Robbie Avila was not projected as an immediate impact player as a freshman at Indiana State, but a 20-minute performance in a preseason closed scrimmage began to change minds.
The 6-foot-10 center sat the first three regular-season games that season before coach Josh Schertz incorporated him into the rotation, and Avila has not looked back.
“He wasn’t in our rotation, so he played the third 20 minutes, and man, did he do some things,” Schertz said. “He got on the radar.”
That is one reason that Schertz prefers having his teams play in what have become known as “secret scrimmages” instead of public exhibition games in preparation for a season.
Nevertheless, the Billikens will see their first competitive action under Schertz on Friday night when they face Rockhurst at Chaifetz Arena in the first of two exhibition games. He does not dismiss the opportunity but does prefer scrimmages that allow coaches to structure the competition in different ways.
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“Getting to play with the lights on and referees against outside competition — those are invaluable,” Schertz said. “I would much prefer it to be a scrimmage and play 60 minutes to give longer looks to young guys who need it. It’s something we’re going to work very hard in the future to make sure we get at least one scrimmage with an exhibition.”
SLU also will play Maryville on Friday, Oct. 25 at Chaifetz Arena in an exhibition before starting the season against Santa Clara in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Monday, Nov. 4.
Schertz said he tried to avoid exhibitions in three years at Indiana State and 13 at Division II Lincoln Memorial. The Sycamores had five scrimmages and one exhibition during his tenure.
He said the coaches often agree to play three 20-minute “halves” and bend some rules. They can arrange to set up situational portions of play to work on specific scenarios. Playing extra time can allow freshmen an opportunity they might not get in a regulation-length game.
“It’s probably a good thing to let the fans see you play somebody,” Schertz said. “But I’ve gotten so much out of scrimmages, and the competition level is higher.”
Last season, Indiana State played Division I Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati in scrimmages. Exhibition games are played against non-DI opponents. SLU needed two exhibitions to fulfill the requirement of having 19 home games.
Gibson Jimerson has played a lot of both in his five seasons at SLU and is just ready to play someone besides teammates, regardless of the setup.
“There are advantages to both,” he said. “With an exhibition, you get that feeling in front of a crowd on your home court. But those aren’t usually Division I teams. With scrimmages, you play high level. I’m just excited to play anyone.”
Schertz’s ability to see most of his players might be aided by some injuries. Avila and freshman Dylan Warlick are not expected to play and a few others are nursing injuries that the staff might not be willing to push into action.
SLU does not have much information on Rockhurst, which has a first-year coach and 10 new players. Schertz said Rockhurst coaches were not willing to exchange film for preparation, so the Billikens will need to adjust on the fly to what they encounter.
“If they’re playing it this close to the vest, they must think they’re pretty good,” Schertz said.