Sad State of Bearcat Basketball

[BearKatz]

First off, Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

To put it simply, this is a BAD Team! The reason becuase we have an average Coach at best. Most of us would probably say he's a bad coach.

I look at last years team, and we lost (11) players to the portal or graduated. A few current stats, a couple stick out.

Dan Skillings Jr. 11.5pts, 6.5reb, 45.8fg%
Rayvon Griffith 4.1pts, 1.9reb, 40.7fg%
Jizzle James N/A
CJ Fredrick Jr. Grad
Connor Hickman 13.7pts, 4.3reb, 34.1fg%
Josh Reed 10.1pts, 4.7reb , 46fg%
Tyler Betsey 10pts, 3.3reb, 33.9fg%
Arrinten Page 15.7pts, 7.0reb, 62.7fg%
Dillon Mitchell 11.0pts, 6.4reb, 67.3fg%
Simas Lukošius Grad
Aziz Bandaogo Grad

Holdovers from last year:

Halvine Dzellat
Tyler McKinley
Day Day Thomas

Going back to last year, this group had several conversations on the outlook had McKinley been available. Nothing would have changed, would have been the same outcome had he played.

So we add (9) new players worth mentioning at this point. Two highly touted Freshman, one a McDAA the other Top 50/75 and we have the same outcome productionas last years team. Disappointing losses, and maybe to worst loss I can remember from a team we were favored to beat by 23.5pts!

Sencire Harris
Jalen Haynes
Shon Abaev
Kerr Kriisa
Keyshuan Tillery
Baba Miller
Jordi Rodriguez
Moustapha Thiam
Jalen Celestine

I know the term floor leader is used a lot over the last few years. Supposedly this team lacks one? Or does our current starting PG Thomas play the way Wes has instructed him to? When Justin Jenifer was a senior under Mick, was he not one of the best PGs in the Country at taking care of the ball? Becuase that's how he was COACHED, right? If Thomas or Tillery played under Mick or Huggs, would we have the same carelessness with the ball, and bad OPEN shots from the rest of the team?

It's the way ALL of them are Coached! I know a bunch of us have gotten on Jizzle for not sharing the ball, getting others involved during the game. Was he not coached to take an open look if it was there?

How many times last night did we jackup a 3, just becuase the gaurd had a decent look? Didn't matter if we had players in place to rebound, the shot went up regardless.

If we grade Wes Miller, what are his Strenghts?

1) Good Recruiter

Can anyone name another strength? This is a bad underachieving team, cause we have a bad coach! Regardless how many players leave or come in, the result is always the same! Until Wes is fired or contract expires, nothing will change.

If we WANT the type of teams and coaches we've had in the past, then we need to move on from Wes Miller. This current team will finish bottom 3 of the Big 12!

[BearKatz]

So a lot of back n forth from the regulars on this forum over the TT lost. EVERYONE made great observations last night in the TT thread.

My issue is not with the players, but with CWM! Players lead by example, and the last time I looked, CWM is the HC!

The TT Game was LOST last night at the 5min mark, end of the first half. The lead / game was slipping away and CWM did nothing to prevent it! Wes had multiple chances to call a timeout, calm the team down and draw up a set play. Not once did Wes do that, and left timeouts that could have been used.

A couple of times when UC got back within 6pts, the TT HC immediately called a timeout. Next thing you know, UC is back down by 10/12pts.

So this is my issue with the TEAM. CWM has no idea in crunch time how to coach this team.

[bearcatbret]

Off topic but how has Pitt and ND fallen so far to be tied for last in the ACC?

[SKell82155]

[QUOTE=swilsonsp4;n432579]Considering that 2025-26 has been a very disappointing season, there actually has been improvement in an area that causes most fans to yank out their hair. Over the past nine games, the Cats have hit 114 of 152 free throws for a solid 75.0%. Among B12 teams, if UC had maintained that throughout the season, they'd be third. The B12 mean is 72.86%. The two teams ahead of UC's current accuracy rate are Houston (78.02% on the fewest attempts) and CO (75.84% on the fourth most shots).

Kudos to the Bearcats.[/QUOTE

I noticed 6-8 games ago that Baba had improved significantly in that area. Great job Baba !

[JBB]

Nope! Miller has done nothing but devalue the reputation of this program with each passing year. If you hope to retain and rebuild support he has to go. You can't missfire on the next hire like this one.

I think the de-valuing of the program started with Brannen, a hasty hire followed by CWM another hasty hire. All the luster of this proud prestige program is gone. I am a true Bearcat, but I know when a business is failing. Pretty soon no more customers. I look at our current teams and compare them to Big 10 Rutgers.
Both athletic programs in demise

[swilsonsp4]

Considering that 2025-26 has been a very disappointing season, there actually has been improvement in an area that causes most fans to yank out their hair. Over the past nine games, the Cats have hit 114 of 152 free throws for a solid 75.0%. Among B12 teams, if UC had maintained that throughout the season, they'd be third. The B12 mean is 72.86%. The two teams ahead of UC's current accuracy rate are Houston (78.02% on the fewest attempts) and CO (75.84% on the fourth most shots).

Kudos to the Bearcats.

[Carin's Dad]

Nope! Miller has done nothing but devalue the reputation of this program with each passing year. If you hope to retain and rebuild support he has to go. You can't missfire on the next hire like this one.

Reputation is a fan concern. To prospective coaches: money, league, TV, money. Since Wes has recruited some high ranking players, we must not be horrible to players.

[red_n_black_attack]

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

Of course he will. These kids want to play for the coach, not the school.

[SKell82155]

I know we all expect CWM to be relieved of his duties. Does anyone see a world where he remains our coach next year?

Yes, there’ll still be a buyout even if wait till March 1.
That’s how our Cincy sports teams roll.

[BearKatz]

The question becomes, who are the leading candidates for the HC soon to be vacancy?

[swilsonsp4]

well it is certainly a black mark on JC's ability to select a coach. The scenario would be JC's ego not allowing him to acknowledge he blew it. I must admit it did seem like CWM was a great fit. Even the BB alums endorsed CWM. Sadly, the media, the fans and hopefully the $$$$ people will prevail over JC's ego. Actually he must go before a new hire. Does anyone see that coming true.

Seems unlikely.

[leo from jersey]

well it is certainly a black mark on JC's ability to select a coach. The scenario would be JC's ego not allowing him to acknowledge he blew it. I must admit it did seem like CWM was a great fit. Even the BB alums endorsed CWM. Sadly, the media, the fans and hopefully the $$$$ people will prevail over JC's ego. Actually he must go before a new hire. Does anyone see that coming true.

[Gmann]

I know we all expect CWM to be relieved of his duties. Does anyone see a world where he remains our coach next year?

Nope! Miller has done nothing but devalue the reputation of this program with each passing year. If you hope to retain and rebuild support he has to go. You can't missfire on the next hire like this one.

[London 'Cat]

I know we all expect CWM to be relieved of his duties. Does anyone see a world where he remains our coach next year?

Wins the BigXII tournament and advances to the sweet 16 in the NCAAs is the only way he could potentially be retained. I hope Cunningham has been in touch with agents for other coaches to get the jump to fill the vacancy.

[steveedwards]

I know we all expect CWM to be relieved of his duties. Does anyone see a world where he remains our coach next year?