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If you mean who is most responsible, Easy Answer...it's Cristopher. He's the one who made the worst hire in the history of Xavier basketball since the 70s, and possibly ever. If you hire Kelsey instead, or do a real coaching search, there is no way it's worse than what Steele did to the program considering where it was. How Christopher could have sat down with that guy and thought this man is the right man for the job is beyond comprehension.Quote:
Originally Posted by drudy23
As a program, I still think they were close to a final four as a 1 seed and a 2 seed. Tournament takes weird bounces and what not, but that’s setting yourself up for a final four run.
Turnover is really hard. It finally caught up to X. If I were Miller I’d go back to the identity he found success with at X first time. But to Hetts point, that will require patience to build. And from what I’m hearing, the NIL fund is expected to be way higher than what it was this past year (3 million) so it’s going to be tempting to grab a couple higher level transfers im sure.
Didn't the Tin Man also get turned down for the NKU job after interviewing there? (This would have been when Darrin Horn was hired) That alone should have been a red flag.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xville
Sad that program success now depends on your NIL pot. Even if it went on before (and maybe a lot), paying for a "student athlete" to come to your school is not a great achievement for college sports.
And I guess there's not even a fake reason needed anymore, like "we're paying for your NI and L."
Why not pay top students to come for your chemistry department beyond the free ride?
Sure. If those students bring the same eyes and marketing value as the basketball team does, go for it.
[QUOTE=paulxu;793532]Sad that program success now depends on your NIL pot. Even if it went on before (and maybe a lot), paying for a "student athlete" to come to your school is not a great achievement for college sports.
And I guess there's not even a fake reason needed anymore, like "we're paying for your NI and L."
Why not pay top students to come for your chemistry department beyond the free ride?[/QUOTE
After being hooked on phonics, I is at college to gets a good education….
Not sure where to put this, and don’t put enough stock into this betting website to start a new thread.
Anyone see this? Bet online has Miller as the favorite to be the next Miami coach. I’d find it hard to believe unless the NIL is wildly higher than X. But if current coach is leaving bc losing players to NIL, I’d doubt it.
https://x.com/kevinlive5/status/1873...pouy3B6BA2rQBg
I know Miami has had success, but Miami and college basketball seems like ice cream and mustard to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xavier
If Miller has another shitty year (seems likely) and then leaves, we should remove his name from our record books and burn any pictures currently hanging anywhere in Cintas that include him. I would hate him more than I hate Mick Cronin.
BTW, I use the Betonline site, and Miller IS the current favorite at +300.
Will Wade is the play!Quote:
Originally Posted by GoMuskies
Anthony Grant coming in hot at +500 for the third choice!Quote:
Originally Posted by 94GRAD
How about some Rick Pitino at 50-1? Or Chris Mack at 18-1.
There was a time when Frank Martin would have been a home run for Miami. Too bad he's regressed badly at UMass.
A place where coaching dreams go to hell - no wonder Kelsey did a 360 on that job several years ago.
I'll bet there is a whole lot more NIL money at Miami, even in basketball.
I’m not sure. There coach was leaving bc he couldn’t keep players with NIL. It’s probably comparable to X, but to bring in a high level guy they could up it.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyWalker
Miami had a pretty large NIL that drew some good talent. Not sure what happened but Larranaga just doesn't have it anymore. We are a small school and Miller is a good coach. His name is going to be on every big school's list. Get used to it.
FWIW, I don't see Miller leaving but to retire. That said, I don't see him leaving after a bad year and what could be a bad year.
Edit: Ruiz that Miami billionaire gave Pack 800k. Larranaga said it was about negotiating with agents to get players in. Could be, but this is the new world of college ball.
Keep in mind that was a 2 year deal. 400K a year, many think a few players are making that and more on this team. Dealing with agents and what not wouldn’t be an issue with a large nil fund.
Doesn’t matter though, I don’t really think he would go to Miami anyways.
Back to the subject of the thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by GoMuskies
I agree with those that think the program is going in the wrong direction. There is, basically, not one thing in since Steele that indicates otherwise. As far as the remainder of this season....a continuation seems inevitable.
I set the over/under BE wins at 8....immediately after the Zach injury. Factoring in the Cintas comeback vs MU as a reason to move from that number doesn't work for me....and the UConn game certainly doesn't. Those O stats are an anomaly. This roster is missing FIVE key contributors. I have watched at least 1 full game of every BE team, most multiple, and it looks like being road favorites are MAYBE at SHU and DU.
That said, the biggest concern for all of us should be next year and the remainder of the decade. X is headed toward an annual mid-pack showing in the conference. That reality would be sickening for all of us.
Worse still....UC is trending. They appear to have a RETAIN and develop player culture in place. They are actively getting high value HS talent. If they begin to finish in the top half of the best conference in the country, become a perennial top 25/Tournament team AND retake the CITY.....things become unbearable.
Our Coach Miller has to get his act together NOW.
UC has missed the tournament 4 years in a row. Wes has been an awful coach, one I hope UC retains. I really wouldn’t be surprised if they flamed out in the Big 12 again. Already lost as a road favorite in game one. Has X been good under Sean (outside of one of the best years in X history) yes, do injuries play a factor? Absolutely, how much is hard to tell.
But people pointing to Dayton (been like to two tournaments in 10 years) and Wes Miller/UC (haven’t made the tournament yet) as programs that have been good lately is bizzare
Have you ever heard the phrase People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones? We haven't done shit either, in all but 1 year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xavier
UC’s program is trash and Wes is trash. They may win 6 games in that conference. Why anyone would be concerned about them is beyond comprehension.
As far as X, the new season starts today. Get the win today, build some confidence and ya never know. Lots of season left.
Yeah, comparison to UC is a low bar.
Our bar used to be higher. Way higher.
Right about now I’d be really happy if X was ranked 16th.Quote:
Originally Posted by drudy23
So would UC come next week!Quote:
Originally Posted by XUGRAD80
If a shakeup in the assistant coaching staff is under consideration, would having an experienced women's coach be worthwhile? Are there any D1 men's programs with such an assistant? Do women coaches have any characteristics lending themselves to helping X? Reactions?
I slept on what I saw last night. We are seeing what this team is. Either the players aren’t buying in, Miller’s game is off, or this mesh of talent sucks. There isn’t some revelation coming and everything changes. I would be surprised if X wins much beyond Hall/Butler/DePaul. I could see a Providence split. Any team with a decent pulse is going to beat these guys.
Hugely is a bust, Maddox is broken, McKnight has regressed, and Conwell isn’t dominant against good teams.
Miller’s evaluation of talent has been terrible.
Edit: in this world of NIL this is worse, people who can donate might hold back after watching this garbage.
Well, I think it's probably safe to start putting all of our eggs in the BE MSG tourney basket. Sitting at 3 games over .500 may lend itself to a season close to .500 again. Complete and utter disappointment, again, for the 6th of 7th season.
Sitting at the game on NYE in Cintas, I glanced up and was reminded of our tournament consistency through 2018. We have been just as consistent since then, just in the opposite direction. What in the world happened to our beloved program?
More importantly, what is NEEDED to get it back on the rails? This administration has some soul searching to do when it comes to a re-investment phase into what basketball means at X. If not the AD, then who?
Hoops put this university on the map and has enabled its investment in itself. Keeping the status quo and hoping for better results isn't getting the job done.
While I agree Miller hasn't been stellar, I think he's the least of our worries honestly.
The university needs a long look in the mirror to what truly fuels the engine of this university.
You want better men's assistants?Quote:
Originally Posted by drudy23
It should at least be scrutinized, yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by xukeith
But from a higher level perspective, how can the leaders of this university be content with the past 7 years? 7 years is a long time for the university cash cow to be running on auto pilot. Are we just going to continue to roll out average and be OK with it?
Or is a fresh perspective on how it operates needed moving forward (not talking about the head coach)? They waited too long to pull the trigger on Steele, and we see the impact. Do you just stand pat after 7 years of completely average results when all of the talk says we're taking the next step?
We're further away from the next step than we've ever been. How can you not change? If they are tracking success metrics for the basketball program and the athletic department, what is going great? Who's accountable to that?
These are the things, imo, that are most glaring and need to get fixed asap. These are the heavy hitters:
1) Recruit vs portal balance - you have to be pretty good at both. X can't re-buy a team every year and maintain success
2) Retention and development of high school recruits - their track record since 2018 is abysmal and embarrassing
3) Quality post players - there needs to be at least 2 quality starters and 2 developmental projects in the frontcourt within the program at all times. You cannot win in the BE without a formidable post presence
These are the 3 I'd put the most emphasis on, and anything and everything to get these 3 things better should be on the table.
The challenge with "developmental" prospects is there is always the portal looming, and if you start to show a quality game, somebody will offer you more $.
And you don't have to sit out a year to get them.
How about 4) Have assistants that can evaluate talent for BE play + provide competent ""player development."Quote:
Originally Posted by drudy23
Past - as many as 4-5 recruits per class. Probably priority on top 2 and the remaining were simply "projects". You can't afford high school "projects" anymore.
Current - 2-3 quality players per class that have the ability to play as freshman. And you have to play them to start the developmental path. Can't lose your top 2 priority recruits, so you have to retain them with NIL money.
So keeping 2 per class is 8 on the roster - supplement with the portal to fill out as 1-2 year contributors.
If you're in a position where the emphasis is the portal players, how on earth does that create the foundation of your roster and culture? It doesn't and won't be sustained unless you have the money to bring in 3-4 top level players each year (which is a pipedream for X).
That is part of the "do whatever it takes" to get these 3 things right. It 100% should be evaluated.Quote:
Originally Posted by hoopster68
I agree with everything here. Excellent job of communicating the reality.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArizonaXUGrad
I set the over/under conference wins at 8 after OOC play.....the over is becoming a bit shaky. I am watching Butler @ SJU now. I have watched their last 4 games. X will struggle with these guys for sure.
I simply cannot get my mind around Miller choosing Anderson for his pg next year and using this season to redshirt.
6'0-6'2 guards are in abundance in basketball. Miler gave Anderson the golden ticket. But why? Need west coast eyes? Being outrecruited for top 100 point guards?
Can anyone explain the talent and excitement X has for Roddie Anderson?
With ya on that one. I don’t have an issue with it, aside from the fact that he’s apparently getting NIL money. As if we just had so much laying around and couldn’t have used some of it to upgrade Hugley or Maddox or add a big for depth.Quote:
Originally Posted by xukeith
I assumed Anderson was an insurance policy in case we absolutely needed him. If he turned out that he could be a long term part of the rotation / starter, then that’s just gravy.
I’m gonna be f’ing PISSED if he transfers again. That means either he used us, or Miller couldn’t straighten out his shot (which is horrible). Fail either way.
Doing the same shit over and over again and expecting different results. I don't understand why Miller seemingly gets a pass on this board. Last year he assembled arguably the worst roster in Xavier basketball modern history and then proceeded to coach them down. It appears this year is a repeat of last year and unfortunately at this point the outlook for next season does not appear any better. At some point you just get tired of making excuses........injuries, transfers, players with girl problems, family problems, academic problems........Every program has issues. Do your job.
Miller obviously built up a lot of goodwill with his first stint and then his first year back. That supply of goodwill is quickly being depleted.
He brought X one of the best years they’ve ever had his first year back. I think last year the starting front court being out before season was a major blow, not sure why it’s overlooked so easily. Probably because we are all desperate to get back. How many past Xavier teams could you take starting front court away all year and they’d still be fine?
This year hasn’t been good. Do I think the defensive/rebounder big they brought in would’ve helped? Yes. With all the close games, likely flips a game or two so far. But the end of game collapses fall on the coach at some point.
Having said that, I don’t think he is necessarily getting a pass. There’s rightful criticism around. Steele had more leeway at this point. (Still should’ve moved on after 3 years but I digress)