Josh Schertz watches a lot of NBA. It is a yearly goal to visit one team as a learning experience.
This summer he went to Oklahoma City and soon will make stops in Utah and Denver. His staff is also involved with trips to Memphis and Boston in the works.
St. Louis University and Mizzou will face each other in men’s basketball for the first time since 2001 next season, playing on a court on a barge anchored in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. Fans will watch “Barge Madness” from bleachers built on both sides of the Mississippi.
This guy (left) graduates today from Mizzou’s school of journalism. He knew what he wanted to do when he was about 8. Couldn’t change his mind. I’ve seen his name in the paper. He’s pretty good. Parents are proud.
Justin Hardy passed away today after battling stage IV stomach cancer for the last year while still managing to play basketball at Washington University in St. Louis and graduating. He was an inspiration. RIP Justin.
Rick Pitino said of playing SLU: "I hope we can continue this. We’re a Catholic school with great values. St. Louis is a Jesuit school with great values. I hope we can, as long as Travis is here, go more than 1 and 1. I hope we have this series for a long time."
The word "adversity" is thrown around a lot in sports. In this case, it would be an understatement: Washington University's Justin Hardy is playing the season while battling stage 4 stomach cancer. And he just graduated a semester early.
via
@stltoday
Josh Scherz’s wife, Natalia, is so close with the Indiana St. staff that she drove to Terre Haute on Tues, picked up the team managers/grad assts and took them to Busch Stadium to see Schertz throw the 1st pitch and watch the game. She then drove them back, arriving at 2:30 a.m.
In his 4th season as a SLU walk-on, Brandon Courtney was given a scholarship this semester by coach Travis Ford. When he arrived in the middle of practice Monday after the announcement, the Billikens interrupted a drill to celebrate.
Fred Thatch, who is classified as a sophomore in his 4th year, tells me his plan is to use his final two years of eligibility at SLU and get a PhD. He would be 24 in his final season.
BREAKING: Robbie Avila will transfer to SLU, following coach Josh Schertz from Indiana State. Avila committed on his campus visit in recent days and announced on the Field of 68. He was runner-up for MVC player of the year. He provides the centerpiece of the Schertz offense.
A nice moment as Marten Linssen rushes to hug his parents, Odilo and Helga, who arrived from Germany prior to practice Friday and will see their son play in Saturday’s senior day game for the first time since he was a freshman at Valparaiso.
Confirmed that SLU baseball has signed Max McGwire, a son of Mark McGwire. He previously played at Oklahoma and San Diego and is having a huge summer league performance.
Today I became president of the United States Basketball Writers Association, taking over for
@FBQuinnn
of The Athletic. I’ve been honored to work with 4 former presidents over 40 years. I invite media members who cover men’s and women’s college hoops to join the
@USBWA
.
Indiana State transfers Robbie Avila, Isaiah Swope and Jayson Kent are expected to visit St. Louis University starting Thursday. They are among a group of recruits SLU’s new coaching staff will have on campus in the next week.
St. Louis University will play for the Atlantic 10 championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday against St. Bonaventure after beating Davidson 67-44. The Billikens outscored the Wildcats 47-17 in the final 23 minutes.
Jordan Nesbitt, a consensus top-100 recruit out of St. Louis Christian Academy, will transfer to St. Louis University, he said in a report on KSDK on Sunday night.
St. Louis University has been picked to win the Atlantic 10 in a preseason poll of writers and coaches. It is the first time the Billikens have been picked first and comes two years after they were picked to finish last. Story to come.
Travis Ford leaves SLU after 8 seasons in which he was consistently cordial and available, even through this difficult season. He talked as long as I needed on the phone after road games, mostly losses. A good person is what I appreciate most in working with a coach.
Holy cow, Jordan Goodwin. He just topped his college scoring high with 30 in his G League debut, making 11 of 20 shots, 4 of 7 3s for the Capital City Go-Go. His corner jumper tied the game at 101. His steal and layup gave CC the lead after falling behind 19-0. Go-Go won 107-103.
SLU is launching the Billiken Exchange, which is a portal that will let local businesses, donors and alumni make connections with athletes for Name, Image, Likeness deals.
It’s looking like SLU soccer will play a game next season at new Centene Stadium vs. SIU Edwardsville on Sept. 13. Nothing has been officially released. Those programs set the NCAA soccer attendance record of 22,512 in 1980.
I’ve had the honor of meeting many SLU students from India recently. It started because I resemble Ajith Kumar, a popular actor in India. It is an active group of students who work at a lot of games so I see them frequently. Maybe they can recommend me as his body double.
Travis Ford takes the mic at halfcourt after the game: "Thank you very much for sticking with these guys. These are good young men. We're doing it for the city of St. Louis."
Washington U. basketball player Justin Hardy, who has stage 4 stomach cancer, received the
@USBWA
Perry Wallace Most Courageous award in New Orleans along with Andrew Jones of Texas. Five current/former teammates were on hand along with his parents and coach Pat Juckem.
Center Francis Okoro, who was a top-60 recruit out of high school, announced on Twitter that he will transfer to St. Louis University after spending his first two seasons at Oregon.
Former Chaminade standout Mike Lewis, who left Duquesne basketball last season, has announced on Instagram he will transfer to St. Louis University. His message: "Coming Home! 100% in with Team Blue."
Let this sink in: The SLU women trailed D-II Maryville 24-1 after 9 minutes in an exhibition game on Nov. 3. That was the Billikens’ debut under coach Rebecca Tillett. In 4 months, Tillett turned SLU into the best team in the A-10.
The SLU soccer team is now the only undefeated team in the country with today's win and New Hampshire losing in its conference championship game. The Billikens are 14-0-4.
The SLU basketball team and staff visited with Courtney Stuen and met 2-month-old Penn, the son of Courtney and late SLU assistant Ford Stuen, after today’s scrimmages.
SLU on the Atlantic 10 all-conference teams:
1st team: Jordan Goodwin
2nd team: Hasahn French
3rd team: Javonte Perkins
6th man of the year: Perkins
All-defensive team: French, Goodwin
All-rookie team: Yuri Collins
I’m probably the only sportswriter trying to leave New Orleans, now delayed 4-5 hours. But feeling good after a rewarding day introducing USBWA rising star winner
@BennettDurando
(also with
@EbetheHolland
) and most courageous co-winner
@jhardy_32
Jordan Goodwin might have earned a spot in the Wizards’ rotation tonight. He sparked a 2nd-half rally although Washington lost. He had 9 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, a blocked shot and 0 turnovers in 26 minutes and was plus-12.
Josh Schertz said in a press release: “From the top-down leadership ... to the elite facilities, infrastructure, academics and resources – this a place where you can build a sustainable championship-level program."
Breaking news: SLU's Fred Thatch Jr. suffered a torn ACL in Wednesday's game. He will not only be out the rest of the season but has decided to not use his final year of eligibility, thus ending his college basketball career.
SLU is one of about 75 college basketball programs that have received information about playing in a potential bubble in Houston that would include 20 or 32 teams playing 7 or 8 nonconference games in December. A decision on the start of the season is expected by mid-September.
Javon Pickett said Javonte Perkins’ decision to return to SLU played a role in his commitment. The two played together as far back as fourth grade. “Just seeing his game and what he can bring … really a lightbulb just went on that this was the best place to go to win.”
Former SLU coach Rick Majerus will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in November. Majerus, who died in 2012, had a 95-69 record with the Billikens and put together a team that reached the NCAA Tournament three times.
I just completed my 36th and final session of cardiac rehab
@barnesjewishwest
. Thanks to the team: Tessa, Austin, Christine, Jennifer, Bell, Daniel, Dotti, Emma and all the others who help heart patients in recovery.
SLU contacted St. Louisan Caleb Love after he entered the transfer portal and has talked to him. So, at the very least the Billikens have thrown their hat into the ring among the masses that will have interest.
Josh Schertz told the story of scraping up the money to attend a Rick Majerus coaching clinic when he was younger but said he is most similar to Majerus in love of food, cool sweaters and hairstyle.
Good start to the hotel experience in D.C. Asked why I was in town, I said a basketball tournament. The young lady at the desk then asked if I was playing. So, I decided not to ask about an AARP discount.
Isaiah Swope, who tied for 4th nationally last season with 113 3-pointers for Indiana State, will transfer to SLU. Swope was Indiana State’s third-leading scorer, averaging 15.9 points and was named to the Missouri Valley Conference second team.
Also joining the SLU staff as a grad assistant will be former Billiken Davell Roby, who graduated in 2018 after scoring 1,160 career points. He's been playing overseas and now takes the dive into coaching.
A little late on this, but Jordan Goodwin should have been on the A-10 all-tournament team. Don't know who I would take out but he averaged 12.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg with 19 offensive boards and 20-for-41 shooting. Plus he was MVP of the championship game.
The SLU soccer team is expected to have Kipp Keller, Isaiah Parker and Patrick Schulte receive prestigious Generation Adidas contracts from the MLS. All are projected to be picked in the first round of next week’s draft with Keller talked about at No. 1.
At one point in the 2nd half, Collins had briefly been on the bench and SLU committed a turnover. He reacted by going to the scorer’s table and checking himself back into the game. Said Ford: “I don’t care. He knew I was about to turn around anyway.”
The P-D means a lot to me personally. My mom covered the Rams with me in a baby carrier. And now I’ll get to work with my dad,
@studurando
, who’s been there 20+ yrs. I grew up reading every writer in the sports section, some still here, some gone. I can’t wait to be a part of it.
Jordan Goodwin has been invited to attend the 3-day NBA G League camp in Chicago starting June 19 his father said with the opportunity still possible that he could land a spot in the NBA Combine June 21-27. The top players from G League camp are invited to the combine.
With 18,000 attendance today, the Ascension Charity Classic hit 51,000 fans for the week, a record for a first-time PGA Tour Champions event and top crowd of the season.
Travis Ford confirms that Javonte Perkins will return next season. He indicated as much last week but wanted Javonte to be able to release the information on his own. Story to come.
He’s back!!Javonte Perkins tells us today he will return to play for
@SaintLouisMBB
next season. He knew it in heart with the way the fans cheered for him on Senior Night.A great thing to have this rare talent return. Story at 5
@ksdknews
I’m proud today to share space on the sports cover with
@BennettDurando
, who has his first Post-Dispatch byline. But could you take it easy on the old man? They won’t all look like this.
A.J. Palazzolo, a midfielder who played last season on SLU’s Elite Eight team, will be a member of St. Louis City SC’s Next Pro team, which starts its season in March.
AJ Casey will transfer to SLU from Miami with two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-9 forward was a top-100 recruit in high school and played with new Billiken Robbie Avila in middle school in Chicago.
Jordan Goodwin said after missing the two late FTs Saturday against Davidson, he made 500 on Sunday and 500 on Monday. He was up to 300 as of Tuesday afternoon's start of practice.
Jordan Goodwin had 19 rebounds tonight for the Grizzlies against San Antonio and Victor Wembanyama. In the last six games, Goodwin has averaged 12 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5 assists.
The SLU women complete an improbable run to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history with a 91-85 win over UMass in the A-10 final.
I grew up in the Los Angeles area and have lived an equal amount of time in St. Louis. For
@dylanohernandez
to call St. Louis "a dump of a city in the Midwest" is an embarrassment for my hometown newspaper. As if L.A. doesn't have issues. I love them both.
Dear
@dylanohernandez
,
Here is an open invitation for dinner on South Grand, my treat, after a snack at Steve’s Hot Dogs. We can play ball in vibrant Tower Grove, shop for a rare book, visit renowned GinWorld.
Your description of this city does not fit my home. Let me prove it.
Josh Schertz met with SLU players today and toured the Chaifetz Arena facilities. He plans to have individual meetings Monday and Tuesday as he starts to get an idea of how many spots he’ll need to fill. He expects to have 6 or 7 recruits on campus in the next 10 days.
St. Louis University will play Florida State -- a projected preseason top 25 team -- at the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic on Dec. 22 in Sunrise, Fla. A source says the contract is signed.