Greg Christopher Basketball Hires

[BigMoeMusketeer]

First and foremost, let me say that I think Greg has done a lot of really good things on and around campus, and specifically in the Cintas Center. Been a great 6 years in many ways since Greg took over.

However, I thought this was interesting when someone else mentioned it to me in passing, so I wanted to share it. In Greg's 13 years as an A.D., he has four basketball coaches (between Bowling Green and Xavier).

B.G. WBB: Jennifer Roos, who had been the in-house Associate Head Coach, and she compiled a record of 92-97 (which includes going 24-11 and 30-5 in her first two years...but since then going 9-21, 10-18, 8-23, 11-19) before being let go.

B.G. MBB: Louis Orr compiled a career record at B.G. of 101-121 before being relieved of his duties.

Xavier WBB: Brian Neal has gone 76-100 in his career, never finishing better than 8-10 in the Big East. They have made one appearance in the post-season with Brian, in the WBI, in 2014-15. Obviously Brian's early tenure was on the heels of the Amy Waugh fiasco (who was hired by Bobinski), but he has had a lot of time since to get things turned around.

Xavier MBB: Travis Steele, while obviously INCREDIBLY early, is 11-12 as we all know.

This all may mean absolutely nothing, or, well, it doesn't. Time will tell I guess, but that trend is more than a little concerning.

[Xavier]

I brought it up in another thread but with Greg moving into a big role at Xavier while remaining A.D. it will be interesting to see how that plays out if god forbid Steele doesn’t become what I still think he can

[klark]

Given the track record of hiring assistants who understand the program, what would be the argument against Travis?

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Given the track record of hiring assistants who understand the program, what would be the argument against Travis?

I'm not sure if this directly answers your question, but my response would be the same today as it was in March -- just because promoting Sean and Chris worked perfectly, that has 0% to do with whether or not Travis will be a good hire. Sean and Chris are really, really good, so whichever mechanism was used to hire them (whether it was Xavier promoting from within or one of them getting plucked from the bench to be a head coach elsewhere), it was going to look great.

Travis should have been, and hopefully was, hired only if Greg and the Administration were sure he was exactly the right guy -- he should not have been hired because promoting his chair to head coach worked beautifully with Sean and Chris. That isn't a predictor of future success necessarily.

Sorry Klark if that rambling answer didn't answer your question.

[XU 87]

I'm not sure if this directly answers your question, but my response would be the same today as it was in March -- just because promoting Sean and Chris worked perfectly, that has 0% to do with whether or not Travis will be a good hire. Sean and Chris are really, really good, so whichever mechanism was used to hire them (whether it was Xavier promoting from within or one of them getting plucked from the bench to be a head coach elsewhere), it was going to look great.

Travis should have been, and hopefully was, hired only if Greg and the Administration were sure he was exactly the right guy -- he should not have been hired because promoting his chair to head coach worked beautifully with Sean and Chris. That isn't a predictor of future success necessarily.



I don't disagree with this, except to point out that Miller was hired without interviewing any other candidates. Miller was given the job a few hours after Matta left. Mack and Travis were hired after interviewing a number of other candidates. My impression is that more candidates were interviewed in the Travis hiring than in the Mack hiring.

That said, I am sure the fact that hiring within in the program in the past has worked, that had something to do with Travis getting the job.

[xucub]

For once and for all, can we end the myth that Xavier has been successful by always hiring from within? Take a look back at the modern era of Xavier basketball....

Staak - previously an assistant at Penn
Gillen - previously an assistant at Notre Dame
Prosser - not sure how to call this one. He had been an assistant at Xavier for 7 years and then took over the Loyola program. So, technically, he did not come off the bench as an assistant at Xavier, although he had spent the bulk of his coaching time there.
Matta - previously head coach at Butler
Miller - previously assistant at Xavier
Mack - previously assistant at Xavier

So it can be seen that only the last two coaches prior to Steele came directly from the Xavier bench. The four previous coaches came from other universities (again, depending on how you want to classify Prosser.) The myth that Xavier always hires from the bench is just that - a myth.

Given Christopher's track record of hires, did he simply fall for the myth and hire from within? Did he simply hire a guy with a good powerpoint presentation and a good tagline (the final two percent)? I, for one, would have felt much better about the future had this been a Bobinski hire.

[KFX]

Given the track record of hiring assistants who understand the program, what would be the argument against Travis?

Something called the law of independent trials.

[muskies1235]

Time will tell if he made the right hire, but the report that concerned me most during the coaching search was the one that had players threatening the transfer if Steele didn't get the job and that threat factoring in to Christopher's thinking.

I really hope those reports were fabricated

You just can't run a successful program that way.

[klark]

I was just asking if you are Greg Christopher is this what you would have done?

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I trust that the person in charge of hiring, in this case Greg Christopher, did his due diligence in making this hire. IMO I believe it was the right one, I also believe he wasn't left with a whole lot to work with. He may also be different in how he handles situations and players who played under Mack may have expected it to be the same and when it wasn't they acted out. I don't know and can't say for sure but listening to interviews and his radio show it appears he has a plan and is trying to execute it. He may have expected more out of the personnel then they are capable, no clue. At this point, I think some of the guys who are not playing need to go see what they can do.

[KFX]

Umm Prosser, Miller, Mack and Steele. Four of last 5 were assistant coaches at Xavier. Three in a row hired right from the bench. Hardly a myth.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

I was just asking if you are Greg Christopher is this what you would have done?

No.

[X-band '01]

Pat Kelsey may or may not have been a candidate, but his handling of the UMass situation had to have given pause to the search firm looking at candidates.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I get critiques for this season and certain decisions here and there but I just can't fathom why anyone is to the point they are concerned about the hire as a total. Steele is a first year coach who is learning on the job. Now some may argue we should have hired someone who already had head coaching experience and that is fine but even they would have had an adjustment and learning curve as we wouldnt have been getting another coach from another high level basketball school.

Both Mack and Miller went through the same doubts their first season and beyond by fans. Both had fans wanting them fired or questioning their hire and both are what most would call the two best coaches in Xavier history.

Again I get criticism about certain things this year but am very confused by serious doubt about Steele as a whole going forward. Way too early. Go back and find the fire chris mack posts on this very board, funny to read.

[atljar]

Its easy to look at this year, and how things have transpired and say it was a bad/wrong hire.

However.... I vividly remember the overwhelming majority of people here being excited and thrilled about hiring him. I also remember Mack stating that Steele was the correct choice for X (Take that as you want)

I also remember "Fire Mack" comments and requests continually for his first several years so this isnt exactly uncharted territory. What is uncharted, is having the competition level of the BE night in and night out, not only in players, but in opposing coaches for a new hire to contend with. The often regarded worst coaches in the BE are NBA hall of famers.... just saying.

This year is a pass. If next year is just as rough, without improvement, I dont see Steele here in year 3. There is too much money at stake for X to allow a screw up hire to linger.

[drudy23]

Head coaches are always going to take up for their assistants and vice versa....always. That's how jobs are secured.

[Xavier]

I want to make it clear that I have no idea if Steele is the right guy, it’s way too early to tell and both Mack and Miller had rough seasons early on where many were calling for their head. The biggest difference though is Mack and Miller got the benefit of learning in the A-10 where most of the time Xavier had more talent than their opponent. They had a little cushion that Steele does not

[Final4]

Pat Kelsey may or may not have been a candidate, but his handling of the UMass situation had to have given pause to the search firm looking at candidates.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting here. Are you aware of what happened when Pat arrived at UMass for his introduction and what transpired immediately thereafter? And if so, are you implying that he did not handle it appropriately?

[markchal]

Time will tell if he made the right hire, but the report that concerned me most during the coaching search was the one that had players threatening the transfer if Steele didn't get the job and that threat factoring in to Christopher's thinking.

I really hope those reports were fabricated

You just can't run a successful program that way.

I heard something similar (about the players wanting Steele, not that they were gonna leave), so it does seem weird to me that this team seems to have bad body language at times and doesn't seem to have bought in to what Travis wants to do. You'd think if they campaigned pretty hard for the guy and got the guy they want, they'd be buying in a little better.

[XU 87]

I'm not sure what you're suggesting here. Are you aware of what happened when Pat arrived at UMass for his introduction and what transpired immediately thereafter? And if so, are you implying that he did not handle it appropriately?

I've heard that Kelsey took the UMass job before even visiting the facilities. After he looked at the facilities, he didn't like what he saw and decided not to take the job. That said, when you suddenly leave one job without explanation (Xavier), and then take a job and then the next day decide not to take the job (UMass), you're likely going to make other schools think twice before hiring you.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

I get critiques for this season and certain decisions here and there but I just can't fathom why anyone is to the point they are concerned about the hire as a total. Steele is a first year coach who is learning on the job. Now some may argue we should have hired someone who already had head coaching experience and that is fine but even they would have had an adjustment and learning curve as we wouldnt have been getting another coach from another high level basketball school.

Both Mack and Miller went through the same doubts their first season and beyond by fans. Both had fans wanting them fired or questioning their hire and both are what most would call the two best coaches in Xavier history.

Again I get criticism about certain things this year but am very confused by serious doubt about Steele as a whole going forward. Way too early. Go back and find the fire chris mack posts on this very board, funny to read.
Travis may end up being the right guy, and if he, not only will I be thrilled as a Xavier guy, but I'll eat a plate of crow long the way.

However, this thread was intended to point out that Christopher is 0 for 3 in Basketball hires BEFORE making this hire, so it does seem to fair to wonder if that part of the job is in his wheelhouse. Once is an aberration, twice is a coincidence, three times is a trend, so four times....seems to be worth a discussion.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

I've heard that Kelsey took the UMass job before even visiting the facilities. After he looked at the facilities, he didn't like what he saw and decided not to take the job.

You won't find a bigger critic of Pat than I, but you don't even have half the story. There is much about Pat to be critical of, but he handled that UMASS situation the absolute best way he could given what he learned in the locker room minutes before his presser. That situation should not be a strike against him, and again, I'm far from his biggest fan.

[RetireFiftyTu]

Some criticisms of Steele are fair: for example, the defense has been extremely disappointing. But if you think Steele's seat should be hot you are ignorant. What do you want him to do? He has 5 players who are Big East caliber players. There really isn't much that Steele can do. It is an adjustment to becoming a head coach. I think the two best comparisons for this season are Miller's first year (2004-2005) and the season after the brawl (2012-2013). Xavier lost Sato, Chalmers, and Myles from an Elite 8 team. Had good young players who would be the core for the later successes (Doellman, Cage, Burrell, Duncan). Xavier lost Holloway, Lyons, Frease, Wells, and Andre Walker (the entire starting 5). Xavier this year lost Bluiett, Macura, O'Mara, Kanter, and Gates.


2005: Missed tournament
2006: Won 4 games in 4 days to make NCAA Tournament (14 seed)
2007: 9 Seed. One free throw or a correctly enforced call from the Sweet 16
2008: 3 Seed. Elite 8.
2009: 4 seed. Sweet 16. Very nearly another Elite 8 (Derrick Brown's foot was just a little too big)

2013: Missed tournament.
2014: Play-in-game (12 seed).
2015: 6 Seed. Sweet 16. Played Arizona competitively in the Sweet 16.
2016: 2 Seed. Took a questionable call and a miracle shot to lose.
2017: 11 Seed (largely due to injuries and a certain Davis being an idiot). Elite 8.
2018: 1 Seed. Big East Champs. JP fouled out after only committing 2 fouls and Naji was banged up.

Year 1 were completely rebuilding years. Year 2 sneak into the tournament. Year 3 have a good season. Rolling by year 4. Year 5 and on sustain that success.
The rest of the season it is key to have Scruggs and Tyrique continue their elevated level of play, have Naji continue to take steps, and have Q bounce back from his funk. If Harden, Kennedy, or James want to be here long-term they need to prove themselves down the stretch. Xavier has a good class coming in (Harvey could take it next level). If they add a grad transfer at a position where they need help then they should compete for an NCAA Tournament bid again next year. The 2020 class is off to an excellent start with Dwon Odom and they are in on other high level guys. Crush that class and Xavier could have it rolling by year 4 just as Miller and Mack did.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Some criticisms of Steele are fair: for example, the defense has been extremely disappointing. But if you think Steele's seat should be hot you are ignorant.

I assume you're talking to me. I don't think Steele's seat should be hot and nothing in my OP would have led you to think that. I'm not real subtle on here, so if I thought his seat should be hot after 23 games, which would be asinine, I would simply say so.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Travis may end up being the right guy, and if he, not only will I be thrilled as a Xavier guy, but I'll eat a plate of crow long the way.

However, this thread was intended to point out that Christopher is 0 for 3 in Basketball hires BEFORE making this hire, so it does seem to fair to wonder if that part of the job is in his wheelhouse. Once is an aberration, twice is a coincidence, three times is a trend, so four times....seems to be worth a discussion.

To me what he did at Bowling Green is completely irrelevant in terms of hiring coaches. Means zero. It is apples and oranges.

Not to be flippant but I dont care about the womens basketball hire at XU either.

So no I don't consider him 0-3 in basketball hires. I think he is 0-0 with a win or loss pending, which we wont know the result of for another 2 years.

[RetireFiftyTu]

I assume you're talking to me. I don't think Steele's seat should be hot and nothing in my OP would have led you to think that. I'm not real subtle on here, so if I thought his seat should be hot after 23 games, which would be asinine, I would simply say so.

Not a direct response to you. It just seems like over the past week or so people are getting frustrated and blasting Steele. I don't really know what else you want him to do. And your original post is fair. Greg Christopher has not had great success hiring basketball coaches. You would feel more comfortable with Mike Bobinski making the hire but I think he would have made the same decision.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I assume you're talking to me. I don't think Steele's seat should be hot and nothing in my OP would have led you to think that. I'm not real subtle on here, so if I thought his seat should be hot after 23 games, which would be asinine, I would simply say so.

I mean but you are questioning his hire after 23 games which is also kind of asinine. If you weren't there would be no point to this thread. I think you already said you wouldn't have hired Steele.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

To me what he did at Bowling Green is completely irrelevant in terms of hiring coaches. Means zero. It is apples and oranges.

Not to be flippant but I dont care about the womens basketball hire at XU either.

So no I don't consider him 0-3 in basketball hires. I think he is 0-0 with a win or loss pending, which we wont know the result of for another 2 years.

Got it! :drinks:

[D-West & PO-Z]

To be fair I did not go to XU, I am just a lifelong XU basketball fan, so I get those who did may have more invested in all XU sports.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

I mean but you are questioning his hire after 23 games which is also kind of asinine. If you weren't there would be no point to this thread. I think you already said you wouldn't have hired Steele.

I'm not, I'm directly questioning Greg's hires over his career as a Division 1 AD. I think the hires at BG are far more germane to this conversation than you clearly do, which is fine, but at no point did I intend for this thread to be about Travis (we have enough of those going on, to be sure). His ability to hire, which, behind raising money, is the most important skill in his job description, seems to be a fair topic.

I would not have, which, to be honest, is worth exactly zero. Who cares what an anonymous nobody thinks...but I was asked directly, so I answered it. I said at the time I didn't like the staff he put together, and I was bashed. I also said in the fall we would be bad, and was again bashed. Now I say let's look at Greg's hires, and again, bashed. I don't mind being the whipping boy on here, but when these things all come to fruition, I will certainly remember exactly who was dishing out the punches. I'm at the Cintas for every game, so, you know, it is good to have a long memory.

I want nothing more than for Xavier to be awesome, otherwise, I wouldn't be here. However, I think talking about this topic is fair. I also think talking about a staff full of recruiters with no veteran on the bench was fair. I also think talking about this team's clear lack of respect for Travis is fair.

With all of that said, I hope he goes on a 10 year run to end 10 year runs, hanging banners is fun -- this stuff, obviously, is not.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

I will also reiterate, since apparently my ability to communicate with the written word is dodgy at best, that I like Greg, I think he has done many great things around campus during his tenure, including huge improvements in the Cintas Center. I have heard him speak many times and he seems bright, thoughtful, and like a guy who wouldn't take any decision lightly. I'm 100% sure his decision to hire Travis is what he felt was best; and I'm sure if asked, publicly or privately, he'd reiterate that confidence today. As he should.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I'm not, I'm directly questioning Greg's hires over his career as a Division 1 AD.

And indirectly questioning his hire of Travis.

This thread wouldn't exist if the Muskies were 18-5, because his hiring history wouldn't be relevant if Travis was off to booming success.

I am not saying it is wrong to be nervous or upset about the shitty season, or that Steele might not be the right hire. I am saying 23 games is too early to tell for a 1st year head coach. Let's give the coach some time.

Don't pretend to not be questioning the hire of Steele after 23 games as you are questioning the man who hired him's ability to hire successful basketball coaches. Just own it. A lot of people are which I think is silly this early on but obviously things arent off to a great start and people are questioning Steele.

[X_ATL]

What were the options outside of Steele and Kelsey? Just curious for those that are critical of Steele who would of stepped into this situation and done better?

[vee4xu]

In Steele's defense, being a first year coach in either the MCC or the A-10 is markedly different than a first year coach in the BE. I understand that relative to the talent when X went into the MCC and A-10, X has more talent now, but the issue is the BE from top to bottom is big time basketball. Teams in the BE who have struggled lately were basketball powers at one point, DePaul, SJU and G-town. The bottom half of the MCC and A-10 were cupcakes and X's talent at the time could hold their own, especially since X was a growth stock and increasing in talent value. Today, the talent cannot compete when a new coach is faced with coaching his first year in a tough, tough league and has marginal existing talent, one so-so grad transfer and two grad transfer busts and Mack having whiffed on the 2018 recruiting class. The 2019 team should be better, especially in terms of competitiveness, but a big part of it is lining up against great BE talent night in and night out. Next year is big for Coach Steele because if this year repeats itself next year, he'll have no place to hide IMO.

[slysyl]

Everyone slow down and stop throwing everyone under the bus. We lost five very good players from last years team. We don't have five very good players this year; equals bad record. We will be back. Go XAVIER.

[Caf]

And indirectly questioning his hire of Travis.

Sign Moe up for the NFL. The guy is backpedaling at shocking speeds.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

Sign Moe up for the NFL. The guy is backpedaling at shocking speeds.

I am?

[XU 87]

What were the options outside of Steele and Kelsey? Just curious for those that are critical of Steele who would of stepped into this situation and done better?

NKU coach, South Dakota coach, Steve Alford snd Sean Miller, and there were others.

[X-band '01]

Are you sure it was the South Dakota coach and not the South Dakota State coach (TJ Otzelberger)? John Brannen is the NKU coach you're thinking of.

[Masterofreality]

Not a direct response to you. It just seems like over the past week or so people are getting frustrated and blasting Steele. I don't really know what else you want him to do.

Oh, I don't know. And not to blast you FiftyTu, but how about showing some improvement during the year....Kinda like Illinois has, you know, the same team that Xavier beat in Hawaii? Two teams going different directions. Xavier- losing memory of lessons formerly taught with no effective new ones, while Illinois- Learning Lessons and getting better.

And yeah. I'm not afraid to say that I have questions. Just not lots of answers yet.

[Masterofreality]

I will also reiterate, since apparently my ability to communicate with the written word is dodgy at best, that I like Greg, I think he has done many great things around campus during his tenure, including huge improvements in the Cintas Center. I have heard him speak many times and he seems bright, thoughtful, and like a guy who wouldn't take any decision lightly. I'm 100% sure his decision to hire Travis is what he felt was best; and I'm sure if asked, publicly or privately, he'd reiterate that confidence today. As he should.

And I'll step up here and reiterate what I said on a post in the Women's thread. I too like me a LOT of Greg, but his hires have been a bit questionable, or at least incomplete, so far. Not just in basketball. We'll see if Billy Connors works out for baseball, and I sure hope so, but BigMoe's points here are valid.
Greg has done a very good job in many off the court respects, but fundraising has been tightly tied to our Flagship Sport success. What happens if the Flagship starts to sink?
No, I damn sure do not want it to, and I hope that my questions are soon answered in a positive way, but it is fair for BigMoe to bring this up. We play with the Big Boys now people and there is not much room for error, nor any sympathy by your conference mates.

[drudy23]

Was Sean Miller really considered?

I understand you simply can't make that hire, but I'd take him back. You know, assuming he doesn't bring the FBI.

[klark]

And I'll step up here and reiterate what I said on a post in the Women's thread. I too like me a LOT of Greg, but his hires have been a bit questionable, or at least incomplete, so far. Not just in basketball. We'll see if Billy Connors works out for baseball, and I sure hope so, but BigMoe's points here are valid.
Greg has done a very good job in many off the court respects, but fundraising has been tightly tied to our Flagship Sport success. What happens if the Flagship starts to sink?
No, I damn sure do not want it to, and I hope that my questions are soon answered in a positive way, but it is fair for BigMoe to bring this up. We play with the Big Boys now people and there is not much room for error, nor any sympathy by your conference mates.

I agree with both of you, but not giving Steele a chance to get through his first season with a questionable line up could be a recipe for a bigger disaster. What if, for the sake of argument, XU says, "Coach, we have little room for error here and this doesn't seem to be working, we need to move in a different direction." Not saying it would but what then happens to the 5 recruits that are coming, what if they all say you know what, there is no stability there and I want out. I believe it is ok to question what is happening right now, but you have to support him 100% or things get ugly. I coached various levels for 15+ years and have been through years like this, I think it improves next year and patience is required.

[XU 87]

Was Sean Miller really considered?

I understand you simply can't make that hire, but I'd take him back. You know, assuming he doesn't bring the FBI.

The rumor I heard from several different people was that Miller said he would come back. He also said he wouldn't interview- he had to first be offered the job. Due to his baggage, X declined.

As for X-Band post- I think it was SD State coach.

[bleedXblue]

The rumor I heard from several different people was that Miller said he would come back. He also said he wouldn't interview- he had to first be offered the job. Due to his baggage, X declined.

As for X-Band post- I think it was SD State coach.

Yeah but that was Miller running away from a bad situation. Do you really want that guy? Would he stick around for 10 years? I don't know.......

Trust me, I would love to have Sean Miller on the sideline......but under the circumstances...........

[atljar]

Id take him back. My all time favorite X coach, with the exception of his exit strategy

[bjf123]

Id take him back. My all time favorite X coach, with the exception of his exit strategy

I preferred his exit strategy to that of Thad Matta. We were at the Butler County Steak Fry and Thad was asked if he was interested in the Ohio State job. He flat out said he was not interested and not a candidate. The next day, maybe the day after that, he’s announced as their new head coach. My wife is still pissed about that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xukeith]

Was Sean Miller really considered?

I understand you simply can't make that hire, but I'd take him back. You know, assuming he doesn't bring the FBI.

My all time favorite coach.

[xukeith]

Think Archie Miller would be a better hire? I do not.

[XU 87]

Yeah but that was Miller running away from a bad situation. Do you really want that guy? Would he stick around for 10 years? I don't know.......

Trust me, I would love to have Sean Miller on the sideline......but under the circumstances...........

"But for" the circumstances, I would have rehired Miller in a second. Unfortunately, the "but for" is a really, really big issue. I thought X made the right choice by not getting near him.

[Xville]

Think Archie Miller would be a better hire? I do not.

Time will tell....he was very good at Dayton and though indiana has struggled this year, he may still get them into the tourney and then anything can happen. We have nothing to go by with Steele at this point...he could turn out to be great, he could be an absolute bust.

[vee4xu]

Steve Alford is just sitting around collecting checks from UCLA. He is a big name, but isn't without baggage. However, he brings instant credibility and is less expensive because UCLA is likely still paying him, and will be for some time. He would be a good 3-5 year bridge to his next job. In the meantime, he probably gets good recruits and wins lots of games.

[RetireFiftyTu]

Oh, I don't know. And not to blast you FiftyTu, but how about showing some improvement during the year....Kinda like Illinois has, you know, the same team that Xavier beat in Hawaii? Two teams going different directions. Xavier- losing memory of lessons formerly taught with no effective new ones, while Illinois- Learning Lessons and getting better.

And yeah. I'm not afraid to say that I have questions. Just not lots of answers yet.

If Xavier finds a way to win 2 of Providence, Marquette, and Georgetown the season has an entirely different tone and feel to it. X would have been 5-5 with 2 of the next 3 at home. Then we are talking ourselves into maintaining the .500 or better streak in conference play and maybe making a miracle run to win 3 games in 3 days. Now Xavier lost those games because many of the same issues that have hurt them all season happened again so that is frustrating and a little concerning. But in my opinion I am not overly worried because:
1. Most of the core of next years team has gotten better
2. Xavier hasn't been consistently blown out. Xavier has been right there in almost every Big East game. At Marquette and at Creighton were bad but otherwise they have been very competitive. They are just a player or two short this year.
Now the defense (or lack thereof) has been really baffling and to me that is the most concerning thing because Xavier had a lot of roster turnover this past offseason and will again after this season.

[RetireFiftyTu]

So a fair criticism and concern would be that Xavier has not improved as the year has gone along. In this particular season that doesn't worry me but you certainly aren't wrong if you think that is problematic.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Yeah but that was Miller running away from a bad situation. Do you really want that guy? Would he stick around for 10 years? I don't know.......

Trust me, I would love to have Sean Miller on the sideline......but under the circumstances...........

I would have loved to have Miller back given he was cleared which was impossible to do. I think he would have stayed a long, long time. He saw the other side of the unrealistic expectations and lack of appreciation at a close to blue blood program.

[AviatorX]

Steve Alford is just sitting around collecting checks from UCLA. He is a big name, but isn't without baggage. However, he brings instant credibility and is less expensive because UCLA is likely still paying him, and will be for some time. He would be a good 3-5 year bridge to his next job. In the meantime, he probably gets good recruits and wins lots of games.

Wait, what?

[GoMuskies]

Steve Alford is turrible.

[Xavier]

2. Xavier hasn't been consistently blown out. Xavier has been right there in almost every Big East game. At Marquette and at Creighton were bad but otherwise they have been very competitive.


I was saying this the other day- Xavier/Steele are close, almost every game could be decided by a couple of bounces going our way. Then I realized being close in almost every BE game isn't saying as much considering it is the worst level of play we have seen in the new BE.

[Muskie]

Personal Bias: I think the world of Greg Christopher. I have had several occasions to introduce him to groups of other alumni at events and each time I have done so I have proclaimed that he is the best AD in the Big East. I believe that. I also have close family friends that played Women's Basketball at Bowling Green when Greg was the AD there. So I'm familiar with the coaching searches that were conducted at that time. Disclaimer aside:

Comparing his basketball hires at BGSU to X is not an apple to apple comparison. Jennifer Roos was with the BGSU program since 2001. Her first two years as Heach Coach her teams were 54-16 including a MAC title. Nobody thought she was a bad hire. Her next four years were not as successful and she was let go after Greg left. By the way, Greg left BGSU in May of 2013. Roos was 30-5 during the 2013-2014 season. Clearly, Greg should have fired her before he left.

When Louis Orr was hired in 2007, he was fresh off an NCAA tournament appearance as Head Coach of Seton Hall in the Big East (he sat out a year after Seton Hall fired him). He was the highest regarded coach that interviewed for the job. It's not like Greg turned down John Wooden and Coach K to hire Louis Orr. Orr had to deal with a post-Dan Dakich team that finished 12th in the MAC the year before. We could debate whether he held off too long on getting rid of Orr, but that's beside the point.

So.. which candidate did you want him to hire this past season who was a real possibility? Steve Alford did such a bang up job at UCLA he's now being paid not to coach. I don't think Sean Miller was a viable option, though he's had a better year than Travis this season. Your other option was apparently Pat Kelsey, and I think there's a genuine debate on whether he would be the right person for this job at the time Travis was hired. Once again, Greg didn't pick Travis over Coach K or John Wooden.

I believe Greg is the right AD for X and Travis will prove to be the right Coach for X going forward. It may require patience, something that is in short supply in the instant gratification era. The way some of you act, it's Greg and Travis' fault that Trevon and JP were allowed to graduate and leave the team.

[Xpectations]

I agree with Muskie.

Look, it's always fair to wonder whether we have the right guy for the future prior to it being proven.

That said, I'm really not that fearful that Travis isn't (and wasn't) the right guy. I still feel very good about the hire and our future.

I just wish it would get here faster.

[vee4xu]

Wait, what?

Just moving the conversation along into another direction.

[BigMoeMusketeer]

This thread just gets more and more interesting. Given Melanie Moore's tenure at Xavier thus far with WBB, safe to say Greg's hiring trends continue to be consistent.

[Xville]

He might be a swell guy and a good fundraiser. I couldn’t even pick the guy out of a lineup. However, I want him as far away as possible if a basketball hire needs to be made. . His track record in that respect is absolutely awful.

[Masterofreality]

So a fair criticism and concern would be that Xavier has not improved as the year has gone along. In this particular season that doesn't worry me but you certainly aren't wrong if you think that is problematic.

This from one of the sharpest posters ever on this board from FOUR years ago still rings true.

[Xavier]

He might be a swell guy and a good fundraiser. I couldn’t even pick the guy out of a lineup. However, I want him as far away as possible if a basketball hire needs to be made. . His track record in that respect is absolutely awful.

Yep. I get at BG it can be hard to bring in decent coaches but I don’t think he has has one good hire for a major sport. (Couldn’t tell you about other Olympic sports). He went safe with Steele, X had a proven track record going that route. Search committees seem like a waste, but it’s needed here

[Final4]

This from one of the sharpest posters ever on this board from FOUR years ago still rings true.

Boy you’re constantly looking for validation aren’t you. Is it really that important that you seek out a few random voices on a message board to prop up your opinions?

[GoMuskies]

Yep. I get at BG it can be hard to bring in decent coaches but I don’t think he has has one good hire for a major sport. (Couldn’t tell you about other Olympic sports). He went safe with Steele, X had a proven track record going that route. Search committees seem like a waste, but it’s needed here

I thought the Mel Moore hire was pretty safe and vanilla as well. Go get Louisville's top assistant, or Notre Dame's or Baylor's or UConn's. Michigan? Pretty unremarkable women's program.