The Wes Miller Thread

[London 'Cat]

Rayvon is playing now, still stuck behind Skillings/Simas, which I would change. Rayvon loves UC, Wes, and the team. His excitement is off the charts. That could be the type of guy he is, but he has given no indication he is upset. Like Reed, we see flashes of his natural scoring talent, and lapses on defense. My hope is Ray watches Josh, and learns that if he improves on defense, his minutes will go up. Hickman is a grad transfer and a heckuva defender before he got hurt.

I think Ray needs more time to develop, like Reed did. Despite Hickman’s injury, his play has increased only minimally. Ray has that type of potential but needs more development. Reed’s progression is encouraging and I hope Ray sticks around to continue to develop.

[red_n_black_attack]

They’re not going to win at Houston. The best they can do is make it respectable. They are capable of beating the other two regular season games. But they need to win the B12 tourney to get in to the NCAAs.

You're probably right, but I won't give up all hope and will be cheering Saturday. Realistically, chances are slim to none, but never zero.

The one wild-card. Great defensive teams like UH are nearly negated when they face defensive teams. UC will hold UH below their scoring averages, and cause UH to make some turnovers. Still, the only chance is if UC can get hot shooting, AND play that tough defense. Quick shots, rebounding, and more opportunities/possessions are the only way all of the stars align for an upset.

[red_n_black_attack]

Why on Earth would Rayvon stay? So he can get scr##ed again? So he can watch Hickman get minutes he should be getting?

Rayvon is playing now, still stuck behind Skillings/Simas, which I would change. Rayvon loves UC, Wes, and the team. His excitement is off the charts. That could be the type of guy he is, but he has given no indication he is upset. Like Reed, we see flashes of his natural scoring talent, and lapses on defense. My hope is Ray watches Josh, and learns that if he improves on defense, his minutes will go up. Hickman is a grad transfer and a heckuva defender before he got hurt.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Beat Houston and get into the Dance this year. Then Wes will have a better shot at keeping his core players, find two big men in the portal, and challenge Page to hit the weights and improve. The core that I'd target: Jizzle, Reed, Dillon, Tyler B, Rayvon, Tyler M, and Page. Give me those 7, plus three recruits, and two big men transfers; that'd be a team that has a chance to win 12-15 conference games next season. Make the Tourney this year and the Wes thread ends for quite a while.

BEAT HOUSTON!

Why on Earth would Rayvon stay? So he can get scr##ed again? So he can watch Hickman get minutes he should be getting?

[Lobot]

Even NIL is a crapshoot. UC recruited the player from Duke, Sean Stewart I believe, who ended up signing with aO$U. He has not been very good at all. UC recruited Page, a high level prospect, but he has not been as effective as hoped. Sometimes the recruiting services get it wrong. So while a coach like CWM had a highly rated portal class, it turned out to be not as good as perceived.

Page reminds me of the situation with Yancy Gates where because he's large human you expect him to be a tough guy. He's really not a post player in my opinion. Seems like he's more comfortable at the elbow and mid range than on the blocks.

[London 'Cat]

They’re not going to win at Houston. The best they can do is make it respectable. They are capable of beating the other two regular season games. But they need to win the B12 tourney to get in to the NCAAs.

[red_n_black_attack]

College basketball hot seat rankings: Where 17 underwhelming coaches stand as high-major carousel picks up

https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...usel-picks-up/


There's minimal chance Miller's gone after this season. The Bearcats are backin the bubble picture after Tuesday night's win over Baylor, plus the buyout situation is north of $9 million. Just can't see a change here. No question that UC's been a letdown since Miller was hired in 2021, but he'll enter next season on the hot seat, particularly if Cincinnati doesn't rally to make the tournament this year. If that's the case, he'll need to make the Big Dance in 2026 in order to hold on to the job. I'd put him at 97% safe over the next two months. — Norlander

Beat Houston and get into the Dance this year. Then Wes will have a better shot at keeping his core players, find two big men in the portal, and challenge Page to hit the weights and improve. The core that I'd target: Jizzle, Reed, Dillon, Tyler B, Rayvon, Tyler M, and Page. Give me those 7, plus three recruits, and two big men transfers; that'd be a team that has a chance to win 12-15 conference games next season. Make the Tourney this year and the Wes thread ends for quite a while.

BEAT HOUSTON!

[GoBearcats31]

College basketball hot seat rankings: Where 17 underwhelming coaches stand as high-major carousel picks up

https://www.cbssports.com/college-ba...usel-picks-up/


There's minimal chance Miller's gone after this season. The Bearcats are back in the bubble picture after Tuesday night's win over Baylor, plus the buyout situation is north of $9 million. Just can't see a change here. No question that UC's been a letdown since Miller was hired in 2021, but he'll enter next season on the hot seat, particularly if Cincinnati doesn't rally to make the tournament this year. If that's the case, he'll need to make the Big Dance in 2026 in order to hold on to the job. I'd put him at 97% safe over the next two months. — Norlander

[London 'Cat]

Even NIL is a crapshoot. UC recruited the player from Duke, Sean Stewart I believe, who ended up signing with aO$U. He has not been very good at all. UC recruited Page, a high level prospect, but he has not been as effective as hoped. Sometimes the recruiting services get it wrong. So while a coach like CWM had a highly rated portal class, it turned out to be not as good as perceived.

[bearcatlifer]

I think I posted something to this effect before...As bad as NIL is it is going to show us who knows how to coach. You no longer have these 5-10 blueblood programs that just cherry pick all the best players. Now the talent is more dispersed and the benches are not nearly as deep. Where does CWM fit into this equation?

[leeraymond]

I think this is a non starter for almost all parties involved except the fans and maybe Huggs himself and I'm not even sure about Huggins

AD's around the country are looking at the amazing success that Rick Pitino is having at St. Johns right now. I have seen St. Johns play a few times now. That is a very very good team. I do not know how far it will go. What I do know; St. Johns IS one of the best teams in the country without a doubt. They are very physical in the paint, is a good defensive team, and they are a pretty good scoring team.

AD's looking for a coach will see Pitino's success and think that Huggins, a Hall-of-Fame coach, could do the same. If Huggins truly wants to coach again, somebody is going to give him a shot. I am not sure how his wife would think about that. However, if Huggs sincerely wants to coach, somebody is going to give him a chance.

[Bearcat93]

Utah fires coach Craig Smith, odd timing, but his Utah resume reads very familiarly. 5m exit clause.

[leo from jersey]

I think this is a non starter for almost all parties involved except the fans and maybe Huggs himself and I'm not even sure about Huggins

If CWM fizzles out big time and after the JB mess, the team will have a PR nightmare. The deep pockets are getting upset I bet. I find it hard to think he would come back, but one never knows when a team is in a mess. Huggs could just be talk, but I am sure he is getting the word out -- for all openings. It gets Huggs publicity and the fans are entertained.

[Lobot]

I was going to say something in this regard after he showed up at the UCF game but didn't want to stir the pot too much... I'm not sure if the University would take the PR hit for it or not but I think the fans would mostly be good with it

I think this is a non starter for almost all parties involved except the fans and maybe Huggs himself and I'm not even sure about Huggins

[Chewbacca2099]

I see where you are going with this Leo. It is an interesting thought.

I was going to say something in this regard after he showed up at the UCF game but didn't want to stir the pot too much... I'm not sure if the University would take the PR hit for it or not but I think the fans would mostly be good with it