Learning the MVC Ropes
(St. Louis, MO) – Indiana State’s Josh Schertz’s first season in the Missouri Valley Conference was extremely difficult, but the Sycamore’s head coach spent the season learning the MVC ropes. While the team won just four conference games, Schertz liked the way his team played. However, their ability to win close games or make big shots was limited.
Schertz has five returning starters and has added some significant players to the team. While many players could have jumped into the transfer portal, key members from ISU’s 11-win team chose to return. Leading scorers Cooper Neese (15.0 ppg) and Cameron Henry (14.3 ppg) return along with Xavier Bledson, Kailex Stephens and Julian Larry.
(See our exclusive Cooper Neese interview right here)
The addition of Courvoisier McCauley (DePaul), Jayson Kent (Bradley) and Cade McKnight (Truman State) will bring immediate veteran talent to a team that struggled to win close games. Freshmen recruits Robbie Avila (Oak Forest, IL) and Rob Martin (St. Louis, MO) should contribute this season.
Schertz is looking for great improvement for his team through making more ‘sound plays’ and limiting turnovers. Here is our entire conversation.
People may be undervaluing the Sycamores because several of their incoming players are coming from the Division 2 level, but McKnight was a D2 all-American. Trent Gibson scored over 1,600 D2 points and Masen Miller was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.
Schertz won 80% of his D2 games and after learning the MVC ropes, this year’s team should be more dangerous.
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As we near the closing of the portal window, we've reached 1900. Some of them never to play college basketball again, earn a college degree and some to play at a much lower level than they did last season.
I guess we'll be seeing this in a @RacersHoops uniform this year. Glad AJ is staying in the @ValleyHoops.
