The Wes Miller Thread

[GoBearcats31]

Of course under Huggins that was the whole team. Make a stupid mistake, you’re on the bench.

People said the same thing about Cronin, at least early on when he seemed to micro-manage everything. I remember Justin Jackson would look over at the bench constantly.

[Bearcat93]

I believe his numbers you mentioned reflect him trying too hard to impress. It's hard to play when you can't relax on the floor and have to constantly worry about every mistake.

I agree. Rayvon redshirted last year, right? That's a year and a half under Wes with what looks like either no development or no opportunity to show development, both of which I place on the coaching staff's shoulders. That being said, as other's have mentioned, this team isn't built to succeed in B12. We have no wide bodies to muscle in the paint and (correct me if I'm missing someone) no one like this coming in.

As pointed out by others, this is troubling, and when added to Dan's lack of development, Jizzle's fizzle and Simas's devolution, player development is a problem at UC.

Vik

• PTS
  10.2
• REB
  6.1
• AST
  1.6
• FG%
  47.2

Jamille

PTS
11.6

• REB
  7.3
• AST
• 0.8
• FG%
  53.5

[leeraymond]

I agree. Rayvon redshirted last year, right? That's a year and a half under Wes with what looks like either no development or no opportunity to show development, both of which I place on the coaching staff's shoulders. That being said, as other's have mentioned, this team isn't built to succeed in B12. We have no wide bodies to muscle in the paint and (correct me if I'm missing someone) no one like this coming in.

As pointed out by others, this is troubling, and when added to Dan's lack of development, Jizzle's fizzle and Simas's devolution, player development is a problem at UC.

Vik

• PTS
  10.2
• REB
  6.1
• AST
  1.6
• FG%
  47.2

Jamille

PTS
11.6

• REB
  7.3
• AST
• 0.8
• FG%
  53.5

With Miller. the bigs are an after-thought. He wants to play the fancy one in / four out stuff. How is that working out in BIG XII play?

[sedz]

I don't understand why the idea that Vik and Jamille are flourishing has taken hold here. They haven't improved much if any over their time at Cincinnati. Jamille is playing more minutes so his raw stats are higher. But he has a negative BPM this season. He's a terrible defender, an average scorer, and he turns the ball over a lot with almost no assists. He turned the ball over 9 times in two games against top 100 competition.

Vik's BPM this season is 5.7. Last year it was 5.6. His usage, shooting percentages, rebounding rates, and assist rates are almost identical. He's hitting a higher percentage from three on low volume, but that's more than made up for by a drop in 2pt conversion. He's blocking more shots and committing more fouls. He has really bad numbers against top 50 competition. But in general, he's the same player. It's not like Wes was holding him back or anything.

[sedz]

With Miller. the bigs are an after-thought. He wants to play the fancy one in / four out stuff. How is that working out in BIG XII play?

It's 2025. Everybody plays at least 4 out. It's not fancy. The problem is our one big doesn't have an offensive game, not that we need more slow players on the floor.

[Bearcat93]

I think its what that presence in the paint opens up
for other players as well as creating a more complex offense to defend. UC is pretty easy to scheme against, which is why we are lacking any good wins. Ironically, Vik is shooting 36% from 3 (10% improvement) and 70% from the line (15% improvement), two strengths we are sorely lacking.

[leeraymond]

It's 2025. Everybody plays at least 4 out. It's not fancy. The problem is our one big doesn't have an offensive game, not that we need more slow players on the floor.

Are you saying that UC is not winning because Aziz does not score many points? What about playing defense with the 4-out lineup? UC has been outrebounded in the conference, outscored in the paint 33-29 a game (conference play), and has a 2-5 conference record. The win-loss record tells the whole story in a nutshell. A few more bigs in the lineup would probably help UC's chances of getting wins. From what I can see, having a bunch of guards is not helping UC to get wins. Maybe a couple more bigs could help.

There are crucial defensive matchup problems created for UC by playing the 4 out /1 in system. Especially against teams with bigger front-lines. By the way, BYU has two of the best rebounding forwards in the country. Let's see how UC does in the paint in this game.

[Rufus]

The lack of rebounding is blatantly obvious on this years version. When you have four out and two of them ( JJ and Day Day) being undersized and in at the same time you have Simas who very reluctantly will mix it up in the paint. Out of the other three Mitchel, Skillings, and Aziz are getting brutalized on the boards.Like Leeraymond, I too am anxious to see how we rebound this evening.

[daveh]

Are you saying that UC is not winning because Aziz does not score many points? What about playing defense with the 4-out lineup? UC has been outrebounded in the conference, outscored in the paint 33-29 a game (conference play), and has a 2-5 conference record. The win-loss record tells the whole story in a nutshell. A few more bigs in the lineup would probably help UC's chances of getting wins. From what I can see, having a bunch of guards is not helping UC to get wins. Maybe a couple more bigs could help.

There are crucial defensive matchup problems created for UC by playing the 4 out /1 in system. Especially against teams with bigger front-lines. By the way, BYU has two of the best rebounding forwards in the country. Let's see how UC does in the paint in this game.

OMG - you dare to question new age stats / thoughts / all knowing concepts?

[bearcatlifer]

If Wes is smart he is actively networking for available jobs for next year.It is clear from his interviews and comments that he feels the heat and realizes that we as fans expect more than this. The same can't be said of CSS.He seems clueless. You just want to shake him and say" NO! This is not good enough!"

[London 'Cat]

If Wes is smart he is actively networking for available jobs for next year.It is clear from his interviews and comments that he feels the heat and realizes that we as fans expect more than this. The same can't be said of CSS.He seems clueless. You just want to shake him and say" NO! This is not good enough!"

Wes will be UC's coach next year unless he moves by his own choice. UC will not terminate his contract unless there is some scandal in the basketball program. I wish everyone would stop with this nonsense. He will be UC's coach for at least next year.

[sedz]

Are you saying that UC is not winning because Aziz does not score many points? What about playing defense with the 4-out lineup? UC has been outrebounded in the conference, outscored in the paint 33-29 a game (conference play), and has a 2-5 conference record. The win-loss record tells the whole story in a nutshell. A few more bigs in the lineup would probably help UC's chances of getting wins. From what I can see, having a bunch of guards is not helping UC to get wins. Maybe a couple more bigs could help.

There are crucial defensive matchup problems created for UC by playing the 4 out /1 in system. Especially against teams with bigger front-lines. By the way, BYU has two of the best rebounding forwards in the country. Let's see how UC does in the paint in this game.

Aziz doesn't create offense at all. He can't create his own shot. He doesn't draw double teams. He's not a passer with good court vision and anticipation. So the guards have to do everything. Playing two interior guys does not help that situation. You would still have that offensive black hole, just with two slow players instead of one.

Our best players are wings. We do not get efficient scoring from the C or PG spots. I want our wings to see the floor as much as possible. That's more common sense than fancy new age analytics sorcery.

[sedz]

There are crucial defensive matchup problems created for UC by playing the 4 out /1 in system. Especially against teams with bigger front-lines. By the way, BYU has two of the best rebounding forwards in the country. Let's see how UC does in the paint in this game.

BYU plays a 4 out 1 in system, and last year played a lot of 5 out. In fact, I'm struggling to come up with a single team I've watched this year that doesn't play 4 out or 5 out.

[sedz]

OMG - you dare to question new age stats / thoughts / all knowing concepts?

Again I feel like I'm living in an alternate timeline. 4 out became widespread in the mid 2000s - 20 years ago. Back then they called it a stretch 4 but now almost everybody plays a stretch 4. How long does something need to be around before it's not new age? Is the three point line new age? The shot clock? Indoor plumbing?

[leeraymond]

Wes will be UC's coach next year unless he moves by his own choice. UC will not terminate his contract unless there is some scandal in the basketball program. I wish everyone would stop with this nonsense. He will be UC's coach for at least next year.

I am totally in agreement with that.