The Wes Miller Thread

[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.

[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?

[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

[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.

[longtimefan]

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.

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

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

The last time Rayvon saw multiple minutes he committed 3 fouls in 4 minutes. And it's not like he's showing flashes of offense either. He's 1 for 12 shooting away from the rim against poor competition. I'm not giving up hope for development, but I don't think Rayvon is the answer to this year's problems. The game has appeared too fast for him so far. We can't be throwing him out there in Big 12 play just because he was good in high school if we're supposed to be treating every game like a championship.

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.

[sedz]

The last time Rayvon saw multiple minutes he committed 3 fouls in 4 minutes. And it's not like he's showing flashes of offense either. He's 1 for 12 shooting away from the rim against poor competition. I'm not giving up hope for development, but I don't think Rayvon is the answer to this year's problems. The game has appeared too fast for him so far. We can't be throwing him out there in Big 12 play just because he was good in high school if we're supposed to be treating every game like a championship.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I would think that being a great ambassador for the program and conducting oneself properly is part and parcel of being a highly paid D1 coach - geez, is CWM supposed to get extra credit for that????? I could name several coaches who have turned around their basketball program in a shorter amount of time than CWM has had at UC - Mizzou, Georgetown come to mind right away, look at what ancient Pitino is doing at SJU, Florida, and Dusty May at Michigan...I could go on and on.

Missouri last 4 years.....12-21, 25-10, 8-24, 15-4

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I’ll say again. I don’t get what’s going on with Rayvon. I saw him in high school, especially in post season. Watching us lob brick after brick and score less than 50 two straight games, with a top 60 recruit sitting on the end with the walk-ons, just seems odd. The young man can shoot it. I know there must be reasons beyond the standard “can’t defend” we see with a lot of young guys. Is it training, practice, grades, doghouse, overrated? I’m sure there’s a reason, I’d just like to know.

That makes two of us. This makes no sense at all.

[longtimefan]

I’ll say again. I don’t get what’s going on with Rayvon. I saw him in high school, especially in post season. Watching us lob brick after brick and score less than 50 two straight games, with a top 60 recruit sitting on the end with the walk-ons, just seems odd. The young man can shoot it. I know there must be reasons beyond the standard “can’t defend” we see with a lot of young guys. Is it training, practice, grades, doghouse, overrated? I’m sure there’s a reason, I’d just like to know.

[Rufus]

this might not be "prevailing wisdom", and I'm sure the new age stat guys will rip this. but, i think they miss reynolds (or another wide body) inside. they miss a big body, to get in there and mix it up a bit. the cats are athletic as ****, but not the most physically imposing team.

This has been discussed before and I find it amusing that both Reynolds and Lahkin are thriving in their new homes but refused to play for Miller. And you add in that every big man that he has brought in has not met expectations after coming here. But the problem goes beyond the center. It was said earlier in the year that we would have to have at least four of the staring five to average double digits to be competitive in this conference. We can't afford to have a single person take a night off. I'm not going back to check every game but I don't think we've had one game so far where we've had all four starters in double figures. JJ just had his first this past Tues. Simas is struggling to get his trey shot. Skilling was in LaLa land last game and yet to be effective and Mitchell has showed flashes but far from consistent. These starters are too timid to play in this league. It seems to me that they're resigned to the fact that they can't beat the defenses the B12 throws at them. And it definitely looks like their not motivated at all. Huggins used to bench players for not "playing hard"

[JohnFrancis]

I would hope its not simply wins and losses, at least in such a small sample size. The guy is a class act and a great ambassador for our program and the behind the scenes evaluation of how he conducts himself. recruits, and runs his program, are far more important at this early juncture. Wes checks all the boxes In Cunninghams eyes. The wins will come. I find the extension refreshing in this otherwise impatient and win now and at all cost society. Congrats to Wes and JC.

I would think that being a great ambassador for the program and conducting oneself properly is part and parcel of being a highly paid D1 coach - geez, is CWM supposed to get extra credit for that????? I could name several coaches who have turned around their basketball program in a shorter amount of time than CWM has had at UC - Mizzou, Georgetown come to mind right away, look at what ancient Pitino is doing at SJU, Florida, and Dusty May at Michigan...I could go on and on.

[red_n_black_attack]

Wes has to know his seat is getting warm. John Cunnigham has to accept that Cincinnati fans expect better, and this is an up or out job. I think Wes will still be the right guy,but I think he needs to show better results soon (hopefully this season).

[leeraymond]

Williams: Cincinnati Bearcats are Big 12 disappointment. Time to question coaching hires?

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...s/77884084007/

Wow!! The Cincinnati local media is now putting its weight on the scales.

[leeraymond]

this might not be "prevailing wisdom", and I'm sure the new age stat guys will rip this. but, i think they miss reynolds (or another wide body) inside. they miss a big body, to get in there and mix it up a bit. the cats are athletic as ****, but not the most physically imposing team.

Thank you. How could Miller let both Reynolds and Lakhin get away? Check out both of their stats to date. Both are doing much better than UC's bigs on the season. Lakhin is also shooting 36% from the three-point line.