Schertz Prepping for His First SLU Season

Robbie’s Ankle and Much More

(St. Louis, MO) – Josh Schertz has settled in quite nicely at Saint Louis University. While prepping for his first SLU season, the former Indiana State coach’s plans hit a little snag with the injuries to star center Robbie Avila and transfer A.J. Casey.

They should both be fine, but their injuries at last week’s public event did practically break the internet in St. Louis. Providers almost had to call Elon Musk and get Starlink brought in.

First SLU Season Roster

SLU’s disappointing 13-20 record brought about the end of the Travis Ford era at Saint Louis, but several Billikens stuck around to join Schertz’s first Atlantic Ten team. Fifth year guard Gibson Jimerson, Larry Hughes II and Kellen Thames are back and will be important parts of this year’s team.

Schertz brought Avila and sharp shooting Isaiah Swope with him from Terre Haute. The rest of the roster has been cobbled together in a fascinating way.

Veteran transfers Kalu Anya (Brown), Kobe Johnson (West Virginia) and A.J. Casey (Miami) are upper classmen with size and experience. Creighton transfer Josiah Dotzler and Kilian Brockhoff (UC Santa Barbara) are sophomores with serious upsides.

Swope, Hughes, Jimerson, Avila, Anya and Johnson combined to start 190 games last season. However, with a radically new roster, Schertz says the key is to get all that incoming talent to act as a team, not ‘independent contractors’.

 

Schertz is passionate about his offense being based on making three-point baskets. Swope, Hughes, Jimerson, Avila combined to bury 302 triples last season and all made roughly 36% of their long distance attempts.

A critical piece of practices is getting his team acclimated to his style of play, but also the cultural piece. While winning is important, the first year Billiken coach is looking for the right foundational ingredients for sustainable success. He says the players are making great strides as they are prepping for his first SLUseason.

 

Injury Front

During Friday’s ‘Billikens Basketball Night’ both Avila and Casey left with injuries. After the ankle injury to ‘SLUAlcindor’ the affable Schertz ended the festivities. With so much riding on ‘Cream-Abdul-Jabbar’ the panic amongst the SLU faithful rippled throughout the Gateway City.

A Saturday evaluation revealed a level 2, sprain and Billiken fans could take a breath. While Schertz was also relieved, he joked that Avila’s lack of athleticism is what kept the injury from being worse.

 

Neither player practiced on Monday. Avila is out of the boot and using crutches to get around. Casey had his right thigh wrapped and went through some stretching and light shooting activities.

Schertz expects both players to be fine and ready for the regular season, which the head coach would like to start right now. Teams have been working out since June and officially for just over a week. Schertz says scrimmages will help his team find out how far they’ve come and what needs work.

 

Overall View

While Schertz is prepping for his first SLU season, he’s doing so in the practically brand new O’Loughlin Family Champions Center. His office overlooks the part of Chaifetz Center’s entrances. While sitting at his desk he can see the Gateway Arch and the facility provides rich opportunities for the players.

It is far more than an outstanding practice facility. Nutrition centers, educational spaces, training areas, spiritual development and sports psychology opportunities all await the SLU student-athletes. Schertz compares the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center to an NBA facility.

 

There is a buzz and an excitement about Billiken basketball that is reminiscent of the Rick Majerus era of SLU hoops. Schertz has three early high school commitments (undisclosed) and prep players are flooding to SLU practices. The program has already turned the corner.

After two exhibition games, the Billikens open the season with a neutral site game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota against Santa Clara (November 4). SLU’s home opener is Sunday, November 10.

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