Sad State of Bearcat Basketball

[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)

[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.

[leo from jersey]

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

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[bearcatlifer]

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

[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.

[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.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

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.

Wherever that may be.

[Gmann]

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.

I saw Huggins make that comment on the Legends Podcast with Corey and Terry. What a Joke! Either he's not watched any games this year, he's being politically correct, or he's gone senile. I understand not being overly critical on Wes and blowing up the program but to say he's doing a terrific job kills his credability.

[D.A.H.]

I saw Huggins make that comment on the Legends Podcast with Corey and Terry. What a Joke! Either he's not watched any games this year, he's being politically correct, or he's gone senile. I understand not being overly critical on Wes and blowing up the program but to say he's doing a terrific job kills his credability.

one thing that i remember about huggins, is that the only people he ever took shots at, outside of that one particular norwood U coach, were his players - for doing dumb ****, etc. i think he's always gone out of his way to not go say anything even semi-controversial about other coaches. he has to know the situation at UC, and I think that he's just not going to add fuel to the fire.

[leo from jersey]

I saw Huggins make that comment on the Legends Podcast with Corey and Terry. What a Joke! Either he's not watched any games this year, he's being politically correct, or he's gone senile. I understand not being overly critical on Wes and blowing up the program but to say he's doing a terrific job kills his credability.

of course Huggs did make a back door stab. He said UC were horrid 3 point shooters. They had the length and skill to go underneath, but only Buck Harris was ready to engage. The others just stood around 10 feet from the basket. Wretched offensive style. Take what you want, but CWM is in charge of the play. I believe Huggs understands that.

[leo from jersey]

On another post we spoke of the connection between CWM and Roy Williams. On CWM's radio show he said Williams watches every UC game and they communicate before and after every game. That sounds close to me. It is almost like Williams is an assistant coach. Where is the help?