SLUH Basketball: A Team on the Rise

The SLUH basketball team is on the rise! Follow their journey as they strive to be the best in the state.

Introduction

In recent years the SLUH Varsity Basketball team has seen a sharp increase in success, culminating in a state championship victory in 2019. This paper seeks to explore the reasons behind this turnaround, by looking at the team’s history, Coaching Staff and style of play. It is my hope that by better understanding the ingredients of this success, we can learn from SLUH and replicate their methods elsewhere.

SLUH, or Saint Louis University High School is a private Jesuit high school located in St. Louis, Missouri. The school has a long-standing tradition of excellence in academics and athletics, dating back to its founding in 1818. In recent years however, the Basketball team had fallen on hard times, failing to reach the playoffs for two consecutive seasons.

This changed in 2017 when Head Coach Ryan Matthews took over the program. Coach Matthews had previously been an Assistant Coach at SLUH for eight years under then-head coach Greg Marshall. When Marshall left SLUH to take a head coaching position at Whitfield high school Matthews was elevated to the position of Head Coach

In his first season at the helm, Coach Matthews led the team to a record of 21-5 and a spot in the State Tournament The following year, the team went 22-5 and won their first ever state championship Since then, SLUH has made it back-to-back appearances in the State Tournament winning again in 2019. So what has been behind this sudden turnaround?

There are a number of factors that have contributed to SLUH’s recent success on the basketball court First and foremost among these is Coach Matthews himself. Under his leadership, the team has adopted an aggressive style of play that utilizes Full Court pressure defense and quick transition offense This has allowed them to take advantage of their athleticism and create easy scoring opportunities for themselves. Additionally, Coach Matthews has instilled a culture of discipline and hard work among his players, which has paid dividends on both ends of the court.

Another factor that has played a role in SLUH’s turnaround is the level of talent on the roster. In recent years the school has seen an influx of top basketball recruits from around the St. Louis area. This has helped make SLUH one of the most competitive teams not just in Missouri but in all of West High School basketball.

The combination of an experienced and talented coaching staff ,along with a roster full of gifted athletes ,has helped turned SLUH into one of Missouri’s premier high school basketball programs . In just three years ,the team has gone from missing out on the playoffs to being one of Missouri’s top teams . It will be interesting to see where they go from here .

The Team

SLUH Basketball: A Team on the Rise
The St. Louis University high school Varsity basketball team is poised to make some serious noise in the Missouri Class 5 state tournament this year. The team is coming off a scrutinizing regular season in which they finished with a record of 21-5, good for second place in the highly competitive Metro Catholic Conference.

The team is led by their two star seniors, shooting guard Jack Ryan and point guard Sammy Tucker. Ryan, a four-year starter, is the team’s leading scorer averaging 19 points per game while shooting an impressive 41% from three-point range Tucker, a three-year starter, missed part of last season with a broken wrist but has come back strong this year averaging 11 points and 7 assists per game The team also features a strong supporting cast including junior Forward Nate Murray and sophomore Center Will Griesedieck.

With a deep and experienced roster, SLUH is primed for a deep run in the state tournament The team has the talent and experience to make a run at the state title and they will be looking to make some noise starting with their first game on March 8th against MICDS.

The Schedule

The St. Louis University high school varsity Basketball team is coming off a banner year. They finished the season with a record of 23-5, good for first place in the Midwest Classic Conference, and advancing to the Missouri Class 5 state semifinals – the farthest any SLUH team had gone in the state tournament in 25 years.

This year, Coach Hill has his sights set on taking the team one step further and winning a state championship The team will have their work cut out for them, as they face some stiff competition in non-conference games early in the season. But if they can get through that part of the schedule unscathed, they should be poised to make another deep run in the state tournament

The Fans

The fans are a big part of what makes SLUH Basketball so special. They are passionate, vocal and always there to support the team, no matter what the score is. This year, the fans have been a big part of the team’s success, as they have been cheering them on to victory in every game.

The team’s home games are always packed with fans, and there is always a great atmosphere inside the arena. The fans are definitely a big part of what makes SLUH Basketball so successful.

The Coaches

In order to rise to the top, a team needs more than just talented players. They need great coaches too. Over the past few years, SLUH’s basketball team has been on the rise, and a big part of that success is due to our great coaches.

Head coach Josh Smuin has been with the team for three years now, and in that time, he has led the team to a record of 60-20. That includes two trips to the state tournament and a conference championship Prior to coming to SLUH, Coach Smuin was an assistant coach at Saint Louis University. He is a native of St. Louis and a graduate of De Smet Jesuit high school

Assistant coach Bryan Hultz started coaching at SLUH in 2016. He has helped the team to a record of 32-8 in his two seasons with the team. He is originally from Chicago and graduated from Marquette University

The other assistant coach is Nate Johnson, who joined the team in 2017. He is a graduate of CBC High School and Lindenwood University In his one season with the team so far, they have gone 28-4.

With such great coaches, it’s no wonder that SLUH’s basketball team is on the rise!

The Rivalry

The Saint Louis University high school basketball team has been on the rise in recent years, thanks in part to their intense rivalry with another local team the Chaminade College Preparatory School.

The two teams have been competing against each other for decades, and the games are always highly anticipated. This year, the SLUH team is determined to come out on top.

Both teams are evenly matched, and it is sure to be an exciting game when they face off. Who will come out victorious?

The Game

On November 29th, the Varsity basketball team played its first game against Lindbergh high school Starting off the season with a Home game the team was very eager to show their abilities in front of a home crowd The team did not disappoint as they won the game 83-59. Anthony Thompson Jr. (’21) led the way with 30 points, and he was closely followed by Miles Johnson (’21) and Nate Reid (’22) with 16 and 13 points respectively. The win was a great way to start off the season and set the tone for what the team wants to accomplish this year: winning a State Championship

The Legacy

The SLUH basketball team is one of the most successful programs in Missouri history. With five State Championships and numerous conference titles, the team has cemented its place as one of the state’s elite programs.

Over the past few years, the team has undergone a bit of a renaissance, making three straight trips to the state semifinals and winning two state championships The team is currently ranked No. 1 in the state and is poised for another deep run in the playoffs.

Led by Head coach Josh Liddell, the team has established itself as one of the premier programs in Missouri. With a commitment to hard work and dedication, the team has seen a resurgence in recent years and is poised for continued success in the future.

The Future

The SLUH Basketball team is one of the most promising young athletic programs in the country. The team is led by a group of talented and hardworking young men who are committed to success both on and off the court. The team has seen significant improvement in recent years, and they show no signs of slowing down. The future is bright for SLUH Basketball, and the sky is the limit for this young team.

Conclusion

The SLUH varsity Basketball Team has come a long way in the past few years. Thanks to the dedication of the Coaching Staff and the hard work of the players, the team has seen a lot of success.

This season, the team is poised to make a run at the state championship With a strong core of returning players and some talented newcomers, the team has what it takes to make a deep run in the playoffs.

We wish them all the best as they continue their quest for a state title.