Their heart-to-heart, coach-to-player, man-to-man conversation lasted more than 45 minutes, a significant chunk of time to discuss a significant change to the Jacksonville University men’s basketball team’s starting lineup.
Freshman point guard Evan Sterck had started 23 of the first 25 games, including the previous 19, when coach Jordan Mincy changed Sterck’s role ahead of the Dolphins’ Feb. 11 game at Stetson.
“We were going to shake up some things and a light a fire underneath him,” Mincy said.
Mincy invited Sterck to his office to talk through the decision. It wasn’t contentious, but it wasn’t matter-of-fact, either. Young players in general and young point guards in particular often put the weight of a program on their shoulders. Nobody would have blamed Sterck if he felt singled out for JU’s struggles.
Mincy was prepared for a tough chat … but it was the opposite.
Sterck: “Have you lost faith in me?”
Mincy: “I never will.”
Sterck: “As long as you’re not losing faith in me, I’m going to keep playing for you.”
Sterck has not only kept playing for Mincy, he elevated his game to a new level, scoring a season-best 17 points in JU’s 63-56 win over UNF on Saturday, Feb. 14.
The fire Mincy was seeking has been lit.
In his last 10 games as starter, Sterck shot 39.1% from the field (27 of 69); in two games off the bench, he has shot 66.6% (8 of 12, including 6 of 10 against the Ospreys).
Trusting coach’s plan
Sterck’s listed hometown is St. Louis, Mo., but his family moved to Florida in part because his school, St. Louis Christian Academy, closed. He played at The Rock School in Gainesville.
Mincy and former JU assistant Michael Fly (now at Florida State) first connected with Sterck during his ninth-grade year and he committed to the Dolphins in August 2024. He also considered Florida Gulf Coast, Kansas City, Robert Morris, USC Upstate and Samford.
Life in mid-major basketball is turning over a roster and JU was no different. The Dolphins introduced six transfers and five freshmen and Sterck was tasked with organizing the offense on the floor. He started JU’s first five games, including the opener at Miami and a win at VMI. After two games as a reserve, Sterck re-entered the starting lineup Dec. 2 vs. Florida A&M and didn’t leave it until after his meeting with Mincy.
Not starting had to be tough to take, right?
“I trust (Mincy) fully — whatever he says, I go with it and that was his game plan,” Sterck said.
How did Mincy know Sterck would respond positively instead of sulking and counting the days until the transfer portal opened?
“For a freshman (to respond well), it shows he has two unbelievable parents who raised a young man that is exceptional and never sweats,” Mincy said.
Sterck’s parents, Richard and Maria, were in attendance for JU’s win.
“They’re here for every game; they’ve been making sacrifices for me for as long as I can remember,” Evan said. “They know I have the capability of doing these things every night.”
In his first game as a reserve, Sterck played 13 minutes and scored four points in a loss to Stetson.
The Dolphins needed all of Sterck’s offense against UNF.
Second-half surge leads JU
Sterck helped keep JU afloat in the first half with a 3-point shot and a fade away jumper to end a skid of eight empty possessions out of nine. Another field goal staked JU to a 30-23 lead.
In the second half, the Dolphins appeared in control, building a 40-31 lead, before another drought (two points in six possessions). UNF rallied to take its first lead at 48-45 before JU answered with an 8-0 run that included five points by Sterck. He added two free throws with 24 seconds remaining.
“With (UNF’s) ball-screen defense, I just took what they gave me,” Sterck said.
Is there a benefit to watching the start of a game.
“When I go in, I know what to do, who to talk to, who to bring confidence to,” he said. “It just lets me get a feel for the game.”
In an otherwise frustrating season for JU (10-17 overall, 4-10 in the Atlantic Sun), Mincy’s feel for how Sterck would respond has been an immediate bright spot.
“If Evan Sterck has a really good game, the Dolphins are probably going to win,” Mincy said.
That was definitely true in the first River City Rumble of the season.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Instead of folding, JU’s Evan Sterck flourishes in super sub role
Reporting by Ryan O’Halloran, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
