final destination is known. https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/industry/basketball/ It sill highlights the same dynamic. You have to get past the top 200 ranked players to start seeing some P6 to nonP6 school transfers.

I expect that we will have more balance scoring this year, and not rely so much on the three-headed monster to carry the scoring load, but what about defense? We're up by 1 with 30 seconds to go, the other team has the ball, what is our best defensive lineup? Some of this will depend on the opponent's lineup, but Anya and Otieno could be a good place to start with Robbie taking a seat and I like the potential of McCottry on D, but I have no idea about the defensive reputation of the 6 transfers. Which guards would we want out there?

You just don't get the state of college basketball, do you?

I understand that there may is often a dip or a rise in stats from one level up or down, but often the mid majors continue to produce at the P6 level. Some like Koby Brea experience almost no dip. And others have pointed out the roster construction of many of the teams in the sweet 16. A lot of key players on those teams started at non P6 programs. While on the other hand, I'm not really seeing mid-major programs these days rising on the backs of former P6 players anymore. I think the portal is one of MANY reasons why the P6 have separated themselves further from mid-majors in recent years. I haven't seen a compelling argument to change my mind. I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

Of course it is a two-way street, P6 players will move down too. The key is that there is more quality moving from mid-major to P6 than there is the other way around. Five A-10 players in the TOP 100 moving to P6: not one player in the Top 100 moving from P6 into the A-10.

Here is a list of the Top 100 ranked transfers from this season: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-transfer-rankings-2025-heated-debate-at-no-1-headlines-updated-top-100-and-1-free-agents/ - There are 5 former A-10 players on the top 100 list and they have all moved on to P6 programs. On the flip side, there is not one Top 100 transfer moving from P6 into the A10. - There are a number of P6 to other P6 school transfers on this list and of course quite a few non P6 players transferring up to P6 schools, but there is not one example of a top 100 transfer going from a P6 school to a non-P6 school. Bottom line, there is no way the talent coming from P6 schools down to the mid majors is as good as the talent leaving non-P6 schools and moving up.

Are these stories from the same sources who told you Blake Ahearn would be the next SLU coach?

Schertz has wasted little time. Here is the latest roster now on 4/15 after starting this thread several weeks ago... In his post-game comments Schertz talked about "overhauling" the roster this offseason. More athleticism is what he kept going back to. The current roster is not good and there is a lot of uncertainty with some injured players. A lot of work needs to be done. Next year will be a 15-man roster. Here is how it stands heading into portal season... 1) Avilla 2) Anya - Good defender and rebounder, but limited offensively. Got a lot more playing time than originally planned due to Casey and Thames injuries. Hopefully he goes down to about 15-18 mpg next year. Still a valuable player 3) McCottry - Rough around the edges, but the upside is very exciting. Athletic and versatile. I think Schertz should have given playing time sooner when Thames went down, but he did get valuable experience down the stretch. A key player heading into next season, gotta keep him. With a bigger role, he should really help our defense. 4) Thames - Who knows. I hope they figure out what the deal is. I feel bad for the kid. I really liked the potential he flashed early in the season. I will feel much better about the roster if he returns and is back at 100%. 5) Dotzler - Another injury question. Not really sure what we have since he didn't really play much. I would like to see him back. (GONE) 6) Casey - You can learn a lot of by listening to Schertz interviews. In the preseason, he would often talk about Thames and Hughes (returning players) - of course he said positive things about all the players, but he talked a lot more about Thames in glowing terms than Hughes.. that's when I figured he wasn't very high on Larry. In the same way, he would often talk about the two new transfer bigs at the same time (Anya and Casey). He was much more positive about Anya. This is a long way of saying, even before the injury, I don't think Casey was going to have a big role. Now with the injury, I'm fine if we free up the scholarship. GONE 5) Warlick - I think he's a good "glue guy" to keep in the system for a while - I think Schertz likes him, although he doesn't have the "athleticism" Schertz has talked about needing on the roster. I hope he stays, but not crushed if he leaves. 6) Pikaar - I liked the potential he flashed in the William Woods game, but then again it was William Woods. On the season averaged just 1 ppg and 1 rbg. With the lack of depth, there were opportunities for Max to get some PT, and Schertz didn't give it to him. I'm fine seeing what he can do in year two, but Schertz is bringing in two other skinny bigs next year. I think if Schertz believed in his upside, there was an opportunity for more minutes throughout the season, especially with all the injuries on the roster. 9) Brockhoff - I just don't see anyway he's coming back. If he couldn't get playing time on this depleted roster, it's not likely to happen in the future. 6) Hutson - He had a big HS season, he could be a nice scorer off the bench. The kid seems like a winner 7) Laczkowski - Seems like a little shorter Pikaar type player. I never expect tall skinny freshmen to contribute their first year and just hope I'm wrong 8. Kerr - Same expectation for tall, skinny freshmen 9. Otieno 10. Jones 11. Green 12. Brown 13. Dunlap 14. Open 15. Open I see a minimum of 4 available scholarships and as many as 7. (It turns out there have been 7 scholarships to fill, could we exceed my high end projections?) One big and a couple of guards seems to make sense - a ballhandling, playing making guard, and a 3-point sniper. - It appears we got a sniper with the latest addition... still two more spots to go, although some have suggested Schertz plans to "save" a scholarship - ugh! I still would like to see a 5 who has one year of college experience as Robbie insurance, but it doesn't appear we are targeting such a player.

I'm hoping the lineup has more versatility - multiple guys who can "create." That's not a skill that Gibby possessed or developed. Kobe was very solid, steady with the ball, but with 1.8 apg, not a creator either. It's interesting that his assists per game actually went down here from the prior season at WVU, even though he got more mpg here.

He has a good looking stroke. A history of injuries is the biggest concern, but this seems like a good addition.

After more than 40 years- I would hope that there would be several- that’s not a very high bar.

There are plenty of other coaches you can play for who win and aren't lunatics.

It's mind-boggling why any sane person would choose to play for Hurley.

Yep - even with 15 scholarships, you might as well use them all. Injuries happen, players don’t always live up to expectations, sh!t happens. With 3 scholarships might as well try to bring in another big. If he doesn’t work out, you just move on to the next one. This is college basketball in 2025. BTW, I recall a few posters prior to this season concerned that we had “too much” talent. We saw how that worked out. Robbie got dinged up last year and his conditioning is not the best, plus he had games with foul trouble. I think we’ll get a better version of him with a few less minutes per game. Create as much competition for playing time as possible.