Grading Sean Miller

[drudy23]

When I calm down and evaluate Sean's latest 3 years here, I'm not sure I feel as bad about his departure. He certainly wasn't a failure, but not so sure he really was all that awesome either. His actual job performance was pretty pedestrian.

Recruiting - C - this was probably his weakest area honestly. No consistency at all. Has he lost something here? Not impressed

In-Game Coaching - B+

Culture - A- I actually thought he did a very good job of connecting the team to a vision. It turned out to be fake, but we all believed, and it seemed like the players did too. I think this is a strength of his coaching.

Player Development - B- outside of Swain, not anything that jumps out at you, but also much less emphasis on player development these days

Overall B-

It was a pretty average 3 years when you look at everything.

[xubrew]

I was very much against hiring him and I gotta admit that it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared it might be. Yeah, an overall grade of a B- or C+ seems about right. d

Now on to the next one

[Xville]

I have similar feelings about Miller's grade as you. I'd say overall a C+ to B-. In regards to recruiting, I think now it makes a bit more sense as to why he just didn't seem to really give a shit about freshmen recruiting. He had zero desire to ever stay here and build something. He just wanted to win and win now, and fuck development. It's probably why he gave Powell the thanks but no thanks, and why Green never really developed. Yeah he got Swain...one recruit in three years worth something...yay.

I know it's a new world and you have to hit the portal, but I want the next coach to bring some balance to this. Go hard in freshmen recruiting, pay them if they turn into something, while also hitting the portal. Yes, it's a longer term strategy in a way, but I think it can still be done in this day and age.

[xu82]

He’s lucky to get an Incomplete from me. I considered an F, followed by a U.


.

[D-West & PO-Z]

When I calm down and evaluate Sean's latest 3 years here, I'm not sure I feel as bad about his departure. He certainly wasn't a failure, but not so sure he really was all that awesome either. His actual job performance was pretty pedestrian.

Recruiting - C - this was probably his weakest area honestly. No consistency at all. Has he lost something here? Not impressed

In-Game Coaching - B+

Culture - A- I actually thought he did a very good job of connecting the team to a vision. It turned out to be fake, but we all believed, and it seemed like the players did too. I think this is a strength of his coaching.

Player Development - B- outside of Swain, not anything that jumps out at you, but also much less emphasis on player development these days

Overall B-

It was a pretty average 3 years when you look at everything.

While I have no interest in defending Sean, your recruiting grade is based off the old way of recruiting. You have to include transfers and he recruited 3 straight All Big East guards here. So I would go higher than that grade.

I would give his overall tenure a C+/B-

[drudy23]

While I have no interest in defending Sean, your recruiting grade is based off the old way of recruiting. You have to include transfers and he recruited 3 straight All Big East guards here. So I would go higher than that grade.

I would give his overall tenure a C+/B-

Fair.

[XU 23]

I'd give him a C+.

Two NCAA wins over a 11 seed and a 14 seed, one of which we almost lost.

[xubrew]

I'd give him a C+.

Two NCAA wins over a 11 seed and a 14 seed, one of which we almost lost.

I didn't realize this, but dating back to 2012 Xavier has won just three NCAA Tournament games against single digit seeds, and two were during the Elite Eight run as an 11 seed.

[MHettel]

Wow, you guys are nice.

C-

Aside from the areas you already mentioned, there are a few other ways to think about this.

Did he leave the program in a better position than when he got here? Emphatically NO. Nunge, Kunk, Jones, Free and Hunter is a pretty good start don’t ya think? He added Boum. He didn’t find Boum in a back alley somewhere….he was a 5th year guy and a 1st team all league player. Miller has left us with nothing.

Roster construction. Awful. We set out to play a super fast tempo so he goes out and gets a guy that needed to lose 40 pounds just to play? What was that? Was there ZERO tape on Hugley? I mean he was mostly awful out there and looked like a cross between Deionte Miles and Will Caudle. Just flailing about. And the prior year we lost Free of course and everyone gave him a pass. But, interesting, if you watch one of his Shows he said Free had the same injury that Durant had “which also took 3 surgeries to fix”. Ok! So after 2 surgeries you just count on the guy and have ZERO plan B? You said it yourself that it might take 3 basically. That’s on him for not having any options at all.

Roster construction part 2. McKnight is basically Dedrick Finn. Meh. I don’t know how far we expected to go with a guy that is the definition of average and shows zero emotion of leadership. Why didn’t he purge the roster when he got here. He stuck with Miles, Tandy, Edwards, and Tucker…..and then they all left anyway. Some of those spots could have been used on a couple freshmen that would have been possible stand ins last year.

Roster construction part 3. Dude, Fletcher and Anderson? I was fine with them until I heard that we gave them NIL dollars. Like WTF? I mean take Fletchers, Hugley, Maddox and Anderson money and just bring in ONE guy worth all of it. He spread it out too thin and used some of it on guys that were questionable to ever play at this level. Absolutely inexcusable.

Add in other weird situations like Green. What was that? He comes back and he just let him decide not to play? The plan was to facilitate a sham medical redshirt to give him an extra year? That’s our Coach? Willing to get outsmarted by a 20 year old kid AND walk the fine line of the NCAA rules?

Look even if Miller had stayed I’d still be giving him a C. The first item listed above (also known as the dumpster fire) is what takes him down to C-.

[drudy23]

Wow, you guys are nice.

C-

Aside from the areas you already mentioned, there are a few other ways to think about this.

Did he leave the program in a better position than when he got here? Emphatically NO. Nunge, Kunk, Jones, Free and Hunter is a pretty good start don’t ya think? He added Boum. He didn’t find Boum in a back alley somewhere….he was a 5th year guy and a 1st team all league player. Miller has left us with nothing.

Roster construction. Awful. We set out to play a super fast tempo so he goes out and gets a guy that needed to lose 40 pounds just to play? What was that? Was there ZERO tape on Hugley? I mean he was mostly awful out there and looked like a cross between Deionte Miles and Will Caudle. Just flailing about. And the prior year we lost Free of course and everyone gave him a pass. But, interesting, if you watch one of his Shows he said Free had the same injury that Durant had “which also took 3 surgeries to fix”. Ok! So after 2 surgeries you just count on the guy and have ZERO plan B? You said it yourself that it might take 3 basically. That’s on him for not having any options at all.

Roster construction part 2. McKnight is basically Dedrick Finn. Meh. I don’t know how far we expected to go with a guy that is the definition of average and shows zero emotion of leadership. Why didn’t he purge the roster when he got here. He stuck with Miles, Tandy, Edwards, and Tucker…..and then they all left anyway. Some of those spots could have been used on a couple freshmen that would have been possible stand ins last year.

Roster construction part 3. Dude, Fletcher and Anderson? I was fine with them until I heard that we gave them NIL dollars. Like WTF? I mean take Fletchers, Hugley, Maddox and Anderson money and just bring in ONE guy worth all of it. He spread it out too thin and used some of it on guys that were questionable to ever play at this level. Absolutely inexcusable.

Add in other weird situations like Green. What was that? He comes back and he just let him decide not to play? The plan was to facilitate a sham medical redshirt to give him an extra year? That’s our Coach? Willing to get outsmarted by a 20 year old kid AND walk the fine line of the NCAA rules?

Look even if Miller had stayed I’d still be giving him a C. The first item listed above (also known as the dumpster fire) is what takes him down to C-.

You talked me into a C. Especially with all of the hype coming in.

[Blue Blooded-05]

The first year when he took Steele’s team (minus Free) to the Sweet 16, I thought we were set up for a run at glory.

His first era (06-07, 07-08, 08-09 teams; specifically) was probably my favorite stretch of Xavier teams. They were long, tough, athletic and played with something to prove. The sum was always greater than the parts. I just assumed those characteristics were coming back. They didn’t. Something always felt like it was missing. Not sure why, but the mental lapses were an ever present reality of Sean’s second stint. It certainly wasn’t lack of effort on the player’s part.

I kept thinking when Sean got “his players” in here that it would all change. Unfortunately, the era of getting “his players” is gone as college recruiting has become nothing more than the equivalent of bartering at a flea market. That, or Sean never believed this was a long term destination from the beginning and never committed beyond short term thinking.

In conclusion, when I lump his entire tenure together, I have a more favorable opinion than his last 3 years in isolation. In terms of coaching, I’d rank Miller2 behind Miller1, Mack and Matta (in that order). I am not quite as familiar with the Prosser/Gillen/Staak years, but it wouldn’t take much to convince me they did equivalent with less.

TLDR: I rate B-/C like everyone else.

[IM4X]

General Personality: A-
Using that personality to pull the wool over others eyes: A
Sense of Humor: C
Concern for his players:A
Concern for his employer:D-
Temperament/ Attitude with Media: A
Answering questions with meaningful content: A- (uses the “Amazing” far too often)
Ability to recognize issues his team is having: A-
Ability to fix those issues: B-
Having his team prepared: C+
Ability to get the most out of his team: B
In game adjustments: C-
Truthfulness of statements when being hired: D
Integrity: F

Likeliness to get his team to a Final Four: Not Likely

[MHettel]

I forgot to add…

Taking a vacation right when the portal was going last year. Dumb.

[xubrew]

I admit that my grade for him was inflated considering how I feared that the investigations into him were still ongoing when X hired him, and how at the time I wasn't sure if he'd be cleared or not, and if he wasn't cleared how that may really result in X crashing into the mountain and open up who knows how many issues. But, that didn't happen! He left because he has no loyalty, and that's a FAR better outcome than the one I was fearing!!

[Xavier]

C+. One of Xavier’s best seasons of all time followed by one of most embarrassing. This past year was bare minimum but a fun end to the season, which brought an already tarnished great memory against Texas.

I think you need way more toughness than what he was bringing in, but his style was more attractive to guards. So he snagged 3 All Big East guards in the portal but defense was never great until the back half of this year. Think competition played a factor bc Marquette, Texas, and Oklahoma Illinois drubbed us on offense.

[xuphan]

I forgot to add…

Taking a vacation right when the portal was going last year. Dumb.

Ah don’t bring up bad memories. I got scolded on here last year for saying this.

[Xavier]

Ah don’t bring up bad memories. I got scolded on here last year for saying this.

Probably wouldn’t have brought an All Big East guy in and beat out Illinois and Louisville for a guard if he stayed home…wait

[D-West & PO-Z]

Wow, you guys are nice.

C-

Aside from the areas you already mentioned, there are a few other ways to think about this.

Did he leave the program in a better position than when he got here? Emphatically NO. Nunge, Kunk, Jones, Free and Hunter is a pretty good start don’t ya think? He added Boum. He didn’t find Boum in a back alley somewhere….he was a 5th year guy and a 1st team all league player. Miller has left us with nothing.

Roster construction. Awful. We set out to play a super fast tempo so he goes out and gets a guy that needed to lose 40 pounds just to play? What was that? Was there ZERO tape on Hugley? I mean he was mostly awful out there and looked like a cross between Deionte Miles and Will Caudle. Just flailing about. And the prior year we lost Free of course and everyone gave him a pass. But, interesting, if you watch one of his Shows he said Free had the same injury that Durant had “which also took 3 surgeries to fix”. Ok! So after 2 surgeries you just count on the guy and have ZERO plan B? You said it yourself that it might take 3 basically. That’s on him for not having any options at all.

Roster construction part 2. McKnight is basically Dedrick Finn. Meh. I don’t know how far we expected to go with a guy that is the definition of average and shows zero emotion of leadership. Why didn’t he purge the roster when he got here. He stuck with Miles, Tandy, Edwards, and Tucker…..and then they all left anyway. Some of those spots could have been used on a couple freshmen that would have been possible stand ins last year.

Roster construction part 3. Dude, Fletcher and Anderson? I was fine with them until I heard that we gave them NIL dollars. Like WTF? I mean take Fletchers, Hugley, Maddox and Anderson money and just bring in ONE guy worth all of it. He spread it out too thin and used some of it on guys that were questionable to ever play at this level. Absolutely inexcusable.

Add in other weird situations like Green. What was that? He comes back and he just let him decide not to play? The plan was to facilitate a sham medical redshirt to give him an extra year? That’s our Coach? Willing to get outsmarted by a 20 year old kid AND walk the fine line of the NCAA rules?

Look even if Miller had stayed I’d still be giving him a C. The first item listed above (also known as the dumpster fire) is what takes him down to C-.

Where are you getting the sham medical redshirt accusation from? It was just a regular redshirt, no? You are allowed to play in a certain number of games and maintain eligibility for a redshirt year and that what Green was doing.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Was decent enough the second go round. Steele flat out put together a good team and he knew it. He just didn't have the coaching acumen to see it through. Sean is almost the complete opposite. His greatest weakness is in his choice of players. He will coach up players all day long and win games he shouldn't because his in game adjustments are solid. I think it was proven this season, his guys, his team and he just didn't put together a team that was good enough for a second weekend. Sean absolutely needs quality assistants that can get talent in that door.

[XU 23]

I didn't realize this, but dating back to 2012 Xavier has won just three NCAA Tournament games against single digit seeds, and two were during the Elite Eight run as an 11 seed.

I think all three were that year. Maryland was a 6 who we beat in the first round.

[xubrew]

I think all three were that year. Maryland was a 6 who we beat in the first round.

Then it's four. X beat Notre Dame in a 7 v 10 game.

[Xavier]

He will coach up players all day long and win games he shouldn't because his in game adjustments are solid. I think it was proven this season.

Not saying your wrong, but he only won one game he was the underdog in all year (@marquette).

[MHettel]

Where are you getting the sham medical redshirt accusation from? It was just a regular redshirt, no? You are allowed to play in a certain number of games and maintain eligibility for a redshirt year and that what Green was doing.

Might need a fact check on that. Why didn’t we suit up Roddy Anderson and just not play him in more than 10 games? Would make sense to have as many guys available each night in case of injury or foul trouble.

I dont really know the exact rules, but I thought I heard that somewhere. And logically you would just dress everyone and not worry about wasting a year as long as they don’t play 10 games or whatever.

[XU 23]

Then it's four. X beat Notre Dame in a 7 v 10 game.

Forgot about that one.

[waggy]

Why didn’t we suit up Roddy Anderson


Because the negotiated NIL pay was based on him saving a year of eligibility. A thing of value.

[Xavier]

Yeah but to Hett point, why wouldn’t all redshirt players do that if it’s just total games played that counts? Think you have to get cleared thru medical redshirt to get the year back. That was my understanding and read on the situation as it happened during the year,

[waggy]

Anderson wasn't a medical redshirt. He just didn't play. There is a difference.

[Xavier]

Anderson wasn't a medical redshirt. He just didn't play. There is a difference.

I know, but what Hett is saying is Green had to get medical redshirt- where I think DWest is under assumption Green is just a regular redshirt. So Hett is saying if that’s the case why the hell wouldn’t Anderson play 9 games and get a regular redshirt.

I think DWest didn’t realize he had to get granted a medical redshirt. Which you apply for but have to have played less than 10 games.

[waggy]

I know, but what Hett is saying is Green had to get medical redshirt- where I think DWest is under assumption Green is just a regular redshirt. So Hett is saying if that’s the case why the hell wouldn’t Anderson play 9 games and get a regular redshirt.

I think DWest didn’t realize he had to get granted a medical redshirt. Which you apply for but have to have played less than 10 games.

I don't think it matters in the end. How many guards to you need? You're gonna sit McKnight? Makes no sense.

[Xville]

Where are you getting the sham medical redshirt accusation from? It was just a regular redshirt, no? You are allowed to play in a certain number of games and maintain eligibility for a redshirt year and that what Green was doing.

thats only in college football. In basketball, it has to be a medical redshirt if you play in any games. I don't care if Miller did that for Green though honestly..it was clear he wasn't a high major college player.

[MHettel]

I don't think it matters in the end. How many guards to you need? You're gonna sit McKnight? Makes no sense.

Huh? Just re-read the posts.

If McKnight twisted his ankle or got into foul trouble, you just have Anderson take a few minutes that night. You just can’t do it more than 9 times. If that were the case, then this is what teams would do. But they don’t do it, which tells me it isn’t the case.

A regular redshirt means you don’t play. A medical redshirt means you set out to play but got injured and actually played in less that “x%” of games which is a condition of getting that year back.

So yes. I’m now convincing myself that it was in fact a sham MEDICAL redshirt instead of a sham REGULAR redshirt

[Three Point Pete]

Why didn’t we suit up Roddie Anderson?
Sean said that Roddy has "blazing speed" going baseline to baseline, with and without the ball. But, there was not a lot of confidence in his shooting abilities. This was a planned redshirt, and he needed time to work on his shots.

Roddie was the scout team point guard, whose average was 6.5/2.4 and he had to "push" Ryan, Dayvion, and Dante to improve their games. I don't know, but if his 3-pt FG% goes up about 10 points next season maybe it was a good idea.


Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

[D-West & PO-Z]

thats only in college football. In basketball, it has to be a medical redshirt if you play in any games. I don't care if Miller did that for Green though honestly..it was clear he wasn't a high major college player.

My bad. I thought there was a similar rule that applied to college basketball.

[waggy]

So yes. I’m now convincing myself that it was in fact a sham MEDICAL redshirt instead of a sham REGULAR redshirt

If you're talking about Green I agree.

[MHettel]

Why didn’t we suit up Roddie Anderson?
Sean said that Roddy has "blazing speed" going baseline to baseline, with and without the ball. But, there was not a lot of confidence in his shooting abilities. This was a planned redshirt, and he needed time to work on his shots.

Roddie was the scout team point guard, whose average was 6.5/2.4 and he had to "push" Ryan, Dayvion, and Dante to improve their games. I don't know, but if his 3-pt FG% goes up about 10 points next season maybe it was a good idea.


Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

Would it be a good idea if he winds up elsewhere? We pay the guy our NIL money, we fix his shot and then he goes elsewhere. I can’t see any positives in that scenario.

In any case I was in Boise a few weeks ago wearing XU gear and a guy stopped me in the parking lot of Sheels (you should go to a Sheels) and asked my about Anderson and if I knew of him. We chatted for maybe 45 seconds. He said he felt Anderson was a little “all about himself” when he played for Boise. He wasn’t too upset that he left.

[MHettel]

If you're talking about Green I agree.

Yes. Green.

Anderson was just to illustrate that Green is going for a medical redshirt which was clearly discussed with Sean before the season and also in the absence of any actual medical issues.

My guess is that it will be some kind of “emotional distress” issue that cannot be verified ( or denied) through traditional diagnostic medical tests (MRI, Xray, etc). So basically he’ll say he had mental health issues and nobody would dare challenge that. And miller was planning to go along with it.

Seems harmless until you think about all the people that have ACTUAL mental health issues and need help while others use it as a way to achieve a personal objective.

That’s our guy!

[waggy]

Yes. Green.

Anderson was just to illustrate that Green is going for a medical redshirt which was clearly discussed with Sean before the season and also in the absence of any actual medical issues.

My guess is that it will be some kind of “emotional distress” issue that can be verified ( or denied) through traditional diagnostic medical tests. So basically he’ll say he had mental health issues and nobody would dare challenge that.

Duh. So why the mountain out of a molehill?

[MHettel]

Duh. So why the mountain out of a molehill?

I don’t even know what that means.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Duh. So why the mountain out of a molehill?

The confusion was because I thought the medical redshirt claim was erroneous because I wrongly thought that college basketball had a rule similar to college football where a player was allowed to play in a certain number of games while still being able to redshirt and maintain their eligibility. I never heard about an injury to Green.

I think football you can play in 4 games and still redshirt.

[American X]

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