Some Schertz Pessimism

[Crewsorlose]

I will follow SLU basketball until the last second of the season but it's time to be realistic and think ahead.

I love Schertz but he's screwed the season by playing the vets 38mpg. They were never winning anything after the injuries. Jimerson and Swope are gone at the end of the season. Everyone is raving about the McCottry game but in the previous three games his minutes were 3, 2, and 5. He's played more than 8 minutes four times in 2025. He's supposed to be a future foundation piece? Why not play him more in a season that's about building something for next year?

Bills are a classic mediocre+ team. 1-9 vs. Quad 1 and 2. They're fun but they're just not very good.  Will Warlick, McCottry, and Pikkar want to stay because they've barely played and now they know if they aren't top 6 they're chained to the bench. And they'd all be much better prepared to play right now if they weren't always chained to the bench. Why not get these guys more reps with Robbie?

The team has wilted at the end of games multiple times because they've been gassed. Anya is a nice player in the A-10 for 20-25 mpg. But he's a limited player. Why not let Pikkar play more? Is a team where Anya plays 34mpg really a team that is going to dance? But he's here next year so why send that message to the younger guys?  There was a second half where Schertz didn't sub once. They bench played 12 minutes against Loyola and lost a late lead. That strategy makes sense on Sunday of the first weekend of the NCAA tourney but not in a season that's been over since December. By over, I don't mean all is lost, but that it's more about next year than this year. 

[dlarry]

I wish he had used the bench more but I think the Freshman thing is overblown.

I don’t think Freshman get many minutes at any school unless they are top 50 guys.

I looked at 2 schools (not a large sample size but I’m lazy) Davidson has 1 freshman getting more than 10 minutes per game and George Mason has 1 freshman getting more than 10 minutes per game. 

If Thames stays healthy, Hughes sticks around, Dotzler and Casey aren’t hurt we are looking at a much fresher team. 

[Billikenbooster]

Did you not listen to the coaches post game press conference? Or his post game comments with Rammer and Earl?

You get playing time based on how you practice. Most coaches say that. Schertz believes it.

After the rest of the midweek bye The scout team beat the starters three straight times. He saw that these guys had matured and done better. He promised he would play them in the first 10 minutes of the game, he did, and they delivered.

I’m sure they’ll get an opportunity on the road tonight against Davidson. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.

I believe Schertz is a thinking man’s coach. He has reasons for everything he does.

 

We will be fine.

[Crewsorlose]

2 minutes ago, Billikenbooster said:

Did you not listen to the coaches post game press conference? Or his post game comments with Rammer and Earl?

You get playing time based on how you practice. Most coaches say that. Schertz believes it.

After the rest of the midweek bye The scout team beat the starters three straight times. He saw that these guys had matured and done better. He promised he would play them in the first 10 minutes of the game, he did, and they delivered.

I’m sure they’ll get an opportunity on the road tonight against Davidson. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.

I believe Schertz is a thinking man’s coach. He has reasons for everything he does.

 

We will be fine.

Wait, if they beat the starters why didn't they start? These are justifications but they aren't actually reasons. It's the one area where he reminds me of Ford and isn't anything like a thinking coach. He's just someone who's going to ride vets to death like Thibs. 

[billiken_roy]

FYI, the freshmen sucked as bad as the starters (except swope) in this first half.   

[thunderdan]

I’m totally on board with slicing 5-10 minutes off each of the starters. Can’t have guys getting cold, on the bench, and expect them to come in and perform.  This would also keep your top lineup fresh for the end of the game. 

[Lord Elrond]

Starters didn’t fold at the end of this game!

[Aquinas]

If we had been playing our freshmen instead of our seniors, we would be at the bottom of the A10.

If NIL players come to our program and the sit, I doubt that helps recruit the next batch of NIL players. Part of our pitch to NIL players is that you will play here. Go to a P5 team, you will make more money, but sit on the bench.

Finishing at the bottom  of the A10 wouldn't  help us recruit or retain any players.

[GOSLU68]

Cards, Bills both get overhyled preseason to sell tickets, they lose a few and new fans expecting to ride the wave watch games on TV or not at all. 
This os biggest stage Schertz has been on- a 4th place finish and Seope and Jimerson leave- next year the NIL bill will have to be paid in full

 

[GOSLU68]

Overrhyped sorry typo

[Crewsorlose]

2 hours ago, Aquinas said:

If we had been playing our freshmen instead of our seniors, we would be at the bottom of the A10.

If NIL players come to our program and the sit, I doubt that helps recruit the next batch of NIL players. Part of our pitch to NIL players is that you will play here. Go to a P5 team, you will make more money, but sit on the bench.

Finishing at the bottom  of the A10 wouldn't  help us recruit or retain any players.

Nobody is saying the team should tank. Schertz is starting the best 5 players. It's just about giving the frosh more opportunities. We're never going to compete if the core of the team is one-transfers as hired guns for the bag of money. 

[longtimelistenerfirsttimec]

On 2/25/2025 at 4:53 PM, Crewsorlose said:

I will follow SLU basketball until the last second of the season but it's time to be realistic and think ahead.

I love Schertz but he's screwed the season by playing the vets 38mpg. They were never winning anything after the injuries. Jimerson and Swope are gone at the end of the season. Everyone is raving about the McCottry game but in the previous three games his minutes were 3, 2, and 5. He's played more than 8 minutes four times in 2025. He's supposed to be a future foundation piece? Why not play him more in a season that's about building something for next year?

Bills are a classic mediocre+ team. 1-9 vs. Quad 1 and 2. They're fun but they're just not very good.  Will Warlick, McCottry, and Pikkar want to stay because they've barely played and now they know if they aren't top 6 they're chained to the bench. And they'd all be much better prepared to play right now if they weren't always chained to the bench. Why not get these guys more reps with Robbie?

The team has wilted at the end of games multiple times because they've been gassed. Anya is a nice player in the A-10 for 20-25 mpg. But he's a limited player. Why not let Pikkar play more? Is a team where Anya plays 34mpg really a team that is going to dance? But he's here next year so why send that message to the younger guys?  There was a second half where Schertz didn't sub once. They bench played 12 minutes against Loyola and lost a late lead. That strategy makes sense on Sunday of the first weekend of the NCAA tourney but not in a season that's been over since December. By over, I don't mean all is lost, but that it's more about next year than this year. 

Why didnt we bring back Dang.SVB. You think Pikkar or Warlick will lead to ncaa bid  McCotty is the only freshman i care if he comes back The coach is trying to win the game in front of him  not next year not 2 years from now one of the top players on the best team in a10 is a one year hired gun (clue his familylikes to fight)of course my opinion is based on the fact that no pays me to coach or win games

[SLUMS81]

Our 4 freshmen are developing and earning their playing time. Give ‘em a break.  We need these guys, and next year’s incoming freshmen, to grow into Schertz’ system.  
   Are you going to bet the ranch that we can go out and simply buy players to immediately replace the experience and skill set of Jimerson and Swope, as well as Avila the year after?  

[billiken_roy]

15 hours ago, SLUMS81 said:

Our 4 freshmen are developing and earning their playing time. Give ‘em a break.  We need these guys, and next year’s incoming freshmen, to grow into Schertz’ system.  
   Are you going to bet the ranch that we can go out and simply buy players to immediately replace the experience and skill set of Jimerson and Swope, as well as Avila the year after?  

why do you think any of our players will be back next year?   i have no confidence any player will come back.   that isnt a statement on slu that is on all of d-1 college basketball.  ncaa basketball is broken there is no guarantee anyone comes back.   imo here forward, we have to play to win now.   not next year.   next year is another start over.  

[billikenfan05]

3 hours ago, billiken_roy said:

why do you think any of our players will be back next year?   i have no confidence any player will come back.   that isnt a statement on slu that is on all of d-1 college basketball.  ncaa basketball is broken there is no guarantee anyone comes back.   imo here forward, to have to play to win now.   not next year.   next year is another start over.  

You do understand however that large chunks of most good teams or programs with good vibes are still staying together right? I think you and a lot of us have been jaded by the turnover under Ford. I don’t believe that to be the norm. People don’t announce they are staying put, they do announce they are moving. So obviously you’re going to be more aware of the transfer. Roster turnover has increased across the board but it’s not the doom and gloom you’re making it out to be. I don’t believe we’ll see more than 1 or 2 leave via the portal. We will lose a lot to “graduation” 

[MusicCityBilliken]

11 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:

You do understand however that large chunks of most good teams or programs with good vibes are still staying together right? I think you and a lot of us have been jaded by the turnover under Ford. I don’t believe that to be the norm. People don’t announce they are staying put, they do announce they are moving. So obviously you’re going to be more aware of the transfer. Roster turnover has increased across the board but it’s not the doom and gloom you’re making it out to be. I don’t believe we’ll see more than 1 or 2 leave via the portal. We will lose a lot to “graduation” 

In fairness to Ford (I don't believe I am saying this) he did keep the one's he thought were important (Yuri & Jimerson). I believe in Yuri's case he made him that offer he could not refuse. Unfortunately he lost some that developed into nice players (Traore, Russell, Bell). 

With the covid extra year of eligibility gone, I believe things will somewhat calm down.  College BB will still have to deal with it, but it might not be as crazy as what we experienced.

Also, I don't think Avila going anywhere. I think his relationship with Schertz is pretty tight.

 

[billikenfan05]

38 minutes ago, MusicCityBilliken said:

In fairness to Ford (I don't believe I am saying this) he did keep the one's he thought were important (Yuri & Jimerson). I believe in Yuri's case he made him that offer he could not refuse. Unfortunately he lost some that developed into nice players (Traore, Russell, Bell). 

With the covid extra year of eligibility gone, I believe things will somewhat calm down.  College BB will still have to deal with it, but it might not be as crazy as what we experienced.

Also, I don't think Avila going anywhere. I think his relationship with Schertz is pretty tight.

 

I’m not necessarily throwing shade directly at Ford he did well to keep Yuri, but when you have a program in turmoil like it was after Brook’s birthday party in 2020, you see a lot of turnover. 

Agree with you about Avila, plus where’s he going to go? Compared to his reputation coming in, he’s been less than stellar. Where’s he going to go that will use him more than Schertz? Who’s going to give him more in $$ or playing time? 

[billiken_roy]

1 hour ago, billikenfan05 said:

You do understand however that large chunks of most good teams or programs with good vibes are still staying together right? I think you and a lot of us have been jaded by the turnover under Ford. I don’t believe that to be the norm. People don’t announce they are staying put, they do announce they are moving. So obviously you’re going to be more aware of the transfer. Roster turnover has increased across the board but it’s not the doom and gloom you’re making it out to be. I don’t believe we’ll see more than 1 or 2 leave via the portal. We will lose a lot to “graduation” 

who's the mid major that kept the majority of their roster together and only filled in with a couple of portal buys that are really good?   i believe you are talking top tier teams that likely kept the players that were at the top of the "pay scale" already.   sure they werent going to move on.   we dont have a roster (and probably never will) that is good enough to pay top of the scale.  even avila, swope and jimerson while probably our highest paid players, arent getting duke money i bet.  

and those players on the end of our bench we would be foolish to offer big pay raises if the belief is they arent going to be big impact players next season again.   they were likely take with the expectations those players would be decent practice fodder.  so they will either except the same or even less or have to transfer to go down a level to see meaningful playing time.  just my opinion but maybe the best thing we can hire next year is a real prolike general manager to manage our buying of players annually.   i sure dont think we need the thousand what appears to be some sort of assistant coaches that we have.  trade a couple of them in for someone to evaluate the portal and manage our purchase at the wishes of coach schertz.  the programs that figure this free agency thing out first are going to be the future winners.  

[billiken_roy]

35 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:

Agree with you about Avila, plus where’s he going to go? Compared to his reputation coming in, he’s been less than stellar. Where’s he going to go that will use him more than Schertz? Who’s going to give him more in $$ or playing time? 

i love his athleticism, defense and rebounding but he is a black hole on offense.   his offensive inadequancy is the reason teams can contain avila.  and we havent even touched on his worse than french free throw shooting.  players like that infuriate me because with the right work ethic and focus on his weaknesses i find it hard to believe he couldnt become a better game shooter and free throw shooter.   he doesnt have to turn into swope or jimerson, but my gosh, its pretty much a dunk or nothing.  

[Dr Bird]

11 minutes ago, billiken_roy said:

i love his athleticism, defense and rebounding but he is a black hole on offense.   his offensive inadequancy is the reason teams can contain avila.  and we havent even touched on his worse than french free throw shooting.  players like that infuriate me because with the right work ethic and focus on his weaknesses i find it hard to believe he couldnt become a better game shooter and free throw shooter.   he doesnt have to turn into swope or jimerson, but my gosh, its pretty much a dunk or nothing.  

I think you are referring to Anya rather than Avila.

[Dr Bird]

7 minutes ago, Dr Bird said:

I think you are referring to Anya rather than Avila.

Nevermind.  I was on a different thread.  I was a huge Anya fan earlier this year, but I no longer see him as an essential cog for next year.

[billiken_roy]

8 minutes ago, Dr Bird said:

I think you are referring to Anya rather than Avila.

of course i am.   and the reason the other teams can contain avila is because anya is offensively challenged.  i used avila correctly in the post.   you missed the context of what i was saying by ignoring the previous post i responded to i think.

[Dr Bird]

1 minute ago, billiken_roy said:

of course i am.   and the reason the other teams can contain avila is because anya is offensively challenged.  i used avila correctly in the post.   you missed the context of what i was saying by ignoring the previous post i responded to i think.

you are correct.  Anya is a head scratcher

[2010andBeyond]

I have seen nothing this year that gives me any optimism that we will be better next year. So far, Schertz has been pretty disappointing. The team fights and doesn’t quit, but haven’t really gotten any better since Avila came back from injury. Next year will be Avila and a bunch of new guys. Who knows. Hope Chaifetz can buy some portal studs but this year with 3 all-conference players was supposed to be the year SLU gets back “on the map”. 

[billiken_roy]

51 minutes ago, 2010andBeyond said:

I have seen nothing this year that gives me any optimism that we will be better next year. So far, Schertz has been pretty disappointing. The team fights and doesn’t quit, but haven’t really gotten any better since Avila came back from injury. Next year will be Avila and a bunch of new guys. Who knows. Hope Chaifetz can buy some portal studs but this year with 3 all-conference players was supposed to be the year SLU gets back “on the map”. 

while i was hoping for better, and no doubt Avila and swope havent been what i expected (still 2 of the three best players we have), the roster is flawed and the injuries and hughes departure has left us short handed without falling a lot with talent on the floor.   still all in all, we are better than we were last year so while the progress line up isnt as steep as we all would have liked, at least it is going forward.   so, .......... wait till next year.  the big key is will we have big money to buy new players to add to Avila.   strangely i am guessing since avila at best is as good as he was last year, i doubt he will get a pay raise if he went to portal so he is probably the most sure thing on the roster.   now if he could just have a big summer working on his body and other skills he could inprove.   i still have hope he can be a major player nationally.  he isnt going to be lottery pick in 2027, but he can improve.