Grades for Coach Schertz's First Season

[TheA_Bomb]

The season is now over, and we can look back and grade it.  Grades on a scale of A to F. I propose grading the following areas:

1. Recruiting:

a. HS/JUCO

b. Transfers

2. Coaching

a. Record

I) Non-Conference

II) Conference

a. Tactical:

I) Offense

II) Defense

b. Player Development

3. Other

a. Media Handling

b. Community Outreach/Booster Engagement

OVERALL GRADE Weight the areas as you see fit (up for discussion).

 

1. Recruiting: A

a. HS/JUCO: B

2025 Cameron Hutson (3.69 score on Verbal Commits); Luke Lackzcowski (3.64); Jax Kerr (3.53)

While we didn't beat out any big-time schools for these recruits, they appear solid and a fit for the system.

2024 McCottry 3.41; Warlick 3.89; Max Pikaar 3.77 we beat some comparable schools for these recruits and they appear to have good upside and contributed this season.

b. Transfers: A 

Robbie Avila all conference 2nd team; Isaiah Swope all conference 3rd team; Kobe Johnson; Kalu Anya, Kobe Johnson and A.J. Casey. All were key contributors and two were all conference. Only 1 didn't see the court.

2. Coaching Results: C

a. Record: D

19-15; 120 Ken Pom, improvement by 79 places from last season (13-20 overall); 14-3 at home; Ken Pom 108 SoS

I) Non-Conference D

8-8 (kenpom 186 SoS)

II) Conference C+

11-7, 5 Seed, 

a. Tactical: B

The offense did what it's designed to do create high % shots and SLU was #1 in conference in 2P% at 60.6% and 56.3% in eFG% #1 in A10, #16 in the Nation. The defense started slow and then began to click after non-conference. It is not effective at creating turnovers, and it gives up offensive rebounds.

I) Offense: C+ 

Ken Pom Adj Eff 130, 6th in conference

II) Defense C+

Ken Pom Adj Eff 136, 4th in conference

b. Player Development B

Gibson benefitted from the system. Avila did not adjust as well as we hoped to the step up in competition. Swope was streaky but could score on anyone. Johnson was inconsistent but effective at times. The players mostly played smart within the system and did not panic when down.

3. Other B

a. Media Handling: I think he's great in interviews and post-game. He's compelling and funny.

 

Overall: C+ The team appears headed in a better direction but did not perform relative to expectations.

[thunderdan]

The last sentence perfectly encapsulates the season. Glad Schertz is here. Depending on the Portal results, next year could be fun. 

[Lord Elrond]

Were expectations too high for this team? 
 

I do think we’re on the way up with Coach Schertz

[wgstl]

C+ for me. 
injuries suck , but I don’t see anyone but Thames being much of a difference maker - maybe dotzler. 
 

so roster building was a huge miss. But I thought him as an actual coach was a breath of fresh air 

[Aquinas]

I would not give an A for transfers. We did not sign a stretch 4, and it hurt us all season. Anyas defender often just parked in the paint and interfered with passes and cuts. A major category missing is NIL. Could we have signed a stretch 4 with more NIL? 

[TheChosenOne]

The team was pretty average. I was surprised by how pedestrian our offense looked most games, but understand we were dealing with roster limitations. Basically a team just outside of the top 100 gets a C from me. That doesn’t change my opinion of Schertz, but this season was a dud.

[TheA_Bomb]

14 hours ago, Aquinas said:

I would not give an A for transfers. We did not sign a stretch 4, and it hurt us all season. Anyas defender often just parked in the paint and interfered with passes and cuts. A major category missing is NIL. Could we have signed a stretch 4 with more NIL? 

NIL is a big factor but it's outside the coach's control.  He has influence on it but not control. 

Roster construction was a problem but maybe exacerbated by injuries. 

I thought it was an A based on bringing in 2 all conference players.  We've gotten some good transfers before Bess, Perkins but have we brought in 2 high caliber at the same time?

 

[Aquinas]

The problem was the drop off from players 1,2 and 3, to players 4 and 5 was steep. Dozler and Thames could have been players 4 and 5. Then then, Johnson and Anya would have been coming off the bench, and we have a pretty  good team. Still not a legit stretch 4, which probably cost more than we had. 

NIL is outside the coaches control, but it is a major factor, and probably the primary factor in recruiting and transfers. For example, take the NIL money from any coach in the P5, and they will get killed. The first question, How much do you pay? 

Any coach without NIL will can get no higher than a D on recruiting  and transfers, without being graded on a NIL curve.