Oklahoma 3/5 8:00 ESPN+

[Gypo O'Leary]

I do not believe that Lakhin was/is overwhelmed by the big men of the BIG 12. For some reason, the UC coaching staff stopped looking at him as a primary scorer and relied on the guards to do most of the scoring. Look at how that has worked out.

He seemed to like taking his time backing guys down in the post and then using a little turn-around push shot. But TOP 25 teams have big men that can muscle you back and guards that don't let you operate in the paint that way. So taking away his money move made him frustrated. You could see it on his face. I think that is why Wes hasn't been playing him. And you're right in that Wes obviously wants an up tempo guards do your thing offense. James has so much potential (assuming NIL money doesn't motivate him to leave) he will no doubt get better. But he and Thomas looked like boys playing against men when we against Texas, Baylor and Houston in terms of physicality.

And I'm not sure I can say how the season worked out because I don't think Cincinnati had the talent or experienced squad to contend in a league with six or seven top 30 schools. Seems like we are not that far from what expectations should have been.

[sedz]

Leo makes a good point that you are missing or dismissing - THIS team wouldn't exist in the AAC because a good number of players we have now wouldn't have come to UC to play in the AAC.

What good does it do to say THIS team would be good in the AAC?

Well that's what longtimefan said, not me. You and Leo are missing or dismissing that. You're getting mad at me for commenting on someone else's hypothetical.

[sedz]

I agree with you Sedz 100%. Has anyone seen South Florida, FAU, Memphis (of course), SMU, UAB, and to a lesser extent North Texas? All of the listed teams could beat UC. Also, given Miller's track record, these teams could probably beat UC twice in the regular season.

The good thing about being in the Big12 is when we have a great game, we record wins against BYU, Texas Tech, and TCU instead of USF, Memphis, and SMU. And sometimes when we have a really bad game, we lose to TCU by 20 instead of a close loss to someone like Tulane.

[leeraymond]

We also lost to teams ranked #104 and #127 on Torvik. There are 6 teams in the AAC that are better than both of them. We're barely a top 50 team, so it's not like the AAC would be a cakewalk for us.

I agree with you Sedz 100%. Has anyone seen South Florida, FAU, Memphis (of course), SMU, UAB, and to a lesser extent North Texas? All of the listed teams could beat UC. Also, given Miller's track record, these teams could probably beat UC twice in the regular season.

[leeraymond]

Last year's team had experienced and talented guards....Nolley and Dejulius.

Don't forget about Lakhin. Lakhin played a major role on that team last year as well. I hear you Oldtimer. You are right about DeJulius and Nolley. Last year's team was a very aggressive scoring team. Imagine if UC had that scoring this year. That is why it is so confusing to see Lakhin on the bench when he scored in double figures last year. For some reason Lakhin went backwards this year.

[Geaux Juan]

longtimefan said this team.

Leo makes a good point that you are missing or dismissing - THIS team wouldn't exist in the AAC because a good number of players we have now wouldn't have come to UC to play in the AAC.

What good does it do to say THIS team would be good in the AAC?

[longtimefan]

I should know better than to say anything positive here. But I stand by it. I’ll be there Saturday early as always, cheering them on until I lose my voice.

[leo from jersey]

longtimefan said this team.

"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." - Jason Kidd

that team would have not been in the AAC . Now if we had the 76 Hoosiers we would have been in. Undefeated too. You play with who you got and not who you wish.

[sedz]

would the cats have gotten JJ, DAYDay, Aziz, SL and CJ if they were still in the aac. I doubt if all of them would have come except to play in the Big 12

longtimefan said this team.

"We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees." - Jason Kidd

[leo from jersey]

We also lost to teams ranked #104 and #127 on Torvik. There are 6 teams in the AAC that are better than both of them. We're barely a top 50 team, so it's not like the AAC would be a cakewalk for us.

would the cats have gotten JJ, DAYDay, Aziz, SL and CJ if they were still in the aac. I doubt if all of them would have come except to play in the Big 12

[sedz]

This team would be sitting at 23-24 wins right now in the AAC and be headed for the tournament. Instead we’ve lost so many close games this year, but to elite teams for the most part.

We also lost to teams ranked #104 and #127 on Torvik. There are 6 teams in the AAC that are better than both of them. We're barely a top 50 team, so it's not like the AAC would be a cakewalk for us.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

I agree with you and you are correct concerning coaches, or anybody, learning new things and new approaches regardless of their level of achievement. I am not sure if I agree with you about the progress made this year. We have actually gone backwards this year in terms of conference play. UC was a much better conference team last year. I know that there is a big difference between the AAC and the BIG 12. As a coach, you adapt, make adjustments, and coach to win games. That has NOT happened a lot this conference season. Also, UC is a much worse scoring team this year compared to last year. Defensively, UC has given up 70 points a game for the last three years. Now the offense has problems. Additionally, Miller is 24-29 in conference play over his 3 years at UC.

These are the types of problems that may constantly plague Miller's UC teams. You talk about mentoring. Mentoring takes coaches who are trying to learn new things from more established coaches. From my perspective, Miller has NOT changed his way of coaching since he has been at UC. What new ideas and approaches has he learned? I do not know. I go by what I see and the team's record. This year's team looked like his other UC teams. The end result is another season without an NCAA birth.

Everyone wants Miller to win and I want Miller to win as well. I just do not know if he can win in the BIG 12.

Last year's team had experienced and talented guards....Nolley and Dejulius.

[longtimefan]

We forget quickly. CWM took over a team with JDIII as the top scorer. JD is averaging 5.2ppg at Arkansas this year. There is absolutely zero doubt that this team is far superior to what he inherited when he walked in the door. This team would be sitting at 23-24 wins right now in the AAC and be headed for the tournament. Instead we’ve lost so many close games this year, but to elite teams for the most part. The team he took over wouldn’t have a single win in this Big 12, and get routinely blown out by 30 or more. I have my gripes too, some times the substitutions leave me scratching my head so much I can put off the barber for two weeks. But on the whole, the team is better, adding three top 100 recruits next year, and the trajectory is up.

[leeraymond]

I'm a fan that you can always learn something new and if you are not learning then you are getting passed. I don't care how old you are, you can still be mentored and you can still mentor others. Always be humble and aways strive to learn. Wes is one of the youngest coaches in the country. Saban worked for Belichick as a defensive coordinator and yet Belichick was still learning things from Saban even after winning 4 Superbowl's.

Imagine if we had a coach who knew offense and defense. With Mick it was always why can't he coach offense and same for Huggins. I've seen a lot of progress this year and still have a lot of faith and hope in Wes. He just needs to figure out things on defense and hold the players accountable for mental errors and increase their basketball IQ.

I love that Wes gets his players to play hard and they don't give up. They don't fight with each other or the coach. We are so close to big success I can taste it. Hugg's would have to humble himself to work with Wes but he could teach him many great things. Again I'm not saying it has to be Huggs, he is just one of the best defensive coaches I have ever seen. Maybe that knowledge is in Terry's head as well and if so he would be the perfect person to help out.

I agree with you and you are correct concerning coaches, or anybody, learning new things and new approaches regardless of their level of achievement. I am not sure if I agree with you about the progress made this year. We have actually gone backwards this year in terms of conference play. UC was a much better conference team last year. I know that there is a big difference between the AAC and the BIG 12. As a coach, you adapt, make adjustments, and coach to win games. That has NOT happened a lot this conference season. Also, UC is a much worse scoring team this year compared to last year. Defensively, UC has given up 70 points a game for the last three years. Now the offense has problems. Additionally, Miller is 24-29 in conference play over his 3 years at UC.

These are the types of problems that may constantly plague Miller's UC teams. You talk about mentoring. Mentoring takes coaches who are trying to learn new things from more established coaches. From my perspective, Miller has NOT changed his way of coaching since he has been at UC. What new ideas and approaches has he learned? I do not know. I go by what I see and the team's record. This year's team looked like his other UC teams. The end result is another season without an NCAA birth.

Everyone wants Miller to win and I want Miller to win as well. I just do not know if he can win in the BIG 12.

[bearcatrunner]

I'm a fan that you can always learn something new and if you are not learning then you are getting passed. I don't care how old you are, you can still be mentored and you can still mentor others. Always be humble and aways strive to learn. Wes is one of the youngest coaches in the country. Saban worked for Belichick as a defensive coordinator and yet Belichick was still learning things from Saban even after winning 4 Superbowl's.

Imagine if we had a coach who knew offense and defense. With Mick it was always why can't he coach offense and same for Huggins. I've seen a lot of progress this year and still have a lot of faith and hope in Wes. He just needs to figure out things on defense and hold the players accountable for mental errors and increase their basketball IQ.

I love that Wes gets his players to play hard and they don't give up. They don't fight with each other or the coach. We are so close to big success I can taste it. Hugg's would have to humble himself to work with Wes but he could teach him many great things. Again I'm not saying it has to be Huggs, he is just one of the best defensive coaches I have ever seen. Maybe that knowledge is in Terry's head as well and if so he would be the perfect person to help out.