Millers Offense

[AZtoCA]

Do you guys think Miller will open up the Offense if he has guys that can really score like Nic Wise or MOMO, and others

Cause i saw some of your games on Replay over the summer ( One was that Virginia Tech "Buzzer beater" ) and saw the Memphis game and youtube clips

I noticed X had great Defense but kind of Controlled Motion O. So i was wondering if Miller had to play that way because he didn't have a "Offensive Wonderkid" to score all over the place.. Or because he actually likes to run a Controlled Offensive set.

Miller Claims that he is going to Run UpTempo at ARIZONA. Did he consider your Last years team an UP Tempo team?

[GuyFawkes38]

Do you guys think Miller will open up the Offense if he has guys that can really score like Nic Wise or MOMO, and others

Cause i saw some of your games on Replay over the summer ( One was that Memphis "Buzzer beater" ) and saw some youtube clips

I noticed X had great Defense but kind of Controlled Motion O. So i was wondering if Miller had to play that way because he didn't have a "Offensive Wonderkid" to score all over the place.. Or because he actually likes to run a Controlled Offensive set.

Miller Claims that he is going to Run UpTempo at ARIZONA. Did he consider your Last years team an UP Tempo team?

really good question.

yeah, you can either say that Miller saw that there was no dominant player on the team, so he encouraged them to distribute the ball evenly. Or you can say that was just his style.

I tend to think it was just his style. As PG's often do, Miller likes teams that spread the ball evenly to hedge a weak performance by one player.

I always wondered how Miller's style would work with Jordan Crawford who loves to shoot.

It probably wasn't a good idea for Stanley Burrell to express his hatred towards Sean. But I do think it reveals a coach that pressed the players hard to do what's best for the team instead of themselves.

Miller was in no way an uptempo type coach. Maybe he'll change.

[AZtoCA]

really good question.

yeah, you can either say that Miller saw that there was no dominant player on the team, so he encouraged them to distribute the ball evenly. Or you can say that was just his style.

I tend to think it was just his style. As PG's often do, Miller likes teams that spread the ball evenly to hedge a weak performance by one player.

I always wondered how Miller's style would work with Jordan Crawford who loves to shoot.

It probably wasn't a good idea for Stanley Burrell to express his hatred towards Sean. But I do think it reveals a coach that pressed the players hard to do what's best for the team instead of themselves.

Miller was in no way an uptempo type coach. Maybe he'll change.

Thanks for the reply,

Since i only got to see a limited sample of X games, i wanted to make sure what i saw in those few games was the same thing that was always happening.

Well now Miller Claims he is going to "Run Up Tempo". So hopefully he is adjusting to the players. ( ALso if Miller doesn't run Up Tempo is tough to get the Top 5 star Recruits )

We tend to have players now and in the past that can take over games offensively so it will be interesting to see if he lets them play or try's to control it ..

Maybe it was just the players (Stanley Burrell 39% FG) But doesn't Burrelll say "Miller Stifled our confidence to shoot" or something like that?

[xavierj]

Thanks for the reply,

Since i only got to see a limited sample of X games, i wanted to make sure what i saw in those few games was the same thing that was always happening.

Well now Miller Claims he is going to "Run Up Tempo". So hopefully he is adjusting to the players. ( ALso if Miller doesn't run Up Tempo is tough to get the Top 5 star Recruits )

We tend to have players now and in the past that can take over games offensively so it will be interesting to see if he lets them play or try's to control it ..

Maybe it was just the players (Stanley Burrell 39% FG) But doesn't Burrelll say "Miller Stifled our confidence to shoot" or something like that?

Miller thought they played uptempo last year. I think that is how he likes to play. Run when you can and slow down if it is not there. Xavier was loaded with speed and talented players (Drew Lavender is better then Wise) when they went to the elite 8 two years ago and they still did not run up and down the court. Sean will play games in the upper 60's to low 70's but his team will play great defense and he will coach to win.

[GuyFawkes38]

Herb Sendek was Miller's mentor. Not Thad Matta. Herb runs a structured offense. Right?



When Miller first started coaching I saw him as a players coach. He looked like he was 20. He was very soft spoken and somewhat awkward.

As it turned out, Miller turned into quite the opposite kind of coach. There were times in the past couple years that I felt like the team would implode from his intensity.

Not that that's a bad thing. I think the players really fed off that.

[AZtoCA]

Miller thought they played uptempo last year. I think that is how he likes to play. Run when you can and slow down if it is not there. Xavier was loaded with speed and talented players (Drew Lavender is better then Wise) when they went to the elite 8 two years ago and they still did not run up and down the court. Sean will play games in the upper 60's to low 70's but his team will play great defense and he will coach to win.

Drew Lavender is better than Nic Wise, i'm sure you know alot about wise to make a comment like that.

[GuyFawkes38]

Drew Lavender is better than Nic Wise, i'm sure you know alot about wise to make a comment like that.

I follow Wise on twitter. He seems sort of like a tool (and did he really think he would make the jump to the NBA last year). Outside of that, don't know much about his game. But from a quick look at pomeroy stats, Lavender compares favorably. Lavender was a mcdonalds all american. He's solid.

[AZtoCA]

Herb Sendek was Miller's mentor. Not Thad Matta. Herb runs a structured offense. Right?



When Miller first started coaching I saw him as a players coach. He looked like he was 20. He was very soft spoken and somewhat awkward.

As it turned out, Miller turned into quite the opposite kind of coach. There were times in the past couple years that I felt like the team would implode from his intensity.

Not that that's a bad thing. I think the players really fed off that.

People are always making fun of Herbs Offense or the ASU team in general because they aren't exiting. (Herb has lost a few recruits lately because of his slow style of play like Daniel Bejarano to us)

Well i'm a little worried, If miller is a Sendeck guy.

I think his style will loosen a bit, the players & Crowd will convince him slowly.

[AZtoCA]

I follow Wise on twitter. He seems sort of like a tool (and did he really think he would make the jump to the NBA last year). Outside of that, don't know much about his game. But from a quick look at pomeroy stats, Lavender compares favorably. Lavender was a mcdonalds all american. He's solid.

Nic Wise (15.7 ppg) (4.6ast) (45.2 FG%) (41.5% 3p%) (2.5 rbs) (1.5 spg) jr

Drew Lavender (11.2 ppg) (4.5 ast) (45 FG%) (45% 3p%) (2.4 rbs) (1.3 spg) sen

Wise is really good clutch player that will hit shots when then need to be hit. He still has one more year left and may average 20ppg (like he did the last 10 games of the season)

Wise is among 50 players selected as a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award.

[AZtoCA]

Nic Wise (15.7 ppg) (4.6ast) (45.2 FG%) (41.5% 3p%) (2.5 rbs) (1.5 spg) jr

Drew Lavender (11.2 ppg) (4.5 ast) (45 FG%) (45% 3p%) (2.4 rbs) (1.3 spg) sen

Wise is really good clutch player that will hit shots when then need to be hit. He still has one more year left and may average 20ppg (like he did the last 10 games of the season)

Wise is among 50 players selected as a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award.

They also play in different Conferences, and Hill and Budinger both averaged (18 PPG) so thats why i say he could average 20+ this year he really has a nack for scoring..

[GuyFawkes38]

Nic Wise (15.7 ppg) (4.6ast) (45.2 FG%) (41.5% 3p%) (2.5 rbs) (1.5 spg) jr

Drew Lavender (11.2 ppg) (4.5 ast) (45 FG%) (45% 3p%) (2.4 rbs) (1.3 spg) sen

Wise is really good clutch player that will hit shots when then need to be hit. He still has one more year left and may average 20ppg (like he did the last 10 games of the season)

Wise is among 50 players selected as a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award.

to be fair, miller really likes to spread the ball around.

but yeah, back to the subject, I'm sure if Miller felt his game style hurt recruiting 5 star players, he would change his game style. College basketball is all about recruiting.

[xavierj]

Nic Wise (15.7 ppg) (4.6ast) (45.2 FG%) (41.5% 3p%) (2.5 rbs) (1.5 spg) jr

Drew Lavender (11.2 ppg) (4.5 ast) (45 FG%) (45% 3p%) (2.4 rbs) (1.3 spg) sen

Wise is really good clutch player that will hit shots when then need to be hit. He still has one more year left and may average 20ppg (like he did the last 10 games of the season)

Wise is among 50 players selected as a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award.

I would be surprised if a pg in Miller's system scores 20ppg. He wants his pg's to get everyone involved, not score all the points. And he wants a balanced team, typically about 5 guys who score between 9 and 15 a game. He may change. Drew could have scored 20 a night if Sean allowed him.

[AZtoCA]

I would be surprised if a pg in Miller's system scores 20ppg. He wants his pg's to get everyone involved, not score all the points. And he wants a balanced team, typically about 5 guys who score between 9 and 15 a game. He may change. Drew could have scored 20 a night if Sean allowed him.

Wise ins't a "CHucker" (Allen Iverson) he scores with in the Flow of the game. He still averaged 4.6 ast to LAveders 4.5.

When i say he has a "Nack for Scoring" he scores easily at a high %. You never feel like he is being a ball hog ( 2 other players averaged 18 ppg so he was third in scoring on the team)

[D-West & PO-Z]

People are always making fun of Herbs Offense or the ASU team in general because they aren't exiting. (Herb has lost a few recruits lately because of his slow style of play like Daniel Bejarano to us)

Well i'm a little worried, If miller is a Sendeck guy.

I think his style will loosen a bit, the players & Crowd will convince him slowly.

Yeah because most Division 1 coaches go with what they think the crowd will like most.

Not saying he cant or wont change his coaching philosophy but it will have nothing to do with the fans.

[AZtoCA]

Yeah because most Division 1 coaches go with what they think the crowd will like most.

Not saying he cant or wont change his coaching philosophy but it will have nothing to do with the fans.

Well i ment "Culture" meaning not just the crowd the people in the city the people at the school and Lute Olson himself who is still around.

ARIZONA basketball has a certain "BRAND"

[D-West & PO-Z]

Well i ment "Culture" meaning not just the crowd the people in the city the people at the school and Lute Olson himself who is still around.

ARIZONA basketball has a certain "BRAND"

That should have probably been a priority then when looking for a coach. You hired a coach who has never run that type of offense even when he had the personnel to do so. We all know what a joke of a coaching search it was though, Zona was desperate so they just went with the best they could get reagrdless I guess.

[AZtoCA]

That should have probably been a priority then when looking for a coach. You hired a coach who has never run that type of offense even when he had the personnel to do so. We all know what a joke of a coaching search it was though, Zona was desperate so they just went with the best they could get reagrdless I guess.

Yea they had to go for the best they could get.

Lute Olson loosed up over the years. When i think about it Lute didn't loosen up until he had top PG who could run the show. I guess that's the Key if Miller really trusts a PG to run the team or will Miller call all the plays.

[wkrq59]

AZ,
The players and fans of the Wildcats had better get used to some very unfamiliar things as far as they are concerned.
1)Sean Miller has a weird substitution pattern. He has none. At first it looks like he subs too quickly. Many times after a made basket, he'll send a sub in for the maker.
But at the end of the game his players are fresh, they play hard every minute they are in the game and there is never any discussion of who should go in and who should sit. He'll play maybe 10-12 players a game for 10-15 minutes accrued time each equally. If Wise starts jacking, tough. He'll sit.
2)He will run a patient ball control offense one trip up the floor, the next trip he'll bust out and they'll run like an SOB. He'll run a motion offense with six passes or a layup before a shot then he'll make a team defend for 33 seconds. AND EVERYONE WILL MAKE FREE THROWS OR SHOOT TILL THEY DROP.
3). He'll expect the big men to run the floor, to take what the defense gives them and EVERY PLAYER on Sean Miller's team will defend. I don't care if Wise hits his first 10 3s and nobody else takes a shot, if he doesn't defend, i.e. get back on defense. He'll sit. But he won't be in the game long enough to run off 10 straight threes.
4) Sean Miller has a very thin skin. He did every year he was head coach here, so it's not likely he'll change. He's a man defense coach. So be careful when you ask him how much zone he'll use. Or, why he didn't revert to zone to cover defensive inabilities. I suggest offering him a slug of tequila before you start asking those questions.
5.)Sean reads chatboards. That's the only caveat I'll offer.
6)Unless he is convinced ($$$) to change the way he coaches, there will be no stars on his team. Four and five star rated players, but that means jack shit. If they are not "team" players. they better get acquainted with the word "transfer" and that will also be the case if they don't defend.
He may even find it necessary to "teach the students " how to support the Wildcats. He is a damned good basketball coach but he can be very abrasive. His practices will be closed except for the staged public events. He'll decide which players will be made available to the media and God help the player who doesn't spout the company line. And God help the reporter or electronic media person who get on his list, which of course he doesn't have.
It will be very interesting to see if Sean Miller even listens to fans, boosters, and others of influence and makes any major changes from what I have described. But then those $$$$$$$$$$ do tend to force people to alter their ways, don't they?;););)

[GuyFawkes38]

Q wrote a great analysis.

Bottom line: Miller is an intense guy more like Knight than Wooden. At times I felt like he was too intense. But it worked out for him and X.

[principal]

If Miller is recruiting guys who like to score then I have to believe he will coach them in such a way that they will be able to score. Perhaps he slows a 25ppg guy down to where he is scoring 20ppg, but he isn't going to slow him down to "9-15"ppg. Look at Burrell, you could argue he could have averaged 15ppg under another coach, but he was never going to average 20-25ppg.

[MuskieCinci]

AZ,
The players and fans of the Wildcats had better get used to some very unfamiliar things as far as they are concerned.
1)Sean Miller has a weird substitution pattern. He has none. At first it looks like he subs too quickly. Many times after a made basket, he'll send a sub in for the maker.
But at the end of the game his players are fresh, they play hard every minute they are in the game and there is never any discussion of who should go in and who should sit. He'll play maybe 10-12 players a game for 10-15 minutes accrued time each equally. If Wise starts jacking, tough. He'll sit.
2)He will run a patient ball control offense one trip up the floor, the next trip he'll bust out and they'll run like an SOB. He'll run a motion offense with six passes or a layup before a shot then he'll make a team defend for 33 seconds. AND EVERYONE WILL MAKE FREE THROWS OR SHOOT TILL THEY DROP.
3). He'll expect the big men to run the floor, to take what the defense gives them and EVERY PLAYER on Sean Miller's team will defend. I don't care if Wise hits his first 10 3s and nobody else takes a shot, if he doesn't defend, i.e. get back on defense. He'll sit. But he won't be in the game long enough to run off 10 straight threes.
4) Sean Miller has a very thin skin. He did every year he was head coach here, so it's not likely he'll change. He's a man defense coach. So be careful when you ask him how much zone he'll use. Or, why he didn't revert to zone to cover defensive inabilities. I suggest offering him a slug of tequila before you start asking those questions.
5.)Sean reads chatboards. That's the only caveat I'll offer.
6)Unless he is convinced ($$$) to change the way he coaches, there will be no stars on his team. Four and five star rated players, but that means jack shit. If they are not "team" players. they better get acquainted with the word "transfer" and that will also be the case if they don't defend.
He may even find it necessary to "teach the students " how to support the Wildcats. He is a damned good basketball coach but he can be very abrasive. His practices will be closed except for the staged public events. He'll decide which players will be made available to the media and God help the player who doesn't spout the company line. And God help the reporter or electronic media person who get on his list, which of course he doesn't have.
It will be very interesting to see if Sean Miller even listens to fans, boosters, and others of influence and makes any major changes from what I have described. But then those $$$$$$$$$$ do tend to force people to alter their ways, don't they?;););)

During games Sean isn't the coach doing the subbing. During coaches meetings before the games the coaches will talk and Sean will let them know who he wants playing however many minutes but during the games he gets too intense so he lets his assisstants sub and he just coaches up the guys out there. He will make a few of his own subs but for the most part he delegates that part to his assisstants.

[xunorm]

Nic Wise (15.7 ppg) (4.6ast) (45.2 FG%) (41.5% 3p%) (2.5 rbs) (1.5 spg) jr

Drew Lavender (11.2 ppg) (4.5 ast) (45 FG%) (45% 3p%) (2.4 rbs) (1.3 spg) sen

Wise is really good clutch player that will hit shots when then need to be hit. He still has one more year left and may average 20ppg (like he did the last 10 games of the season)

Wise is among 50 players selected as a candidate for the John R. Wooden Award.

I hope you realize that Lavender's stats were done while having a bum ankle for half the year. Also, I believe 4 players on X had over 2 ast/game so they all shared the ball and led to each other's scoring; not just the pg finding the open guy.


In terms of Miller's style, it can be frustrating, especially at the end of halfs. I always recall the pg dribbling until about five seconds left, getting a pick, trying to get to the lane, but getting stopped and having to heave a bad 3 at the buzzer. Inbounds plays could be a problem as well. In terms of style, the pg makes all the difference. He determines the tempo on who handles the ball; the more trustworthy the higher the tempo. With Lavender, X had many games scoring over 80 points (even had to 100+ outings in a row), so the ball can be pushed. However, selfish players be warned; Miller does not tolerate it, and has a quick fuse on the sideline. And he loves to use the "us against the world" mentality or the "we don't get any respect" line. My question is how will he motivate his team if he keeps recruiting top players, because he might have difficulty finding a way.

[xavierj]

Wise ins't a "CHucker" (Allen Iverson) he scores with in the Flow of the game. He still averaged 4.6 ast to LAveders 4.5.

When i say he has a "Nack for Scoring" he scores easily at a high %. You never feel like he is being a ball hog ( 2 other players averaged 18 ppg so he was third in scoring on the team)

Drew also only took 7 shots a game his junior year compared to wise 11 this past year. Drew also had 4 more assist and 44 less turnovers his junior year. Trust me when I tell you Sean expects his PG turn run his system, not the other way around.

[DC Muskie]

ARIZONA basketball has a certain "BRAND"

Well, ya'll just paid millions to get Sean Miller Brand of basketball.

Sean Miller never trusts a point guard not named Sean Miller.

[Masterofreality]

To Wildcat Fan:

Enjoy A) In- bounds plays that barely get the ball, err, in-bounds.

B) End of game/halves that consist of one guy dribling the ball
then jacking up a 30 footer.

Good times.

[MADXSTER]

ARIZONA basketball has a certain "BRAND"

Xavier has a certain BRAND of basketball too.....meaning, We're going to kick your f*cking ass if we ever meet up with your punk ass, arrogant, self righteous holier than thou, eoo we don't recruit lowly players like Xavier does, egotistical, pompous, pedistal sitting, thinkin ur sh#t doesn't stink, uppity, presumptuous, hoity toity, PRETENTIOUS team carrying bag-o-dicks and your broken down Lexus driving coach.

It truely amazes me that even when Zona fans are trying to be polite and courteous, they still can't help but show their true colors.

It was a great topic until you HAD to throw in a snide, "we're better than you" comment. "Well Buffy, we have our own BRAND of basketball you know. You know our players don't even sweat when they play. That's because their soooo good and soooo superior to all other players you know. Our hoops are 15 foot high because we're just sooo much better than everyone else. Oh, it's Thurston Howell III, he's one of us you know. Pass the caviar dear and be a sport and call for the piss boy.

[XU 87]

Miller struggled a great deal his first two and half seasons at X. Part of that was due to a general lack of talent, particularly at point guard his first two seasons. The other part was probably due to his own inexperience coupled with an inexperienced coaching staff. But midway through his third season, he became a very successful coach.

When he first became the X head coach, he talked about playing more up-tempo. The problem was that he didn't have the type of players to play up-tempo.

My guess is that if he has the horses, he'll play more up-tempo. But KRQ is right about a few things. If you don't play defense you won't play. And you'd better buy into the team concept.

I personally think he is both a very good recruiter and a very good coach, as shown by his results.

[Xpectations]

To Wildcat Fan:

Enjoy A) In- bounds plays that barely get the ball, err, in-bounds.

B) End of game/halves that consist of one guy dribling the ball
then jacking up a 30 footer.

Good times.

The Miller years were VERY GOOD times for Xavier fans regardless of the small nits we might have had from time to time.

Also, my understanding from people on this board was that Mack was responsible for inbounds plays. That may not be true but it was relayed as fact on this board multiple times without any subsequent dispute while Miller was still here.

[DC Muskie]

No doubt Miller was a great for Xavier. But the fact remained, as head coach, his in bounds play lacked, shall we say...success.

It's just same for Skip. Great coach, but I'm glad the days of, "There is no such things as bad shot in Xavier basketball" are over.

[xunorm]

if you want to repeatedly ram your head into a wall, check out the Sports Illustrated site. Not only is their lead college bball article on Miller and his recruiting, but the Truth and Rumors section has one on him as well.

In terms of those UA fans, yes Miller has taken recruits that he looked at while at Xavier

Parrom, Kryrl?, Odom, Johnson, Payne (which I would say would have been a stretch for X)


You can be happy all you want with those recruits, Mack seems to be doing well on his own. My only question is what will happen when the players from the East Coast don't want to go out west, and Miller still doesn't have great connections out there. He has basically just picked up everyone's leftovers (decommits). I am now putting it all behind me and getting ready for practice to start next week.

[BBC 08]

if you want to repeatedly ram your head into a wall, check out the Sports Illustrated site. Not only is their lead college bball article on Miller and his recruiting, but the Truth and Rumors section has one on him as well.

In terms of those UA fans, yes Miller has taken recruits that he looked at while at Xavier

Parrom, Kryrl?, Odom, Johnson, Payne (which I would say would have been a stretch for X)


You can be happy all you want with those recruits, Mack seems to be doing well on his own. My only question is what will happen when the players from the East Coast don't want to go out west, and Miller still doesn't have great connections out there. He has basically just picked up everyone's leftovers (decommits). I am now putting it all behind me and getting ready for practice to start next week.

That quote they have in there from Kyryl to Whitford really kills me.

[DC Muskie]

That quote they have in their from Kyryl to Whitford really kills me.

Yeah, I must say I will not be cheering for that kid.

[bobbiemcgee]

That quote they have in their from Kyryl to Whitford really kills me.

He was right about he wouldn't be playing much @ X. Neither would Parrom. Parrom and Canty have about the same Rivals #'s. JMart will be a Top 10 guy, Griffin could be as good as Kryl so whose worried?

[BBC 08]

He was right about he wouldn't be playing much @ X. Neither would Parrom. Parrom and Canty have about the same Rivals #'s. JMart will be a Top 10 guy, Griffin could be as good as Kryl so whose worried?

If I'm not mistaken, Parrom is 09 while Canty is 10. I don't think we would have gotten Canty if Miller and/or Parrom were still associate with the program.

[bobbiemcgee]

If I'm not mistaken, Parrom is 09 while Canty is 10. I don't think we would have gotten Canty if Miller and/or Parrom were still associate with the program.

Exactly my point, we didn't lose anything:

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=998748

[Xpectations]

Exactly my point, we didn't lose anything:

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=998748

Other than a lean year ('09) in terms of frontcourt depth.

There will be games this season where that will matter, which would have been mitigated to a large extent if we still had Parrom and Kyryl.

Not crying about it. It is what it is. But it will have a negative impact this season.

[XU 87]

Kyryl is a five. X already has two fives in Love and Frease. I never understood where Kyryl was going to play if he came to X.

Parrom probably could have helped a little this year and given some depth at the three. But we already have Jackson, and Crawford can certainly play some three. And I also expect X to play some three guard offense a fair amount.

[jco17]

Xavier has a certain BRAND of basketball too.....meaning, We're going to kick your f*cking ass if we ever meet up with your punk ass, arrogant, self righteous holier than thou, eoo we don't recruit lowly players like Xavier does, egotistical, pompous, pedistal sitting, thinkin ur sh#t doesn't stink, uppity, presumptuous, hoity toity, PRETENTIOUS team carrying bag-o-dicks and your broken down Lexus driving coach.

It truely amazes me that even when Zona fans are trying to be polite and courteous, they still can't help but show their true colors.

It was a great topic until you HAD to throw in a snide, "we're better than you" comment. "Well Buffy, we have our own BRAND of basketball you know. You know our players don't even sweat when they play. That's because their soooo good and soooo superior to all other players you know. Our hoops are 15 foot high because we're just sooo much better than everyone else. Oh, it's Thurston Howell III, he's one of us you know. Pass the caviar dear and be a sport and call for the piss boy.

I understand you are angry, but he didn't mean what you think he meant. When he said BRAND, he meant an up tempo system, and allowing the pg to have a longer leash. He didn't mean to slight Xavier in any way shape or form.

[sirthought]

Miller got many of the same recruits at Arizona he was trying to get to Xavier, so I don't think his offensive approach will change because of personnel. Wise and Lavender...you can argue til the cows come home, the bottom line is Miller used his tools (and he did view them as tools) in the way he thought would win games. Lavender did what he was told to do or he sat.

Loved the wins, but I was always disappointed in our overall offensive look. I don't see Miller changing too much too soon at Arizona. Wonderful that we found ways to get several scorers involved, but there were many opportunities you never saw being created. I'm mostly referring to our lack of screens and double screens. Motion was lacking.

It was amazing that a guy like CJ Anderson bullied to the basket so often, but we didn't see enough of that. Inside play usually came from the pass, which is fine, but more slashing opportunities would have been welcome. (Did we have the ball handlers?)

I see someone like Redford last year and I think this guy could be like a JJ Reddick in many regards. Duke designed an offense to open his long-ball shot no matter what. Redford was often left on his own to figure out how to get open, or he just got lucky. Reddick isn't faster than Redford, he just had a system that let him play to his strengths.

Overall, though, I think Miller is a great coach and is learning how to become a better one.

[jco17]

Miller seems to want a more open offense than he has played. However, he wants it to be under control to limit dumb turnovers. Why force things? That drove me insane the last few years, all the dumb turnovers, because we were forcing things constantly. Not to mention we didn't play defense with the intensity necessary to be successful, but we also lacked the proper depth.

[XU 87]

That drove me insane the last few years, all the dumb turnovers, because we were forcing things constantly. Not to mention we didn't play defense with the intensity necessary to be successful, but we also lacked the proper depth.

Who is this "we" you refer to? Xavier? If so, how can you say X didn't play intense defense? Last year's team made the sweet 16 primarily due to playing great defense.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Who is this "we" you refer to? Xavier? If so, how can you say X didn't play intense defense? Last year's team made the sweet 16 primarily due to playing great defense.

He is a zona fan.

[XU 87]

He is a zona fan.

Thanks for clearing that up.

[jco17]

Who is this "we" you refer to? Xavier? If so, how can you say X didn't play intense defense? Last year's team made the sweet 16 primarily due to playing great defense.

Yes, I'm a Zona fan. Xavier played very intense defense, but Zona on the other hand...not so much.