The Wes Miller Thread

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[JohnFrancis]

Kevin Willard (U. Maryland) is another example of what you expect by year 3.

Not sure what he inherited, but first year 20+ wins and NCAA tourney...second year, a bit of a regression probably transfer portal losses, getting his guys and system players in place, now year 3 20 plus wins, top 20 ramkiing - just lost to Michigan State on a buzzer beater half court heave.

[leeraymond]

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.

You know Lobot, I was thinking the same thing. Do you think that Page could play the small forward? Can he play the defense needed to move into the small forward spot?

[leeraymond]

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.

It will take a basketball miracle for UC to be better than Houston over 40 minutes. Even after playing Houston 8 or 9 times, Miller still will not have a chance to beat Sampson. Sampson is a Hall-of-Fame type of coach. His defensive constructs and ability to motivate his players are much more advanced than Miller's. Miller is not at Sampson's level. Plus, Houston is at home.

I am hoping for the UC win, but Miller is no match for Sampson. No need to go into the conference stats to back up what I am saying. UC is not likely to win this one.

[bba_1979]

It will take a basketball miracle for UC to be better than Houston over 40 minutes. Even after playing Houston 8 or 9 times, Miller still will not have a chance to beat Sampson. Sampson is a Hall-of-Fame type of coach. His defensive constructs and ability to motivate his players are much more advanced than Miller's. Miller is not at Sampson's level. Plus, Houston is at home.

I am hoping for the UC win, but Miller is no match for Sampson. No need to go into the conference stats to back up what I am saying. UC is not likely to win this one.

And with that kind of thinking they won't. This is one of those "HOOSIERS" games. Believe and play your a$$ off.

[leeraymond]

And with that kind of thinking they won't. This is one of those "HOOSIERS" games. Believe and play your a$$ off.

Hey, I am with you on that one. If you do not believe you can win, then you have no chance to win. However, UC has a negative scoring margin in conference play, it has negative margins in every scoring category, and it is being outrebounded. Houston is 7-1 at home, 16-1 overall, and outscoring teams by 13 in conference play. Do I really need to go on?

Nevertheless, if UC can take good care of the ball, keep Houston off its offensive boards, slow down J. Roberts, and keep Houston well under its 39% three-point shooting (they have 5 guys that can shoot from 36% to 44% from three range), UC may have a chance. Also, more bad news. Houston's starting point guard is 6'4" and shoots 44% from the three-point line. UC's smaller point guards will not be able to handle him. UC will have to play the match-ups to have a chance. Miller does not like to play the match-ups. However, he did play bigger people on Smalls from WV to slow him down a little. Miller will have to do the same for Uzan.

Despite the odds, I am still hoping for the upset. You never know, this year may be UC's year to get some payback.

[Rufus]

Instead of putting our smaller guards on Roberts I think I would put Reed on him. Whatever offense we get from Reed would be icing but his primary job would be to shut down Roberts. After that we have to rebound on both ends and we have to have virtually no t.o.s

[London 'Cat]

Instead of putting our smaller guards on Roberts I think I would put Reed on him. Whatever offense we get from Reed would be icing but his primary job would be to shut down Roberts. After that we have to rebound on both ends and we have to have virtually no t.o.s

UH’s starting point guard is Uzan. Roberts is their post player. You may have confused them.

[Rufus]

I did my bad.

[GoBearcats31]

There are more posts in "The Wes Miller Thread" regarding UC/Houston than in the actual Houston game thread.

[GoBearcats31]

Cunningham tells Enquirer that Wes will be back next season

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...m/81781813007/

[leo from jersey]

Cunningham tells Enquirer that Wes will be back next season

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...m/81781813007/

but JC refused to answer if it was his buyout and not the product which is keeping CWM. Not quite the voice of confidence I would want to hear if I was CWM.