2024-2025 Season

[CenHudDude]

7 hours ago, billiken_roy said:

man, good thing they can play basketball.  

Doesn’t sound like you want the Braves to draft any of them B’Roy.

[White Pelican]

17 hours ago, Cowboy II said:

-Coach Tate is a large man

Or a small mountain.

[billiken_roy]

12 hours ago, CenHudDude said:

Doesn’t sound like you want the Braves to draft any of them B’Roy.

No none of our basketball players will become Atlanta Braves 

 

That said the braves love the Clousey kid they drafted out of SLU this summer.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HoosierPal]

Swope’s knee still an issue. 

 

[Aquinas]

49 minutes ago, HoosierPal said:

Swope’s knee still an issue. 

 

I dont like seeing Swope with knee inflammation following his surgery. I'm not a doctor, but I don't think inflation several weeks after surgery is not good. 

[BrettJollyComedyHour]

1 hour ago, HoosierPal said:

Swope’s knee still an issue. 

 

Can we...can we not for ONE season?

[thetorch]

This is nothing to worry about.

[HoosierPal]

Interesting article.  Schertz still looking for starters #4 and #5.  Looks like he wants a short rotation again.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/with-shortage-of-corporate-knowledge-josh-schertz-looks-for-separation-among-slu-players/article_9a69c45c-6d36-11ef-991c-b74b00c584bb.html

At this point, Schertz classifies Jimerson, Avila and Swope as the only consistent 3-point shooters, and they are pretty much locked in as starters.

The problem is that he prefers to use eight players or fewer and will be looking for a clear separation in performances.

SLU needs shooters to emerge to join the mentioned likely three starters as consistent threats. However, Schertz also needs players who won’t be defensive liabilities.

"My hope is that by Nov. 4 there’s been some separation and players have made jumps in their game. Most college teams play too many guys. The best way to win is to play the best players the most minutes.”

[Cowboy II]

17 minutes ago, HoosierPal said:

Interesting article.  Schertz still looking for starters #4 and #5.  Looks like he wants a short rotation again.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/with-shortage-of-corporate-knowledge-josh-schertz-looks-for-separation-among-slu-players/article_9a69c45c-6d36-11ef-991c-b74b00c584bb.html

At this point, Schertz classifies Jimerson, Avila and Swope as the only consistent 3-point shooters, and they are pretty much locked in as starters.

The problem is that he prefers to use eight players or fewer and will be looking for a clear separation in performances.

SLU needs shooters to emerge to join the mentioned likely three starters as consistent threats. However, Schertz also needs players who won’t be defensive liabilities.

"My hope is that by Nov. 4 there’s been some separation and players have made jumps in their game. Most college teams play too many guys. The best way to win is to play the best players the most minutes.”

-an enlightening article, i was in the chorus, I think there was a chorus, of people who wanted CFord to expand his rotation

-with CSchertz the rotation looks to be 7 or 8 as he had last season 

-he is quoted as hoping there is separation, I wonder what happens if there isn't?

[3star_recruit]

38 minutes ago, HoosierPal said:

Interesting article.  Schertz still looking for starters #4 and #5.  Looks like he wants a short rotation again.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/with-shortage-of-corporate-knowledge-josh-schertz-looks-for-separation-among-slu-players/article_9a69c45c-6d36-11ef-991c-b74b00c584bb.html

At this point, Schertz classifies Jimerson, Avila and Swope as the only consistent 3-point shooters, and they are pretty much locked in as starters.

The problem is that he prefers to use eight players or fewer and will be looking for a clear separation in performances.

SLU needs shooters to emerge to join the mentioned likely three starters as consistent threats. However, Schertz also needs players who won’t be defensive liabilities.

"My hope is that by Nov. 4 there’s been some separation and players have made jumps in their game. Most college teams play too many guys. The best way to win is to play the best players the most minutes.”

I've never cared whether a coach plays with a short bench or a long one.  There are numerous examples of coaches winning with either philosophy.   

[billiken_roy]

If there does not emerge a separation after the top 3, my guess is Schertz will go by attitude, maturity and leadership demonstration to pick the next 4 or 5.  

I've always been a fan of playing more, but only if the team is going to play balls out havoc on both ends.   If not I totally agree with Schertz play your best team the most minutes.  

[HoosierPal]

2 hours ago, Cowboy II said:

-an enlightening article, i was in the chorus, I think there was a chorus, of people who wanted CFord to expand his rotation

-with CSchertz the rotation looks to be 7 or 8 as he had last season 

-he is quoted as hoping there is separation, I wonder what happens if there isn't?

Might result in a somewhat more disjointed effort.  You would see A-S-J all play 35 minutes a game and then a parade back and forth to the scorer's table.

I found this paragraph intriguing

Some of the shortcomings so far are not ideal for the Schertz system. He listed shooting, ball handling and passing as areas that need improvement. He likes the potential of the defense and rebounding, especially on the offensive end.

Twice he mentions shooting as being an issue.  We know some players don't have a history of 40% shooting, but we have collectively penciled them into the starting lineup.  Offensive rebounding....I wonder who is standing out.  Watching Avila for at least 10 games last season, offensive rebounding was not one of his strengths.  He averaged 1.2 ORB per game.  Jimerson and Swope aren't rebounders.  So who is (are) it (they)?

 

[HoosierPal]

Just now, billiken_roy said:

If there does not emerge a separation after the top 3, my guess is Schertz will go by attitude, maturity and leadership demonstration to pick the next 4 or 5.  

I've always been a fan of playing more, but only if the team is going to play balls out havoc on both ends.   If not I totally agree with Schertz play your best team the most minutes.  

We saw that the Sycamores played quick on the offensive end, 7th in the nation in points.  Didn't see much if any defensive Havoc (VCU style).  They were 218th in the nation defensive points allowed.

[billiken_roy]

1 minute ago, HoosierPal said:

We saw that the Sycamores played quick on the offensive end, 7th in the nation in points.  Didn't see much if any defensive Havoc (VCU style).  They were 218th in the nation defensive points allowed.

Exactly.   So as long as we win and have the high powered offense I'm good with the short rotation.

I think with the mentioned rebounding questions, that gives Anya the edge for major minutes.   He showed in the scrimmage more go after it for defense and rebounding then pretty much the entire team.   

And it seemed to me Johnson will emerge with his experience and background to be that 5th guy and be the guard defensive stopper and right glue guy.   I love he's a Huggins disciple.  None of us seem to be big Huggins lovers, but the dislike has nothing to do with his results.   He was a winner and his players were all tough as nails and hard workers 

[HoosierPal]

53 minutes ago, billiken_roy said:

Exactly.   So as long as we win and have the high powered offense I'm good with the short rotation.

I think with the mentioned rebounding questions, that gives Anya the edge for major minutes.   He showed in the scrimmage more go after it for defense and rebounding then pretty much the entire team.   

And it seemed to me Johnson will emerge with his experience and background to be that 5th guy and be the guard defensive stopper and right glue guy.   I love he's a Huggins disciple.  None of us seem to be big Huggins lovers, but the dislike has nothing to do with his results.   He was a winner and his players were all tough as nails and hard workers 

I agree that many of us have penciled in Anya and Johnson as 4 and 5.  But it doesn't seem that Schertz has done so, yet. 

The issue with these two is three point shooting.  Anya last season was 8 of 30 from the arc 27% and 31.4% career on 11 of 35.  Johnson was 13-47 for 28% last season and 24-85 in his career (also 28%).  Last year Schertz' worst three point shooting starters were Swope at 36.2% and Kent at 36.6%.  First sub Bledson was 35.7%.  If we are going to be a running, three point shooting team, there are question marks out there.

There is a balance out there, somewhere.  That is what Schertz will figure out.

[CenHudDude]

2 hours ago, billiken_roy said:

If there does not emerge a separation after the top 3, my guess is Schertz will go by attitude, maturity and leadership demonstration to pick the next 4 or 5.  

I've always been a fan of playing more, but only if the team is going to play balls out havoc on both ends.   If not I totally agree with Schertz play your best team the most minutes.  

Playing the best players the most minutes is how Schmidt has won with the Bonnies for years.  He did wear his players out though.

[Aquinas]

7 hours ago, HoosierPal said:

Interesting article.  Schertz still looking for starters #4 and #5.  Looks like he wants a short rotation again.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/college/slu/with-shortage-of-corporate-knowledge-josh-schertz-looks-for-separation-among-slu-players/article_9a69c45c-6d36-11ef-991c-b74b00c584bb.html

At this point, Schertz classifies Jimerson, Avila and Swope as the only consistent 3-point shooters, and they are pretty much locked in as starters.

The problem is that he prefers to use eight players or fewer and will be looking for a clear separation in performances.

SLU needs shooters to emerge to join the mentioned likely three starters as consistent threats. However, Schertz also needs players who won’t be defensive liabilities.

"My hope is that by Nov. 4 there’s been some separation and players have made jumps in their game. Most college teams play too many guys. The best way to win is to play the best players the most minutes.”

Schertz has said this before. I think he really needs the open guard spot to be a decent 3 point shooter. We may have to live with the open big spot as a below average 3 point shooter. Schertz will look at each player and analyze which 3 point shorts they make and miss, then instruct them to take the shots they can make. For instance, if they have a slow release, they need to recognize how much space they need, or if they need  to set there feet, etc. Kent improved dramatically from year 2 to 3 and the 3s I saw him take were wide open. One of our guards should be able to figure it out and step up. We are more limited with the bigs. Pretty much either Anya or Casey need to step into a starter role and the other will get backup minutes. Avila plays away from the basket and isn't very athletic, so an athletic 4 is needed to defend the opponents athletic  big and rebound. Ideally every player will be able to hit an open 3 at least close  to an average level, however we may not get that at the open forward spot. 

[3star_recruit]

28 minutes ago, Aquinas said:

Schertz has said this before. I think he really needs the open guard spot to be a decent 3 point shooter. We may have to live with the open big spot as a below average 3 point shooter. Schertz will look at each player and analyze which 3 point shorts they make and miss, then instruct them to take the shots they can make. For instance, if they have a slow release, they need to recognize how much space they need, or if they need  to set there feet, etc. Kent improved dramatically from year 2 to 3 and the 3s I saw him take were wide open. One of our guards should be able to figure it out and step up. We are more limited with the bigs. Pretty much either Anya or Casey need to step into a starter role and the other will get backup minutes. Avila plays away from the basket and isn't very athletic, so an athletic 4 is needed to defend the opponents athletic  big and rebound. Ideally every player will be able to hit an open 3 at least close  to an average level, however we may not get that at the open forward spot. 

Three-point shooting is a issue at the point guard as well as at the open forward slot.  I trust that Coach Schertz did the best that he could given the short recruiting window he had to work with.  He's already corrected for this in his recruiting of the 2025 class.  I think third place is a fair expectation of this year's team given its deficiencies.

[WVBilliken]

I watched a fair amount of WV basketball last year.  Kobe Johnson has it in him to be a decent 3 point shooter with better shot selection.  He's a good ball-handler and plays good, tough D.  Got him penciled in as a starter.

[HoosierPal]

18 hours ago, Aquinas said:

Schertz has said this before. I think he really needs the open guard spot to be a decent 3 point shooter. We may have to live with the open big spot as a below average 3 point shooter. Schertz will look at each player and analyze which 3 point shorts they make and miss, then instruct them to take the shots they can make. For instance, if they have a slow release, they need to recognize how much space they need, or if they need  to set there feet, etc. Kent improved dramatically from year 2 to 3 and the 3s I saw him take were wide open. One of our guards should be able to figure it out and step up. We are more limited with the bigs. Pretty much either Anya or Casey need to step into a starter role and the other will get backup minutes. Avila plays away from the basket and isn't very athletic, so an athletic 4 is needed to defend the opponents athletic  big and rebound. Ideally every player will be able to hit an open 3 at least close  to an average level, however we may not get that at the open forward spot. 

Fun time of the year when we all speculate on what the coach is thinking.  We are all right, until the coach shows that we are wrong!.

Of course Avila plays a lot on the perimeter on offense, but he commonly played the classical Big role on defense.  Yes, he is not an elite defender or rebounder or rim protector, but at least he can body up on the opponent's big.  And with Holmes leaving Dayton, we won't see any top level Bigs in league play. (Key for Dayton?  Rubin for Loyola?  Ajogbar for St. Joe?  No one really stands out.)

Last year Schertz had Kent as his hybrid.  He was listed at 6'8", 205 lb and defended both on the perimeter and in the paint as needed.  Anaya, Casey and Thames fit his physical description, but none of them have a proven three point shot.  You never know, perhaps Schertz changes his template.  He certainly is not going to have five three point shooting threats on the floor at the same time like the Sycamores did last season.

Just because the data is available, here are the three point percentages from last season for upperclassmen.  There is a lot of small sample size here.  Can Hughes be our 4th shooter?  The freshmen are all unknowns as far as three point shooting in college ball.  If Schertz plays a short rotation, it will be difficult for any of them to break into double digit minutes.  But yaneverknow.

Avila  39% on 155 attempts

Brockhoff 38% on 29 attempts

Swope 36% on 312 attempts

Jimerson 36% on 220 attempts

Hughes 36% on 138 attempts

Thames 36% on 36 attempts

Anaya 31% on 30 attempts

Johnson 28% on 47 attempts

Dotzler 18% on 11 attempts

Casey 0% on 12 attempts

 

[Cowboy II]

-I'm guessing we see a schedule this week

[HoosierPal]

 

[billikenfan05]

 

 

[gobillsgo]

8 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:

 

 

Wouldn’t mind an alternate with that cursive script… a light blue maybe?

[billikenfan05]

17 minutes ago, gobillsgo said:

Wouldn’t mind an alternate with that cursive script… a light blue maybe?

Agreed. As far as I was told, they are going with white, blue and gray this year. They did get rid of the hideous grays from last year. Not sure if the new grays will also have the Billiken logo. but my guess is the gray will be the same template.