Sad State of Bearcat Basketball

[bearcatbret]

Bob Huggins on Wes Miller via UC Legends Unplugged podcast:
"I think he has done a terrific job coaching them. He gets them to play hard. They have gotten really good players."
I saw this on social media and the comment section replies were pretty brutal.

[swilsonsp4]

What was Shon supposed to be bringing to the table? I didn't see anything in his game that stood out.

Scoring abilities, using his 6'8" frame to his advantage. Unfortunately, he started missing early and it never improved. He shot 91% from the line last year but really struggled early. It's as if his confidence was shot. The staff knew he would be a defensive liability and CWM even said at the start of the season that Abaev was going to play and learn through his mistakes. Now, he has a high ankle sprain.

[bearcatlifer]

What was Shon supposed to be bringing to the table? I didn't see anything in his game that stood out.

[Rufus]

And he won't be here either ( SA ) next season regardless if a coaching change is made or not. His agent is already lining up his next destination.

[longtimefan]

I understand the reality doesn't match those kids' unrealistic expectations. Perhaps Shon just tried to hard instead of letting the game come to him. He is talented, and will mature with another season.

Thing is, lots of those McD AA guys struggle at first, but by February they usually figure it out. But now he’s hurt.

[swilsonsp4]

If Miller does not come back as coach, will Kayden Allen come to UC for the 2026-27 season?

Per Chad Brendel, if CWM is gone, Allen will take to the portal.

[leeraymond372@gmail.com]

That depends on the definition of “successful”. Minimum should be to make the tourney. Here are the top high school signees for each B12 team (with 247sports.com recruiting rankings) [2026 still in HS; almost all top players signed early, just a few stragglers] Bold type for teams presently on their way to The Dance. These teams either have top HS talent or paid for quality transfers:

• AZ: [2024] Carter Bryant (28); [2025] Brayden Burries (9), Koa Peat (11), Dwayne Aristode (29); [2026] Cameron Holmes (29)
• ASU: [2024] Jayden Quaintance (9), Joson Sanon (24) {both were injured, then hit portal}; [2025] no Top 50 players [2026] no Top 50 players
• Baylor: [2024] VJ Edgecombe (5) {NBA}, Rob Wright (23) {@ BYU}; [2025] Tounde Yessoufou (14); [2026] Elijah Williams (30)
• BYU: [2025] AJ Dybantsa (2), Xavion Staton (37); [2026] no Top 50, will buy transfers
• UC: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] Shon Abaev (22); [2026] Kayden Allen (49)
• CO: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] no Top 50 players
• UH: [2024] no Top 50 players (stacked team; no playing time); [2025] Chris Cenac (7), Isiah Harwell (16), Kingston Flemings (20); [2026] Arafan Diane (16)
• ISU: [2024] no Top 50 players (all key additions via portal) [2025] Jamarion Batemon (42); [2026] no Top 50 players
• KU: [2024] Flory Bidunga (14), Bryson Tiller (42), Rakease Passmore (50); [2025] Darryn Peterson (1); [2026] Taylen Kinney (13)
• KSU: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] no signees at all
• OSU: [2024] no Top 50 players [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] Latrell Allmond (24)
• TCU: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] Kayden Edwards (49); [2026] no Top 50 players
• TT: [2024] no Top 50 players (JT Toppin & others via portal); [2025] no Top 50 players (just transfers); [2026] DaKari Spear (46)
• UCF: [2024] Moustapha Thiam (43) {@ UC}; [2025] no Top 50 players (just transfers); [2026] no Top 50 players
• UT: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players (just transfers); no Top 50 players
• WV: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] Miles Sadler (31)

If Miller does not come back as coach, will Kayden Allen come to UC for the 2026-27 season?

[leo from jersey]

Nelson and Blount talking to some old guy wit a beard about winning on youtube search bearcat legends documentary with Huggs

[red_n_black_attack]

Not all of them start, and just a few move to the NBA after year one.

I understand the reality doesn't match those kids' unrealistic expectations. Perhaps Shon just tried to hard instead of letting the game come to him. He is talented, and will mature with another season.

[swilsonsp4]

I don't believe we need Top 25 Recruits to be successful. I would prefer the 50/150 range player's! We've done well with 3 & 4 Star Recruits who tend to stick around 4yrs.

Josh Reed & Skillings are perfect examples! The PROBLEM is Wes, he's over his head in this league!

What would Mick or Huggs be able to do with this current roster? Same result, or do u think this team would be more competitive?

That depends on the definition of “successful”. Minimum should be to make the tourney. Here are the top high school signees for each B12 team (with 247sports.com recruiting rankings) [2026 still in HS; almost all top players signed early, just a few stragglers] Bold type for teams presently on their way to The Dance. These teams either have top HS talent or paid for quality transfers:

• AZ: [2024] Carter Bryant (28); [2025] Brayden Burries (9), Koa Peat (11), Dwayne Aristode (29); [2026] Cameron Holmes (29)
• ASU: [2024] Jayden Quaintance (9), Joson Sanon (24) {both were injured, then hit portal}; [2025] no Top 50 players [2026] no Top 50 players
• Baylor: [2024] VJ Edgecombe (5) {NBA}, Rob Wright (23) {@ BYU}; [2025] Tounde Yessoufou (14); [2026] Elijah Williams (30)
• BYU: [2025] AJ Dybantsa (2), Xavion Staton (37); [2026] no Top 50, will buy transfers
• UC: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] Shon Abaev (22); [2026] Kayden Allen (49)
• CO: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] no Top 50 players
• UH: [2024] no Top 50 players (stacked team; no playing time); [2025] Chris Cenac (7), Isiah Harwell (16), Kingston Flemings (20); [2026] Arafan Diane (16)
• ISU: [2024] no Top 50 players (all key additions via portal) [2025] Jamarion Batemon (42); [2026] no Top 50 players
• KU: [2024] Flory Bidunga (14), Bryson Tiller (42), Rakease Passmore (50); [2025] Darryn Peterson (1); [2026] Taylen Kinney (13)
• KSU: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] no signees at all
• OSU: [2024] no Top 50 players [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] Latrell Allmond (24)
• TCU: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] Kayden Edwards (49); [2026] no Top 50 players
• TT: [2024] no Top 50 players (JT Toppin & others via portal); [2025] no Top 50 players (just transfers); [2026] DaKari Spear (46)
• UCF: [2024] Moustapha Thiam (43) {@ UC}; [2025] no Top 50 players (just transfers); [2026] no Top 50 players
• UT: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players (just transfers); no Top 50 players
• WV: [2024] no Top 50 players; [2025] no Top 50 players; [2026] Miles Sadler (31)

[leo from jersey]

The majority of donors want to be associated with a winning program. The program under CWM is not there and likely won’t get there.

Yes I agree, but it just takes one to turn it around. My take being IU was the worse and then Mark Cuban wrote a check. Now they are National Champs. Of course there was a coaching change.

[London 'Cat]

I believe this roster is more than good enough to be in the top half of the league under a competent coach. After 5 years it is clear that Miller is definitely the constant that is the problem. Additionally no rich alum is going to invest more $$'s into the sinkinig ship that is Miller.

The majority of donors want to be associated with a winning program. The program under CWM is not there and likely won’t get there.

[Gmann]

I don't believe we need Top 25 Recruits to be successful. I would prefer the 50/150 range player's! We've done well with 3 & 4 Star Recruits who tend to stick around 4yrs.

Josh Reed & Skillings are perfect examples! The PROBLEM is Wes, he's over his head in this league!

What would Mick or Huggs be able to do with this current roster? Same result, or do u think this team would be more competitive?

I believe this roster is more than good enough to be in the top half of the league under a competent coach. After 5 years it is clear that Miller is definitely the constant that is the problem. Additionally no rich alum is going to invest more $$'s into the sinkinig ship that is Miller.

[longtimefan]

Nobody stays 4 years anymore. Now that agents run the show, holding onto top guys more than one season will be very difficult. Even if players like it here, the agents are out there working on the next job.

[BearKatz]

I don't believe we need Top 25 Recruits to be successful. I would prefer the 50/150 range player's! We've done well with 3 & 4 Star Recruits who tend to stick around 4yrs.

Josh Reed & Skillings are perfect examples! The PROBLEM is Wes, he's over his head in this league!

What would Mick or Huggs be able to do with this current roster? Same result, or do u think this team would be more competitive?