Running it back: How Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball returned its entire team

A little more than 18 months ago Steve Lutz was named the men's basketball coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and nearly the entire roster departed the Islanders program.

Lutz and his staff recruited and brought in an almost entirely new roster comprised of junior college players, graduate students, Division I transfers and high school signees to join Simeon Fryer, Myles Smith and De'Lazarus Keys, the lone holdovers from the 2020-21 season.

Between the continued growth of the transfer portal and the NCAA approving immediate eligibility for transfers at a clip not previously seen, roster churn is almost expected and a part of life in college basketball.

Yet, the same program that saw its locker room emptied a season prior will have as much continuity and experience returning as pretty much any team in America this season.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi did not have a single scholarship player enter the transfer portal and returned all 11 players on it roster that still had eligibility after its surprise run to the NCAA Tournament in Lutz's first campaign.

How did Lutz and the Islanders coaching staff do it?

"Recruiting the right people"

Lutz said that the first step to having the buy in that the Islanders have seen from this roster was recruiting the right players.

"We were able to find some guys that had a chip on their shoulder, didn’t have an ego and were about coming to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, rebuilding the program and making it something everyone can be proud of," Lutz said. "Our staff spends an enormous amount of time with them and we try to treat them the right way.

"That doesn’t mean we don’t coach them hard and that doesn’t mean we don’t hold them accountable and to the standards we have within our program, but we are very honest and up front with them as to the expectations and we make sure they adhere to those expectations."

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi signed Trevian Tennyson (Ranger College), Jasman Sangha (Garden City CC), Tyrese Nickelson (Indian Hills CC), Isaac Mushila (Western Texas), Terrion Murdix (Mineral Area College) and Stephen Giwa (Panola College) from the JUCO ranks, Jordan Roberts and Owen Dease came from high school and the coaches brought in San Antonio Brinson and Ethan White as grad transfers for their final year of eligibility.

Jalen Jackson, a product of San Antonio Wagner, transferred to the Islanders after starting his career at North Texas.

Nickelson said so much of the team having the shared experience of following the same path through junior college forged an immediate bond.

"Most of the guys came from junior college and we all took the same steps," Nickelson said. "I think that is why we connected. As we got together last year, everybody connected. There were no egos. Everybody liked everybody and nobody was isolated. That is how we became good friends and good teammates."

Lutz understands that having immediate success helped. The Islanders came out the gates hot, compiling a program-best 9-1 start and had the best nonconference record the team has ever had at 11-2.

A&M-Corpus Christi withstood a five-game skid in the heart of the Southland Conference season to rebound and win three games in Katy during the conference tournament to claim the program's second NCAA Tournament berth.

"When you come in as a first-year coach with 10 new players and you win a few games early, they gain confidence and buy what you are selling, so to speak," Lutz said. "They believe in your system and what you are saying. It makes it so much easier. Fortunately for us, we were able to do that early.

"Those guys had a great season and now you have an opportunity to build on that season and leave here with your mark on your university. That is something not everyone gets to do as a college athlete. That is appealing to those guys. It is a testament to their character and what good people they are. They truly like it here and love the fan support and love the university."

Jackson said the players did not know what to expect arriving in Corpus Christi, but the team came together with a single goal set forth by Lutz and the staff.

"It was the relationship we built," said Jackson on how it all came together so quickly. "We all came in and didn’t know what to expect, but the coaches had one goal and we all were on the same page. That was to win and make it to March Madness. It started in the summer and it progressively got better."

Lutz said recruiting and athletics across the board have changed, but he takes a straightforward approach and believes modern college players appreciate coaches that are up front and honest.

"I still believe young people want to hear the truth and if you set clear and precise expectations and then follow those expectations, they buy into that," Lutz said. "They may not always like it, but they come to respect it. I think we’ve been very forward, truthful and honest with these guys and it has worked well for our program. They’ve enjoyed the openness and honesty within our program.

"I allow them to ask questions. This generation doesn’t just want you to say ‘Run through the brick wall’ and they just do it. You’ve got to explain why and how it is going to affect them and the team. When you do that, it helps them understand."

The second-year A&M-Corpus Christi head coach said he remembers when coaches and players rarely communicated outside of practice. Now there is much more communication, not just with players but with family.

Building that rapport helps build buy-in and a relationship with the staff and team.

"We spend a lot of time with them and make sure they know we love them, care about them and want them to be here," Lutz said. "In years past you may finish practice and go home and not see them until the next day and hope everything is fine. Now, when practice is over, you need to spend more time with them. Text them at night. Send them a video clip of what you were talking about in practice.

"You have to keep in touch with parents a little more, or whoever is involved in their life. That isn’t the way it was. When I was in college I’m not sure my mom and dad met my college coach until graduation. This generation is a little bit different and you have to adapt to it."

"Why not run it back?"

Going from a group of 14 individuals, with a new coaching staff, that came from all parts of the country (and beyond) and fused together to build a 23-win NCAA Tournament team, the opportunity to do something even greater is a big draw.

"Last year was our first year and we got to where we got, why leave? It would be selfish," Nickelson said. "If we could do it one time, we can do it again. That is why I think everybody came back, to prove that we can do it again. That it wasn’t a fluke or luck."

Jackson said as soon as the team returned from Dayton, falling 76-67 to Texas Southern in the First Four, the players started talking about next season.

The program's first NCAA Tournament win was there for the taking, as the Islanders led with 6:04 to play before Texas Southern went on a late run to steal the game.

With the entire starting five back and the top five leading scorers returning — one of three programs in the country that can make that claim — expectations are high for good reason. The Islanders were picked to win the Southland Conference and had four first or second team preseason all-conference players.

"We didn’t have any drama and stuck together," Jackson said. "Why not run it back and try to win again? Actually win conference, win the conference tournament, go back to March Madness and win a game.

"It drives us a lot. We all came back after the First Four. Immediately it was about getting back next year. We have to get there and make some noise. I feel like we can do that. We have a good team, a lot of returners and guys are hungry this year. We are trying to make a run in the tournament."

Texas A&M Corpus Christi Men's Basketball

2022-23 schedule

*All games p.m. unless noted

Nov. 7 — Islanders at Mississippi State, 6:30

Nov. 11 — UTSA at Islanders, 7, Dugan Wellness Center

Nov. 14 — Trinity at Islanders, 7

Nov. 17 — UTRGV at Islanders, 7

Nov. 22 — Islanders vs. CSU Bakersfield at UTEP Tournament (El Paso), 5

Nov. 23 — Islanders vs. Alcorn at UTEP Tournament (El Paso), 5

Nov. 25 — Islanders at UTEP, UTEP Tournament (El Paso), 3

Nov. 30 — Islanders at UTRGV, 6:30

Dec. 7 — Texas Lutheran at Islanders, 7

Dec. 13 — Islanders at Arizona, 6:30

Dec. 16 — Schreiner at Islanders, 11 a.m.

Dec. 20 — Islanders at Oklahoma State, 2

Dec. 28 — Our Lady of the Lake at Islanders, 4, Dugan Wellness Center

Southland Conference Schedule

Dec. 31 — Islanders at Northwestern State, 2:30

Jan. 4 — UIW at Islanders, 7:30, Dugan Wellness Center

Jan. 7 — Islanders at UIW, 4

Jan. 12 — Southeastern Louisiana at Islanders, 7:30

Jan. 14 — New Orleans at Islanders, 3:30

Jan. 19 — Islanders at Lamar University, 7

Jan. 21 — Islanders at Houston Christian, 7

Jan. 26 — Nicholls State at Islanders, 7:30

Jan. 28 — McNeese State at Islanders, 3:30

Feb. 2 — Islanders at New Orleans, 7

Feb. 4 — Islanders at Southeastern Louisiana, 3:30

Feb. 9 — Houston Baptist at Islanders, 7:30

Feb. 11 — Lamar at Islanders, 3:30

Feb. 16 — Islanders at Nicholls State, 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 — Islanders at McNeese State, 3:30

Feb. 23 — Texas A&M Commerce at Islanders, 7:30

Feb. 25 — Northwestern State at Islanders, 4:30

March 1 — Islanders at Texas A&M Commerce, 8

*All home games at American Bank Center unless noted

2022-23 Roster

0, Trevian Tennyson, sr., G

1, Jasman Sangha, R-jr., F/C

2, Jordan Roberts, so. G

3, Tyrese Nickelson, sr., G

4, Jalen Jackson, sr., G

5, Jourdyn Grandberry, fr., G

10, Isaac Mushila, sr., F

11, Terrion Murdix, sr., G

12, Owen Dease, R-fr., F

13, De'Lazarus Keys, R-sr., F

14, Jaren Marshall, fr., G

21, Aaron Harden, fr., F

22, Simeon Fryer, R-sr., G

23, Ross Williams, gr., G

32, Stephen Giwa, jr., C

42, Connor Kern, so., C

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: How Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball returned its entire team