Coach Steele

[Final4]

Or allowed a Board member who's son-in-law was a coach - not sure which happened first. Steele has been here for a long time.

Go to propublica.org and type in Xavier University. You can pull up tax returns by year that provide a lot of information including Travis’ salary and the date Mike McCaw (Travis’ FIL) was added to the BOT. Mike was added to the Board the year after Travis was named head coach.

[GoMuskies]

Steele met his wife at Xavier, right?

[Final4]

Steele met his wife at Xavier, right?

I don't know if you mean that literally.....such as she was a student at X and they met on campus.......I don't know that. I do know that he got married as an assistant coach a X.

[GoMuskies]

I mean that he met her after taking the job as an assistant at Xavier(?)

[drudy23]

Sounds like Steele was a coach when Board member was appointed. Steele hadn't met his future wife yet. So no conflict at the time.

However, the question, I guess, remains that would that Board member remain as a Board member after they tied the knot. Or Steele would have to coach somewhere else. No exactly the same as the Miller situation, but in the same ballpark.

[Final4]

Sounds like Steele was a coach when Board member was appointed. Steele hadn't met his future wife yet. So no conflict at the time.

However, the question, I guess, remains that would that Board member remain as a Board member after they tied the knot. Or Steele would have to coach somewhere else. No exactly the same as the Miller situation, but in the same ballpark.

No that is not correct. I don't know the exact dates but the timeline was: Travis becomes an assistant coach, then Travis gets married, then Travis becomes head coach, then FIL gets appointed to the BOT.

[GoMuskies]

OK, so the problem was appointing his dad in law to the Board.

[D-West & PO-Z]

One of our very own xavierhoops posters is a board member. I did not know that until I just started looking at the BoT list.

[drudy23]

One of our very own xavierhoops posters is a board member. I did not know that until I just started looking at the BoT list.

There is a sh*t ton of BOTs - do all of those people really get a say? Seems like a giant cluster to get that many people on the same page.

[D-West & PO-Z]

There is a sh*t ton of BOTs - do all of those people really get a say? Seems like a giant cluster to get that many people on the same page.

That I have no idea. I am sure some have much more sway than others.

[GoMuskies]

One of our very own xavierhoops posters is a board member. I did not know that until I just started looking at the BoT list.

Are you talking about the poster who has endowed Coach Hayes's position?

[MHettel]

There is a sh*t ton of BOTs - do all of those people really get a say? Seems like a giant cluster to get that many people on the same page.

Bro. It's academia. Is there any other way?

Why the hell do you think it costs 60K a year?

[Xville]

There is a sh*t ton of BOTs - do all of those people really get a say? Seems like a giant cluster to get that many people on the same page.

Yep a whole lot of waste… just like every large corporation/organization. I’m shocked! Shocked I tell you.

I mean take a look at the Xavier mens basketball staff..a whole lot of nothing going on there. For instance, the current Strength and conditioning coach? What does that guy do…certainly not anything to do with making our guys look like they have seen a weight room.

[X-band '01]

One of our very own xavierhoops posters is a board member. I did not know that until I just started looking at the BoT list.

I know the poster you're talking about - not sure when the good Doc was elevated to Trustee.

[A Fan]

Go to propublica.org and type in Xavier University. You can pull up tax returns by year that provide a lot of information including Travis’ salary and the date Mike McCaw (Travis’ FIL) was added to the BOT. Mike was added to the Board the year after Travis was named head coach.

In the world of Corporate Governance you never put a senior executive’s family member on the Board for the reason that surfaces here. Steele was the Basketball Coach …perhaps the “ highest profile” person within the institution. And now everyone can claim that he won’t be fired because the Board does not want to embarrass another Board member by firing his son in law.
On Sedler, we now have the insinuation he is the “ shot collar “ on Travis’ tenure. Again, taking money from someone and giving them institutional input on which coach is hired or stays is an abdication of institutional control. I don’t know the facts but hate the possibility that would be true.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Are you talking about the poster who has endowed Coach Hayes's position?

Don't know anything about the Coach Hayes endowed position, so not sure.

[GoMuskies]

Hayes is the Crawford Family Associate Head Coach

[Masterofreality]

Fat Cat money has a say in every college’s high profile job choices-especially in sports. It makes no difference if you are a public or private school. That is just a fact.
(See University of Louisville)

[A Fan]

Fat Cat money has a say in every college’s high profile job choices-especially in sports. It makes no difference if you are a public or private school. That is just a fact.
(See University of Louisville)

“ Having a Say “ can be interpreted in multiple ways. Of course major donors are asked their opinion as a matter of respect. Your post suggested something far different. That Steele would not be fired unless Sedler agreed. And that as of now …he was not agreeing.

[MHettel]

In the world of Corporate Governance you never put a senior executive’s family member on the Board for the reason that surfaces here. Steele was the Basketball Coach …perhaps the “ highest profile” person within the institution. And now everyone can claim that he won’t be fired because the Board does not want to embarrass another Board member by firing his son in law.
On Sedler, we now have the insinuation he is the “ shot collar “ on Travis’ tenure. Again, taking money from someone and giving them institutional input on which coach is hired or stays is an abdication of institutional control. I don’t know the facts but hate the possibility that would be true.

Uhhh. I worked at 2 companies that were 50+ years old, and had gone public in the most recent 20 years. The "family" still owned a boat load of shares in both companies and held 4-5 of the 9-11 board positions. The rest of the board was literally their friends.

dont be fooled

[Masterofreality]

“ Having a Say “ can be interpreted in multiple ways. Of course major donors are asked their opinion as a matter of respect. Your post suggested something far different. That Steele would not be fired unless Sedler agreed. And that as of now …he was not agreeing.

I said what I said. Sedler, who has endowed the head coaching position “has a say” along with others that are heavily financially involved.
He is not the only one. I “suggested” nothing more than that.
But, the Fat Cats would have to ante up for a buy out, and I can assure you they are not there yet.

[Xville]

How much is Steele’s buy out? He has two years left, so I assume in the neighborhood of 2 mil? Is that accurate?

I know x isn’t flush with cash, I understand that but man what’s it going to cost to not do something

[D-West & PO-Z]

Hayes is the Crawford Family Associate Head Coach

Good to know....that is who I was referencing.

[Masterofreality]

Good to know....that is who I was referencing.

Dr KCraw is a Great American, a wonderful guy, has a beautiful family and is a Lew Hirt Society Brother!
And we are proud to have him in the fold!

[xudash]

Dr KCraw is a Great American, a wonderful guy, has a beautiful family and is a Lew Hirt Society Brother!
And we are proud to have him in the fold!

He’s a class act.

[X-band '01]

Thing is, I've met two of his brothers (one of whom was a classmate at Xavier), but I have not met the esteemed doctor in person yet.

[Irishjohn68]

Might as well get rid of Steele now before the BE tournament. My God he sucks. Four years of falling apart in Feb is enough.

[Lloyd Braun]

If we have Travis next year again the coaching staff would really benefit from an ex-head coach in the twilight of their career that loves to teach basketball. Some of the fundamentals and mechanics on the team are very very rusty. That goes from shooting, to how to box out, where to close out on a defender, how to be in position when you get the ball, etc.
I feel embarrassed for them at so many critical moments.

[Xville]

If we have Travis next year again the coaching staff would really benefit from an ex-head coach in the twilight of their career that loves to teach basketball. Some of the fundamentals and mechanics on the team are very very rusty. That goes from shooting, to how to box out, where to close out on a defender, how to be in position when you get the ball, etc.
I feel embarrassed for them at so many critical moments.

So in other words, things you learn in 1st or 2nd grade. My niece’s team, who are first graders, have been taught and know how to play help d. That’s completely foreign to Steele, and the players on this team.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

All levels of hall have things players need to know, Steele and staff just don’t know them or recruited players who won’t learn them. It is very telling that teams the play us twice always come out better on us than we are on them. We may beat Georgetown, tough I doubt it, but no way we beat butler. They beat us again in New York.

[muskiefan82]

It is time for Travesty Reel to move on

[Xville]

Anyone know what Steele’s buy out is? Do we need to set up a gofundme?

[GoMuskies]

I've always mostly avoided Xavier twitter as it has a reputation of being a bit.....odd. Whew, went out there today, and there are still some pretty vocal. staunch Steele defenders. Makes no sense.

[drudy23]

I've always mostly avoided Xavier twitter as it has a reputation of being a bit.....odd. Whew, went out there today, and there are still some pretty vocal. staunch Steele defenders. Makes no sense.

The only ones defending at this point are doing it for political reasons (they have some type of personal stake in keeping him on) - I even saw a Twitter post from one of the game day crowd ladies, and she even said it's time for Steele to move on. Yikes.

[Xavier]

Trashing players on Twitter is so lame. It certainly isn’t unique to Xavier. I just hope the fans don’t harass his family again- way over the line

[sgarcia]

I know that there are people who are pro Steele remaining as the coach. If any of them are on this board could they please provide a detailed explanation of why he should be the head coach next season?

[Masterofreality]

I know that there are people who are pro Steele remaining as the coach. If any of them are on this board could they please provide a detailed explanation of why he should be the head coach next season?

Cause Christopher gave him a one year extension to 2024 after his first year and they won’t pay the buyout.
Nothing more than that.
Christopher looking worse by the day in this Athletic Department.

[Masterofreality]

I've always mostly avoided Xavier twitter as it has a reputation of being a bit.....odd. Whew, went out there today, and there are still some pretty vocal. staunch Steele defenders. Makes no sense.

Banners on the Parkway is the worst. For access reasons obviously

[Masterofreality]

It is time for Travesty Reel to move on

This is good! Public reps!

[GoMuskies]

Banners on the Parkway is the worst. For access reasons obviously

Last night even broke them.

[xuphan]

Trashing players on Twitter is so lame. It certainly isn’t unique to Xavier. I just hope the fans don’t harass his family again- way over the line

Are these the twitter goons Travis has talked about?

[muskiefan82]

I want to know this. Travis has to have friends in the college coaching ranks. has he reached out to any of them to dissect his team, watch his practices, analyze what he is doing and give some honest, critical feedback? I mean it has been 4 years of EXACTLY THE SAME THING. Surely, (don't call me Shirley) he must have SOMEONE who is good enough to really tell him what they see so he can try to improve. If he hasn't done that, then shame on him. And if he has, then he either can't listen or he needs better coaching friends.

[drudy23]

I want to know this. Travis has to have friends in the college coaching ranks. has he reached out to any of them to dissect his team, watch his practices, analyze what he is doing and give some honest, critical feedback? I mean it has been 4 years of EXACTLY THE SAME THING. Surely, (don't call me Shirley) he must have SOMEONE who is good enough to really tell him what they see so he can try to improve. If he hasn't done that, then shame on him. And if he has, then he either can't listen or he needs better coaching friends.

If we're to that point, and he hasn't made any coaching staff moves, then shame on him.

He's a "my guy" type of guy. He thinks making changes is a reflection on his decision making, and instead is doubling down on "his guys", players and coaches.

[CinciReds11]

I've always mostly avoided Xavier twitter as it has a reputation of being a bit.....odd. Whew, went out there today, and there are still some pretty vocal. staunch Steele defenders. Makes no sense.

There will always be the faction that doesn't allow any negative talk of the program no matter what.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

There will always be the faction that doesn't allow any negative talk of the program no matter what.
It should be kept to the truth and not vulgar, but this is life. If you constantly fail at your task you will rightfully receive criticism the amount of which increases with each failure.

It’s called being an adult and being accountable.

[xuphan]

I know that there are people who are pro Steele remaining as the coach. If any of them are on this board could they please provide a detailed explanation of why he should be the head coach next season?

I am going to attempt to defend why Steele should be here next year. Steele took over a very depleted roster when Mack left. He spent the first two years bring in transfers to help stabilize the roster. Then COVID hit causing him to miss the NCAA tournament as it was cancelled and made it difficult to recruit from nationally bringing kids to campus. He then was hit hard by injuries last year with Paul and Nate. Lost his best shooter in CJ over the spring and He had big injuries this year with Kyky and Nate. His players have also let him down with poor decision making, rebounding, missing open shots, and poor free throw shooting. Some may blame Steele for this but he is not the one doing these things. Players have and should take responsibility for their poor play. Next year, Steele has a great recruiting class full of length, athleticism, and shooting with Claude, Craft, Ward, Tucker. He will also lose Paul, and Nate who havenÂ’t lived up to the leadership roles Steele thought he was getting with them. Mix in Edwards, Odom, and Jones and this team should be really exciting next year. Coaches such as Jay Wright and Coach Cooley have praised Steeles coaching ability. He is also a really nice guy who does a lot for the Xavier community. This is my attempted defense of Steele.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Putting hope on 4 players who haven’t play one minute of college ball isn’t wise. His tactical errors are glaring and player development is certainly on both sides but you would think some would get better. Also, if I was a BE coach I would love Steele also. He is very predictable and for any good coach easy to scheme against.

[A Fan]

I am going to attempt to defend why Steele should be here next year. Steele took over a very depleted roster when Mack left. He spent the first two years bring in transfers to help stabilize the roster. Then COVID hit causing him to miss the NCAA tournament as it was cancelled and made it difficult to recruit from nationally bringing kids to campus. He then was hit hard by injuries last year with Paul and Nate. Lost his best shooter in CJ over the spring and He had big injuries this year with Kyky and Nate. His players have also let him down with poor decision making, rebounding, missing open shots, and poor free throw shooting. Some may blame Steele for this but he is not the one doing these things. Players have and should take responsibility for their poor play. Next year, Steele has a great recruiting class full of length, athleticism, and shooting with Claude, Craft, Ward, Tucker. He will also lose Paul, and Nate who havenÂ’t lived up to the leadership roles Steele thought he was getting with them. Mix in Edwards, Odom, and Jones and this team should be really exciting next year. Coaches such as Jay Wright and Coach Cooley have praised Steeles coaching ability. He is also a really nice guy who does a lot for the Xavier community. This is my attempted defense of Steele.

Just to add this. It is all about making the threes. Steele is criticized for running a perimeter offense. Everyone has to run “ some” perimeter offense, more so when you don’t have big, strong , physical 4 ‘s and 5 ‘s who can bully their way to the rim. Steele is criticized for encouraging his team to take 3 ‘s though they are horrible but for the infrequent, inexplicable nights everyone falsely thinks are normative. Offensively, what is he supposed to do that he is not doing? Scheme to get them better looks? They get fabulous looks because everyone lets them shoot as much as they want. How do you think that they had 11 more shots than St. John’s but lost by 15 ? They made 5 three’s on 30 attempts. Shot 32 percent from the field. Do you think Jay Wright “ taught “ Colin Gillespie to shoot? That Chris Mack “ taught “Trevon Bluett to shoot? They were naturals of which we have none. You can blame him for recruiting , but no one is going to win with this group of poor shooters. Particularly when they have an average defense and don’t take care of the ball.

[Masterofreality]

Steele’s first year was NOT a depleted roster. He had experience and some solid transfers and credit to Steele for getting them here. They went to the NIT and should have beaten Texas if Q could have made one free throw. That’s why Christopher gave him an extension- on hope.
But he misused Hanky and lineups until year end. They should have had a better record.
This revision of history about the “depleted roster” will always drive me crazy.

[RetireFiftyTu]

I would be pretty surprised if Steele is fired after this season. Not saying he shouldn't be but I would just be surprised.

There have been 40 power conference coaches fired in the last 20-25 years after 4 or fewer seasons. 13 had some type of off the court issues so 27 were fired for performance. Steele is top 5 among these 27 in overall W% and conference W%. 24/27 had either multiple losing records overall or the bottom just completely fell out one year (talking like 3 or fewer conference wins).

The 3 that most closely compare to Steele are Archie Miller, Avery Johnson, and Dino Gaudio.

Archie Miller: 67-58 overall (.536), 33-45 Big Ten (.423), 1-3 Big Ten Tournament
2018: 16-15 (9-9, T-6th B1G - 5th toughest conference), KP: 71, no postseason
2019: 19-16 (8-12, 9th B1G - 2nd toughest conference), KP: 52, NIT 1 seed (4th team out of NCAAT)
2020: 20-12 (9-11, T-10th B1G - 1st toughest conference), KP: 34, Bracket Matrix - 10 seed in NCAAT (COVID cancelled tournament)
2021: 12-15 (7-12, T-10th B1G - 1st toughest conference), KP: 50, no postseason
Archie just never got over the hump. The pressure to win at IU is too much to justify bringing him back with those results.

Avery Johnson: 75-62 overall (.547), 34-38 SEC (.472), 6-4 SEC Tournament
2016: 18-15 (8-10, 10th SEC - 6th toughest conference), KP: 96, NIT 5 seed
2017: 19-15 (10-8, T-5th SEC - 5th toughest conference), KP: 56, NIT 3 seed
2018: 20-16 (8-10, T-9th SEC - 4th toughest conference), KP: 57, 9 seed NCAAT (advance to R32)
2019: 18-16 (8-10, T-9th SEC - 4th toughest conference), KP: 64, NIT 1 see (3rd team out of NCAAT)
A new AD came in for Bama midway through his tenure plus they have SEC money.

Dino Gaudio: 61-31 overall (.663), 27-21 ACC (.563), 0-3 ACC Tournament
2008: 17-13 (7-9, T-7th ACC - 3rd toughest conference), KP: 73, no postseason
2009: 24-7 (11-5, T-2nd ACC - 5th toughest conference), KP: 24, 4 seed NCAAT (lost in R64)
2010: 20-11 (9-7, 5th ACC - 2nd toughest conference), KP: 58, 9 seed NCAAT (advance to R32)
Just a baffling decision to fire Gaudio.

Travis Steele: 68-49 overall (.581), 30-37 Big East (.448), 1-3 Big East Tournament
2019: 19-16 (9-9, T-3rd BE - 5th toughest conference), KP: 65, NIT 3 seed
2020: 19-13 (8-10, T-6th BE - 3rd toughest conference), KP: 45, projected as last team or two in or first team or two out (COVID cancelled tournament)
2021: 13-8 (6-7, 7th BE - 6th toughest conference), KP: 66, no postseason
2022: 17-12 (7-11, 8th BE - 4th toughest conference), KP: 54, postseason TBD

My point is this: I think Steele will be brought back. Every situation is different but comparing Steele to the 3 comparable coaches - Xavier is not Indiana, Alabama had a new athletic director and have all kind of money, and Wake Forest made a baffling decision. If Xavier loses out and misses the tournament than maybe there is a chance. With the lost revenue from COVID I would be surprised if Steele is not back next season. Not saying I agree with that.

[X-band '01]

There's depleted and then there's scorched earth when Kevin McGuff left the women's program.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Learn from mistakes, this is where we are going.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Steele’s first year was NOT a depleted roster. He had experience and some solid transfers and credit to Steele for getting them here. They went to the NIT and should have beaten Texas if Q could have made one free throw. That’s why Christopher gave him an extension- on hope.
But he misused Hanky and lineups until year end. They should have had a better record.
This revision of history about the “depleted roster” will always drive me crazy.

Agree. Steele had plenty to work with but never seemed to have the players. They weren't with him, and I assumed, at the time, the lack of buy-in reflected his sudden elevation to top dog and the players inability to see him as anything but number two. Who knows? looking back over the last four years, I don't get the feeling the players have ever been completely with him and now, it seems, he has lost the team.

I have never met Steele. Everything I have ever heard about him from those who know him has been very positive. Same for his wife as well. They are classy people who outside of wins and losses have done nothing that hasn't reflected positively on X. I hate, like just about everyone else on this board, what has happened to the program on his watch. It is difficult for me to digest that an otherwise sensible looking hire could go so wrong. I cannot fathom a coach who hasn't seemed to adjust, mature or otherwise improve, one bit, from his first year. That lack of seasoning is just incredible to me.

I am firmly in the camp that we need a clean sweep, but I believe it is more likely that Steele gets extended than terminated. And, if that occurs, I just don't see a path to restoration. Coach Steele doesn't seem to have the skills to lead a major college program in as competitive a conference as the B.E. For those relying on a return of veterans and an influx of heralded recruits, I think you may be kidding yourselves. We've heard that song before. We all thought the return of Scruggs, Nate and Free, were going to pay huge dividends this year but look what happened. Instead of going the last 2%, we got turned around and retraced the 98% that started with Stack thirty-five, or so, years ago. I started following the Muskies in Larkin's freshman year and I cannot recall the program being as low as it is today.

I cannot wait for the end of the season. Funny thing is I felt that last year and the year before that one.

[boozehound]

Steele’s first year was NOT a depleted roster. He had experience and some solid transfers and credit to Steele for getting them here. They went to the NIT and should have beaten Texas if Q could have made one free throw. That’s why Christopher gave him an extension- on hope.
But he misused Hanky and lineups until year end. They should have had a better record.
This revision of history about the “depleted roster” will always drive me crazy.

Solid point about the roster. Here is the core of the 'depleted' roster that Steele got handed.

JR - Tyrique Jones
SO - Paul Scruggs
JR - Quentin Goodin
SO - Naji Marshall

He added transfers in Zach Hankins, Ryan Welage, and Kyle Castlin to fill out the roster.

It wasn't a stacked roster, but it had a pretty solid core including a guy who plays in the NBA.

It's going to be really hard to get excited for next season if Steele is still the coach.

[Xavier]

I certainly don’t look at that roster with high expectations. The bar is always the tournament, that looks like a first round exit or ceiling of second round. I give steele a pass on first year coach in big East. (Though funny enough it happened to be his best coaching adjustments of all four years. I legit thought he turned the corner putting two bigs out. Being tough minded Defense. I thought it was refreshing to see him play to his team’s strengths and not force things. He showed signs that year)

[Masterofreality]

I certainly don’t look at that roster with high expectations. The bar is always the tournament, that looks like a first round exit or ceiling of second round. I give steele a pass on first year coach in big East. (Though funny enough it happened to be his best coaching adjustments of all four years. I legit thought he turned the corner putting two bigs out. Being tough minded Defense. I thought it was refreshing to see him play to his team’s strengths and not force things. He showed signs that year)

The difference? He had two SOLID and somewhat BEEFY bigs in Tyrique and Hanky. How did he not see that he continued to need that?
Instead, he has only recruited finesse bigs that can't bang. That has been a huge problem.
-Roster mistake #1

[Final4]

I am firmly in the camp that we need a clean sweep, but I believe it is more likely that Steele gets extended than terminated.

Interesting. I've heard that some are considering the best possible path going forward would be a two-year extension. The major provision of that new contract would be the language dealing with termination. Specifically, termination with or WITHOUT cause can be executed with zero compensation. I asked why in the world anyone would agree to that and the response was.......he has zero leverage. So in effect the lame-duck status is removed, he can continue to recruit and if they want to terminate him after next season they save $1.7mm.

[xuwillie]

Solid point about the roster. Here is the core of the 'depleted' roster that Steele got handed.

JR - Tyrique Jones
SO - Paul Scruggs
JR - Quentin Goodin
SO - Naji Marshall

He added transfers in Zach Hankins, Ryan Welage, and Kyle Castlin to fill out the roster.

It wasn't a stacked roster, but it had a pretty solid core including a guy who plays in the NBA.


It's going to be really hard to get excited for next season if Steele is still the coach.


with and average coach that is an NCAA tournament team that probably wins a game. Steele is not average or even close to it

[xuphan]

Solid point about the roster. Here is the core of the 'depleted' roster that Steele got handed.

JR - Tyrique Jones
SO - Paul Scruggs
JR - Quentin Goodin
SO - Naji Marshall

He added transfers in Zach Hankins, Ryan Welage, and Kyle Castlin to fill out the roster.

It wasn't a stacked roster, but it had a pretty solid core including a guy who plays in the NBA.

It's going to be really hard to get excited for next season if Steele is still the coach.

Let’s dive into the core of this team here. Mack left and so to did the core of this team with Bluiett and JP. Two high quality leaders and playmakers were gone leaving Steele with the four players you had mentioned. Naji was the core playmaker of the team and we pretty much played Najiball through him. Unfortunately, he did not have much help. Q became a shell of himself for whatever reason. Hanky and Jones were good support players but not consistently good enough to carry the team when needed. Paul was also nothing more than a support player with the rest of the players. So this team had one stud with a couple of supporting players. They really missed having a second stud who could take the load when Naji wasn’t on or was targeted by the other team. Saying this “core” group was good enough to definitely make the NCAA tournament is a bit of a stretch in my opinion. Again, this is just my attempt to justify Steele being here next year. This is not my true opinions on the matter.

[boozehound]

Let’s dive into the core of this team here. Mack left and so to did the core of this team with Bluiett and JP. Two high quality leaders and playmakers were gone leaving Steele with the four players you had mentioned. Naji was the core playmaker of the team and we pretty much played Najiball through him. Unfortunately, he did not have much help. Q became a shell of himself for whatever reason. Hanky and Jones were good support players but not consistently good enough to carry the team when needed. Paul was also nothing more than a support player with the rest of the players. So this team had one stud with a couple of supporting players. They really missed having a second stud who could take the load when Naji wasn’t on or was targeted by the other team. Saying this “core” group was good enough to definitely make the NCAA tournament is a bit of a stretch in my opinion. Again, this is just my attempt to justify Steele being here next year. This is not my true opinions on the matter.

I didn't say it was a great core, but I don't think of that is 'the cupboard is bare' territory. Trevon and JP were big losses, but he still inherited a heck of a player in Naji Marshall. I'm also not sure you get to completely absolve the head coach for whatever the hell happened to Goodin, either. A big part of the job is getting the most out of your players, and Goodin's production really dropped off when Travis came on board. Add Castlin, Welage, and Hankins to the mix and I think you have a tournament team with a competent coach. Not a team likely to make a deep run, but a tournament team.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

I didn't say it was a great core, but I don't think of that is 'the cupboard is bare' territory. Trevon and JP were big losses, but he still inherited a heck of a player in Naji Marshall. I'm also not sure you get to completely absolve the head coach for whatever the hell happened to Goodin, either. A big part of the job is getting the most out of your players, and Goodin's production really dropped off when Travis came on board. Add Castlin, Welage, and Hankins to the mix and I think you have a tournament team with a competent coach. Not a team likely to make a deep run, but a tournament team.

Absolutely right on! Not a great team but should have achieved more than it did. Also, in Q's first two years, he was O.K. In fact, he played well enough his sophomore year to create the high expectations around his play which he subsequently trashed in his final two years. I have long believed that Q devolved because Steele permitted him to devolve. Just like today we have players jacking threes and playing dumb because Steele doesn't put a stop to it. Steele wasn't then, and isn't today, strong enough to compel a team of talented individuals to play better together than the sum of their individual talents.

[xudash]

Absolutely right on! Not a great team but should have achieved more than it did. Also, in Q's first two years, he was O.K. In fact, he played well enough his sophomore year to create the high expectations around his play which he subsequently trashed in his final two years. I have long believed that Q devolved because Steele permitted him to devolve. Just like today we have players jacking threes and playing dumb because Steele doesn't put a stop to it. Steele wasn't then, and isn't today, strong enough to compel a team of talented individuals to play better together than the sum of their individual talents.

Let's read that again:

Steele wasn't then, and isn't today, strong enough to compel a team of talented individuals to play better together than the sum of their individual talents.

That, my friends, when it is all said and done, and we are looking in the rearview mirror of this guys tenure on Victory Parkway, that is the very core of the problem with this guy. And he pissed the "tough" culture away along with his laissez faire approach.

[xuphan]

I didn't say it was a great core, but I don't think of that is 'the cupboard is bare' territory. Trevon and JP were big losses, but he still inherited a heck of a player in Naji Marshall. I'm also not sure you get to completely absolve the head coach for whatever the hell happened to Goodin, either. A big part of the job is getting the most out of your players, and Goodin's production really dropped off when Travis came on board. Add Castlin, Welage, and Hankins to the mix and I think you have a tournament team with a competent coach. Not a team likely to make a deep run, but a tournament team.

Fair but he was still missing another playmaker when Naji wasn’t playing well or other teams targeted him on defense. The rest of the team were semi-decent supporting players but they couldn’t take the production load when Naji wasn’t on. Plus, Steele should have made the tournament the year that it was cancelled.

[xu82]

I think where we sit right now says all we need to know.

[Masterofreality]

Fair but he was still missing another playmaker when Naji wasn’t playing well or other teams targeted him on defense. The rest of the team were semi-decent supporting players but they couldn’t take the production load when Naji wasn’t on. Plus, Steele should have made the tournament the year that it was cancelled.

I was at the DePaul game at MSG. We lost that game horribly. Then everything stopped.
After witnessing that crapshow I will say with authority. No Steele did not make the tournament the year it was cancelled. He should have before he blew the Butler game at home, but he would have not.
By the way. That particular team was preseason ranked at 19. They dropped out of the poll after losing to an abjectly horrible Wake Forest team and never showed up again.

[xuphan]

I was at the DePaul game at MSG. We lost that game horribly. Then everything stopped.
After witnessing that crapshow I will say with authority. No Steele did not make the tournament the year it was cancelled. He should have before he blew the Butler game at home, but he would have not.
By the way. That particular team was preseason ranked at 19. They dropped out of the poll after losing to an abjectly horrible Wake Forest team and never showed up again.

We will never know but I still think we would have been one of the last 4 in the tournament that year. Most of the board wants Travis to go which is fair as he hasn’t lived up to the expectations of this program in my opinion. However, getting rid of him most likely means we will lose everyone in our current recruiting class as well as several other players on the team. So my question to the board is, who would you bring in to replace Travis knowing that we won’t have very much money to pay the new coach as we would be paying a lot of money on the buyout? Would Christopher make a good hire or would the fan base be negative to the hire he makes? Would this coach be better than Travis with the money we would have to offer and would the fans be ok with a couple of this years Georgetown type seasons as it will take at least 2 seasons to rebuild the squad. We don’t want to be a hire/fire type of program that gets rid of coaches every 3-4 years. Or do you give Travis another year and let his contract rundown to pay less of a buyout if this pattern continues? Interested to see what Christopher does.

[waggy]

Christopher can hire miller and keep his job.

[xuphan]

Christopher can hire miller and keep his job.

Miller is coming here for a Salary under a million per year?

[waggy]

Why’d they join the be ? To cash checks?

[IM4X]

SteeleÂ’s first year was NOT a depleted roster. He had experience and some solid transfers and credit to Steele for getting them here. They went to the NIT and should have beaten Texas if Q could have made one free throw. That’s why Christopher gave him an extension- on hope.
But he misused Hanky and lineups until year end. They should have had a better record.
This revision of history about the “depleted roster” will always drive me crazy.

This was one of a number of huge issues that Steele showed such stubbornness. It was beyond frustrating to see him continually shoot down the idea of having the two bigs on the floor together during the season until he got desperate. A few posters on this board agreed with Steele and mocked those of us who suggested Hankins and Jones on the floor together would prove to be a better answer.

Steele had a number of excuses, including his concern it would lead to quicker fouls for those two bigs. The opposite proved to be true. He finally played the two and realized he indeed had a much better team when both bigs were on the floor together. With Hankins wingspan and with the leaping ability of Jones, it made opposing offenses nervous to drive in the lane. unfortunately, Steele would again misuse Hankins multiple times later - including Hankins final game.

[JTG]

I don't think firing Steele would lead to a mass exodus as much as keeping him would. It's fairly clear he's lost the team. Hire someone like Miller and guys would be lining up to come to X. It's more likely we turn into Georgetown if Steele stays. And some mid major nobody would also lead to an exodus.

[xuphan]

I don't think firing Steele would lead to a mass exodus as much as keeping him would. It's fairly clear he's lost the team. Hire someone like Miller and guys would be lining up to come to X. It's more likely we turn into Georgetown if Steele stays. And some mid major nobody would also lead to an exodus.

Like I said though, how is Christopher and Xavier going to afford to bring Miller in if they are paying Steele’s buyout?

[MHettel]

I would like to see him go. And I’d like to bring in an experienced guy with a proven system that he can recruit into immediately. We will probably lose players and maybe recruits, so a new coach would need to bring in some guys quickly.

If we pull the trigger, it needs to be almost immediately after our season ends and then get your new guy in place as fast as possible to stabilize things. Can’t let the situation languish.

I’d take Miller. Never thought I’d say that, but I would. I imagine he could get a roster put together. Very quickly and has a shot at keeping our recruits.

What I don’t understand is the current contract situation for Steele. We are afraid of the buyout, so why would we extend him for 2 years. It will still have a buyout of some kind. Kicking the problem down the road 2 year doesn’t make it go away. If we extend him and then suck next year, then what?

I mentioned in another post that we probably have the lowest “cost per win” of any team in the country for the last 25 years. We hire young guys that do t make much. When they succeed, we increase their pay, but not quite to the market rate. Then they leave and we have no buyout costs or severance. We went the cheap route on coaching and got away with it for a long time. The stakes are too high now. Bring back Miller. I bet he’d take a little less than he’s worth to get the opportunity and to make the numbers work out a little more.

[waggy]

Like I said though, how is Christopher and Xavier going to afford to bring Miller in if they are paying Steele’s buyout?

Call a bank

[xuphan]

I would like to see him go. And I’d like to bring in an experienced guy with a proven system that he can recruit into immediately. We will probably lose players and maybe recruits, so a new coach would need to bring in some guys quickly.

If we pull the trigger, it needs to be almost immediately after our season ends and then get your new guy in place as fast as possible to stabilize things. Can’t let the situation languish.

I’d take Miller. Never thought I’d say that, but I would. I imagine he could get a roster put together. Very quickly and has a shot at keeping our recruits.

What I don’t understand is the current contract situation for Steele. We are afraid of the buyout, so why would we extend him for 2 years. It will still have a buyout of some kind. Kicking the problem down the road 2 year doesn’t make it go away. If we extend him and then suck next year, then what?

I mentioned in another post that we probably have the lowest “cost per win” of any team in the country for the last 25 years. We hire young guys that do t make much. When they succeed, we increase their pay, but not quite to the market rate. Then they leave and we have no buyout costs or severance. We went the cheap route on coaching and got away with it for a long time. The stakes are too high now. Bring back Miller. I bet he’d take a little less than he’s worth to get the opportunity and to make the numbers work out a little more.

I just don’t see how we can afford the buyout and the money it is going to take to bring Miller back. The question is do you bring in a no name mid major coach who will take the money Xavier will offer a new coach? It will definitely be a gamble that may or may not pay off.

[waggy]

I just don’t see how we can afford the buyout and the money it is going to take to bring Miller back. The question is do you bring in a no name mid major coach who will take the money Xavier will offer a new coach? It will definitely be a gamble that may or may not pay off.

Then X doesn’t belong in this conference despite having a paid for arena

[paulxu]

Also, in Q's first two years, he was O.K. In fact, he played well enough his sophomore year to create the high expectations around his play which he subsequently trashed in his final two years. I have long believed that Q devolved because Steele permitted him to devolve.

Not quite. In Q's second year (Mack's last) he had 8.7pts/game and 4.9 assists...feeding guys like Trevon and JP

In his third year (Steele's first) he had 11.0pts/game and 4.8 assists.

He didn't regress until his last year, when Scruggs and Marshall took some of the assist load. The team still averaged about the same totals as the year before.

[xuphan]

Then X doesn’t belong in this conference despite having a paid for arena

I don’t disagree with what you are saying but Xavier has not in the past put up a bunch of money to get a new coach. Maybe things will change but I don’t see it happening.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Not quite. In Q's second year (Mack's last) he had 8.7pts/game and 4.9 assists...feeding guys like Trevon and JP

In his third year (Steele's first) he had 11.0pts/game and 4.8 assists.

He didn't regress until his last year, when Scruggs and Marshall took some of the assist load. The team still averaged about the same totals as the year before.

Actually, his play and his attitude began to deteriorate under Steele. I was at every home game, sitting behind the X bench and I saw a different Q beginning his junior year. He displayed a visibly different attitude toward Steele and less focus in his play. His field goal percentage declined markedly from his sophomore year at the same time that his field goal attempts rose by 25%. Additionally, his free throw percentage declined his third year. Quoting a couple of stats that were marginal improvements from the prior year doesn't establish your conclusion. I was there, in person, and the player I watched in 2018 was not the same player I saw in previous years. I reiterate. His play began to decline in Steele's first year.

[JTG]

I don’t disagree with what you are saying but Xavier has not in the past put up a bunch of money to get a new coach. Maybe things will change but I don’t see it happening.

I'm pretty sure X got buyout money from Mack, and because he had no experience Steele came cheap. They were willing to pay Mack close to $3mil to keep him. They can afford Miller in a tiered contract where his pay depends on results. Also the Fox TV $ and BE tournament money is more than before. Parking , seats, seat licenses and concessions and advertising have all gone up. We're not Butler. According to Forbes magazine we make a tidy profit off bball.

[GoMuskies]

I just don’t see how we can afford the buyout and the money it is going to take to bring Miller back. The question is do you bring in a no name mid major coach who will take the money Xavier will offer a new coach? It will definitely be a gamble that may or may not pay off.

I don't see how Xavier can afford to NOT buy out Steele and bring in the right coach (Miller or whoever). With the caveat that if we make the tournament I support Steele coming back. Sneaking in would be like a C- season that puts you on academic probation. But doesn't quite get you kicked out.

[xudash]

I'm pretty sure X got buyout money from Mack, and because he had no experience Steele came cheap. They were willing to pay Mack close to $3mil to keep him. They can afford Miller in a tiered contract where his pay depends on results. Also the Fox TV $ and BE tournament money is more than before. Parking , seats, seat licenses and concessions and advertising have all gone up. We're not Butler. According to Forbes magazine we make a tidy profit off bball.

Hey, check this post out. Someone who knows what they're talking about.

+ - Beyond what Xavier is willing to do package-wise for Miller, Sean himself will view this as one of the most remarkable opportunities for resurrection ever offered a head coach. And better yet, he'll be more loyal than he was the last time around, when he really struggled with leaving for Arizona. He loves Xavier. His wife loves Cincinnati. Xavier now offers the Big East - the conference affiliation issue that cost us the guy the first time around not only is toast, but you have in Sean Miller a former star HS and collegiate player who is the son of an iconic Pittsburgh high school coach who actually played in the Big East in its prior configuration.

I truly believe, if we are bright enough to bring him back NOW (i.e. after this failure of a season ends the way it will end), that he will stay at X. He'll eventually be sitting in the middle of a handsome 7-digit package, in a top conference, at a serious basketball school, with one of the finest on-campus facilities in the nation.

I see no - I SEE ZERO - baggage with making this happen. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

[MHettel]

I just don’t see how we can afford the buyout and the money it is going to take to bring Miller back. The question is do you bring in a no name mid major coach who will take the money Xavier will offer a new coach? It will definitely be a gamble that may or may not pay off.

No. We’re in the big leagues now. We worked 30 years to get here. That approach is decidedly NOT a big league move. This is the cost of competing at this level ( or NOT competing at this level)

[xu82]

Hey, check this post out. Someone who knows what they're talking about.

+ - Beyond what Xavier is willing to do package-wise for Miller, Sean himself will view this as one of the most remarkable opportunities for resurrection ever offered a head coach. And better yet, he'll be more loyal than he was the last time around, when he really struggled with leaving for Arizona. He loves Xavier. His wife loves Cincinnati. Xavier now offers the Big East - the conference affiliation issue that cost us the guy the first time around not only is toast, but you have in Sean Miller a former star HS and collegiate player who is the son of an iconic Pittsburgh high school coach who actually played in the Big East in its prior configuration.

I truly believe, if we are bright enough to bring him back NOW (i.e. after this failure of a season ends the way it will end), that he will stay at X. He'll eventually be sitting in the middle of a handsome 7-digit package, in a top conference, at a serious basketball school, with one of the finest on-campus facilities in the nation.

I see no - I SEE ZERO - baggage with making this happen. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Amen!

The man held me down.

[xavbball]

Hey, check this post out. Someone who knows what they're talking about.

+ - Beyond what Xavier is willing to do package-wise for Miller, Sean himself will view this as one of the most remarkable opportunities for resurrection ever offered a head coach. And better yet, he'll be more loyal than he was the last time around, when he really struggled with leaving for Arizona. He loves Xavier. His wife loves Cincinnati. Xavier now offers the Big East - the conference affiliation issue that cost us the guy the first time around not only is toast, but you have in Sean Miller a former star HS and collegiate player who is the son of an iconic Pittsburgh high school coach who actually played in the Big East in its prior configuration.

I truly believe, if we are bright enough to bring him back NOW (i.e. after this failure of a season ends the way it will end), that he will stay at X. He'll eventually be sitting in the middle of a handsome 7-digit package, in a top conference, at a serious basketball school, with one of the finest on-campus facilities in the nation.

I see no - I SEE ZERO - baggage with making this happen. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Great post!

[SemajParlor]

Serious question and not saying this condescendingly.. you guys really think Sean Miller is a potential replacement for Xavier?

[Masterofreality]

Serious question and not saying this condescendingly.. you guys really think Sean Miller is a potential replacement for Xavier?

Yes.

[xudash]

Yes.

Absolutely. Assuming we have a clue.

[XUBison]

Absolutely. Assuming we have a clue.

This is the rub, right? I would bring Miller back in a heartbeat, but my sense has been this is a nonstarter for the university — We don’t do wrong at Xavier, and we must not sully our (sanctimonious) image. I am at the point, however, where anyone at the university who believes bringing him back would be a net negative for the university should declare themselves, walk off campus, and never return.

As for the money, how much do we think Miller would be making today if he had never left X? Every bit of the supposed $3M Mack was to make if he had stayed, and I suspect even more. How else would we have kept him that long? This is something X needs to figure out, or like others have said, we should get out. Our assistant positions are apparently endowed for God’s sake! Has this not been done so we can prepare for moments like this?

Dash is right. We can sell it as the prodigal son returning home— a second chance for redemption— forgiveness. You know, Catholic/Jesuit concepts of fairness and justice. And, we would be making an unapologetic decision designed to protect the very machine that built the damn image in the first place. We are at a crossroads, and the right path is so obvious.

[xudash]

This is the rub, right? I would bring Miller back in a heartbeat, but my sense has been this is a nonstarter for the university — We don’t do wrong at Xavier, and we must not sully our (sanctimonious) image. I am at the point, however, where anyone at the university who believes bringing him back would be a net negative for the university should declare themselves, walk off campus, and never return.

As for the money, how much do we think Miller would be making today if he had never left X? Every bit of the supposed $3M Mack was to make if he had stayed, and I suspect even more. How else would we have kept him that long? This is something X needs to figure out, or like others have said, we should get out. Our assistant positions are apparently endowed for God’s sake! Has this not been done so we can prepare for moments like this?

Dash is right. We can sell it as the prodigal son returning home— a second chance for redemption— forgiveness. You know, Catholic/Jesuit concepts of fairness and justice. And, we would be making an unapologetic decision designed to protect the very machine that built the damn image in the first place. We are at a crossroads, and the right path is so obvious.

To amplify your post, how about if we ask a very basic question: are the powers that be at Iona happy or sad? And that is with a guy that had some truly egregious behavior.

[IM4X]

Hey, check this post out. Someone who knows what they're talking about.

+ - Beyond what Xavier is willing to do package-wise for Miller, Sean himself will view this as one of the most remarkable opportunities for resurrection ever offered a head coach. And better yet, he'll be more loyal than he was the last time around, when he really struggled with leaving for Arizona. He loves Xavier. His wife loves Cincinnati. Xavier now offers the Big East - the conference affiliation issue that cost us the guy the first time around not only is toast, but you have in Sean Miller a former star HS and collegiate player who actually played in the Big East in its prior configuration where he got the assist for the famous (Rafferty) “Send it in Jerome” dunk that Jerome Lane threw down and shattered the backboard in the process … and who was on Johnny Carson as a boy because of tricks he could do with multiple basketballs and who is the son of an iconic Pittsburgh high school coach.

I truly believe, if we are bright enough to bring him back NOW (i.e. after this failure of a season ends the way it will end), that he will stay at X. He'll eventually be sitting in the middle of a handsome 7-digit package, in a top conference, at a serious basketball school, with one of the finest on-campus facilities in the nation.

I see no - I SEE ZERO - baggage with making this happen. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

If you’re going all in on the guy, you probably don’t want to leave out these two pretty special moments in his life.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=90&v=P8LYSSwaRWE&feature=emb_logo

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=53&v=JNqiiMWt3Qc&feature=emb_logo

[xuphan]

Hey, check this post out. Someone who knows what they're talking about.

+ - Beyond what Xavier is willing to do package-wise for Miller, Sean himself will view this as one of the most remarkable opportunities for resurrection ever offered a head coach. And better yet, he'll be more loyal than he was the last time around, when he really struggled with leaving for Arizona. He loves Xavier. His wife loves Cincinnati. Xavier now offers the Big East - the conference affiliation issue that cost us the guy the first time around not only is toast, but you have in Sean Miller a former star HS and collegiate player who is the son of an iconic Pittsburgh high school coach who actually played in the Big East in its prior configuration.

I truly believe, if we are bright enough to bring him back NOW (i.e. after this failure of a season ends the way it will end), that he will stay at X. He'll eventually be sitting in the middle of a handsome 7-digit package, in a top conference, at a serious basketball school, with one of the finest on-campus facilities in the nation.

I see no - I SEE ZERO - baggage with making this happen. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Hope you are right but I don’t see Xavier doing that.

[XUGRAD80]

Obviously none of us know Miller personally, nor where he is in his thinking at this time in his life. We do know that he was back on campus, and did address the current team not that long ago, so I think it’s safe to assume that the athletic administration has no problem with him being associated with the program in at least a small way. I would hope that before they allowed that they had some conversations with him regarding what happened at Arizona. I do not believe that admin at X has a win at all cost mentality, so I don’t see them allowing a person that they feel is guilty of outright cheating and lying to the NCAA to be associated with the program in any way. If they are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, so am I.

I was a big fan of his coaching and his teams while at X, but after what happened at Arizona I was very much against him returning to X. But after thinking about it and talking with some other, I’ve changed my mind. I think I would welcome him back now. But I would put into the contract that if there was anything that happened regarding the breaking of NCAA rules, even by his assistant coaches, that reached the level of tier 1 violations, he would immediately be suspended, and even terminated after proper investigation. He MUST be required to keep institutional control of his players and coaches.

[Murph85]

Obviously none of us know Miller personally, nor where he is in his thinking at this time in his life. We do know that he was back on campus, and did address the current team not that long ago, so I think it’s safe to assume that the athletic administration has no problem with him being associated with the program in at least a small way. I would hope that before they allowed that they had some conversations with him regarding what happened at Arizona. I do not believe that admin at X has a win at all cost mentality, so I don’t see them allowing a person that they feel is guilty of outright cheating and lying to the NCAA to be associated with the program in any way. If they are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, so am I.

I was a big fan of his coaching and his teams while at X, but after what happened at Arizona I was very much against him returning to X. But after thinking about it and talking with some other, I’ve changed my mind. I think I would welcome him back now. But I would put into the contract that if there was anything that happened regarding the breaking of NCAA rules, even by his assistant coaches, that reached the level of tier 1 violations, he would immediately be suspended, and even terminated after proper investigation. He MUST be required to keep institutional control of his players and coaches.

I know someone that spent time with him while he was at UConn game. About two hours to be exact. Had some back and forth. 99.9999% he would accept head coaching job. Had nothing to say but how awesome the Cintas is and how the program is designed for NCAA basketball. Commented on the amazing upgrades since he left. (Cintas)

[RetireFiftyTu]

I don't think Xavier would hire Miller unless he is totally cleared by the NCAA. But I would be all for him.

Let's pretend they won't touch him though. I see very few realistic names actually thrown around. My thought process would be this.

Ideally you hire a head coach who has proven it at the high major level and isn't a total retread. After going through every possible high major option I am left with only one name that is both at least mildly interests me and MAYBE could be possible: Kyle Smith at Washington State.

If that doesn’t happen then I’d go down to the mid-major plus level (AAC, MWC, A-10, WCC). There are a fair amount of interesting names to me here actually that could be realistic. Todd Golden at San Francisco, Niko Medved at Colorado State, Jeff Linder at Wyoming. Then you have two really young guys with upside in their first year as a head coach in Kyle Neptune at Fordham and Kim English at George Mason.

Next you would go down to mid and low majors. Interesting names there would be Grant McCasland at North Texas, Lamont Paris at Chatanooga, Dennis Gates at Cleveland State, Matt McMahon at Murray State, Eric Henderson at South Dakota State.

Also you have the guys that are former head coaches but not currently a head coach anywhere. The only two names among this bunch would be John Beilein (very unlikely) and Mark Turgeon.

Whoever Xavier would potentially hire would be a risk. I don’t see a slam dunk outside of Miller (which probably isn’t happening). I think the two most important characteristics I would want the next coach to have is head coaching experience and experience recruiting at the high major level (even as just an assistant).

[GoMuskies]

I also don't think Xavier would hire him, but the best unemployed college coach (well, other than Beilein who is old as dirt) is Gregg Marshall. Rumors of him on K State's campus recently.

If you're going to talk about mid-major coaches, you have to throw Kelsey in the mix, too. I understand not wanting to get into that, but if we have an opening and are looking at that level, he certainly has to be considered.

[bleedXblue]

Why would Sean pick us over Pitt? His alma mater and his home town.

Pitt may not buy him out and allow him to return for 2023.

[Xville]

Why would Sean pick us over Pitt? His alma mater and his home town.

Pitt may not buy him out and allow him to return for 2023.

A buddy of mine is a huge Pitt fan and said that the ad there most likely won’t want to hire miller for fear of muddying the waters. He said the financials and focus of sports is all in on the football program and basketball is taking a back seat anyways.

[Xville]

Why would Sean pick us over Pitt? His alma mater and his home town.

Pitt may not buy him out and allow him to return for 2023.

A buddy of mine is a huge Pitt fan and said that the ad there most likely won’t want to hire miller for fear of muddying the waters. He said the financials and focus of sports is all in on the football program and basketball is taking a back seat anyways.

He also said capel’s buy out is pretty large so he may get one more year anyways

[xuwillie]

I also don't think Xavier would hire him, but the best unemployed college coach (well, other than Beilein who is old as dirt) is Gregg Marshall. Rumors of him on K State's campus recently.

If you're going to talk about mid-major coaches, you have to throw Kelsey in the mix, too. I understand not wanting to get into that, but if we have an opening and are looking at that level, he certainly has to be considered.

I think steele sucks but if you can't get a miller type then you may as well bite the bullet and keep him for another year to see if these recruits pan out.

[bleedXblue]

A buddy of mine is a huge Pitt fan and said that the ad there most likely won’t want to hire miller for fear of muddying the waters. He said the financials and focus of sports is all in on the football program and basketball is taking a back seat anyways.

What is muddying the waters? I'm confused on that one.

I can assure you that Pitt wants to win basketball games and they could offer a package similar to X very easily.

[Xville]

What is muddying the waters? I'm confused on that one.

I can assure you that Pitt wants to win basketball games and they could offer a package similar to X very easily.

Meaning, she is very risk adverse and doesn’t like baggage.

Yeah they want to win bb games, but again big buyout for capel and by big I mean 15 million, and financials are moving toward football. Basketball was the bell cow there for a long time, no longer

[bleedXblue]

Meaning, she is very risk adverse and doesn’t like baggage.

Yeah they want to win bb games, but again big buyout for capel and by big I mean 15 million, and financials are moving toward football. Basketball was the bell cow there for a long time, no longer

No one "likes" baggage

No one wins without taking some risk. Sean did that at Arizona. It is happening everywhere to a certain degree.

Most of the time, they settle on a buyout much smaller than the actual contractual number.

I bet Capel would go away for 3-4 mil

[Xville]

No one "likes" baggage

No one wins without taking some risk. Sean did that at Arizona. It is happening everywhere to a certain degree.

Most of the time, they settle on a buyout much smaller than the actual contractual number.

I bet Capel would go away for 3-4 mil

Just telling you what you asked about in regards to why miller would choose x over pitt. Answer is that he may not have that choice for reasons I stated. if you then want to argue about it as an outsider, even though my info comes directly from someone who is a season ticket holder at pitt and closer to the situation, than have it. Don’t know why you asked the question then.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Miller argument, I think you should look at Sampson. He had similar stink on him and he spent a few years on an nba bench before he got his Houston redemption job. Miller may not get a job one year after his ignominious exit at UA.

[RetireFiftyTu]

I also don't think Xavier would hire him, but the best unemployed college coach (well, other than Beilein who is old as dirt) is Gregg Marshall. Rumors of him on K State's campus recently.

If you're going to talk about mid-major coaches, you have to throw Kelsey in the mix, too. I understand not wanting to get into that, but if we have an opening and are looking at that level, he certainly has to be considered.

Oh Gregg Marshall is no doubt a great coach. Didn't include him because I figured there was no way Xavier would hire him. As for Kelsey he would definitely get consideration. The goal would be to hire the best coach possible - Xavier ties or not. And there are numerous options that have proven way more than Kelsey. Same goes for Mark Schmidt. He's done a good job at Bonaventure, but if he wasn't a former Xavier assistant would he get consideration? Probably not.

[Muskie]

Oh Gregg Marshall is no doubt a great coach. Didn't include him because I figured there was no way Xavier would hire him. As for Kelsey he would definitely get consideration. The goal would be to hire the best coach possible - Xavier ties or not. And there are numerous options that have proven way more than Kelsey. Same goes for Mark Schmidt. He's done a good job at Bonaventure, but if he wasn't a former Xavier assistant would he get consideration? Probably not.

IF... and at the moment it is an "if".... Xavier has a coaching search they should hire the best candidate available regardless of their connection to Xavier. We can't conduct an A-10 level HC search now that we are in the Big East. A connection to Xavier could be used as tie breaker between two equally qualified candidates. But it can't be the determining factor.

[Xuperman]

IF... and at the moment it is an "if".... Xavier has a coaching search they should hire the best candidate available regardless of their connection to Xavier. We can't conduct an A-10 level HC search now that we are in the Big East. A connection to Xavier could be used as tie breaker between two equally qualified candidates. But it can't be the determining factor.

I would love to hear the pros-cons on Kelsey. The UMass cold feet thing doesn't move the needle negatively for me, but would be interesting to see where y'all stand.

[bleedXblue]

Just telling you what you asked about in regards to why miller would choose x over pitt. Answer is that he may not have that choice for reasons I stated. if you then want to argue about it as an outsider, even though my info comes directly from someone who is a season ticket holder at pitt and closer to the situation, than have it. Don’t know why you asked the question then.

I was looking for legitimate reasons. LOL

I'm a Xavier season ticket holder. That doesn't mean my perception of what's going on with Christopher and XU leadership is accurate at all.......

[Xavier]

Unless he is completely cleared of NCAA stuff, Miller won’t be an option. Maybe that stance will have changed as the season has gone along and pressure builds, but that’s the stance I was told from someone that has a close ear to the program.

[Xville]

I was looking for legitimate reasons. LOL

I'm a Xavier season ticket holder. That doesn't mean my perception of what's going on with Christopher and XU leadership is accurate at all.......

Those are legitimate reasons but ok. They have football, that makes a ton more money than basketball ever will. Most of the focus is there, and a city/state school typically don’t care about optics of baggage like a catholic school does. However this particular ad does. All of this on top of a 15 million dollar buy out that goes down to 5 next year . Just because you have a differing opinion, doesn’t make that illegitimate.

In other words, Miller isn’t going there, at least not this year

[Blue Blooded-05]

I know someone that spent time with him while he was at UConn game. About two hours to be exact. Had some back and forth. 99.9999% he would accept head coaching job. Had nothing to say but how awesome the Cintas is and how the program is designed for NCAA basketball. Commented on the amazing upgrades since he left. (Cintas)

Stop doing this to me!

I always doubt the legitimacy of fan forum "sources," but this made me subconsciously consider the unthinkable: rooting against Xavier the next 2 games

[Murph85]

Stop doing this to me!

I always doubt the legitimacy of fan forum "sources," but this made me subconsciously consider the unthinkable: rooting against Xavier the next 2 games


I am with you. Against my better judgement and nature, if the admin would commit to hiring SM I would be pulling for a loss. He is a known commodity with long term benefits. We would probably keep the good players and recruits AND be a great choice for transfers. It is such a no brainer it makes me lose sleep. I do not want to see the gradual descent of the MBB program.

And the info is solid. I could give more details but all you get is second guessed,

[murray87]

Rather than such an intense focus on the results of these next 2 or 3 games, I hope to heck that the administration has seen enough to know that it's time to move on from Steele. The team suddenly rallying to get into the tourney would be great but is it going to be due to a sudden change in his coaching style/philosophy? He seems pretty dang set in his ways.

[xavbball]

Unless he is completely cleared of NCAA stuff, Miller won’t be an option. Maybe that stance will have changed as the season has gone along and pressure builds, but that’s the stance I was told from someone that has a close ear to the program.

That's not surprising to me, but this kind of thinking will make this program a BE bottom feeder. Christopher has a bad track record of coaching hires. Folks can point the finger at Miller and call him a cheater. The reality is that what Miller did has been happening for decades. It's how you get recuits at the highest level unfortunately. I'm not going to say what he did was "no big deal" but again, it's the dark side of the business.

Miller will come with the risk of the NCAA stuff. Nobody can predict the future, but I won't be surprised if nothing comes of it given the state of NCAA athletics today. Players are getting paid. Take for example, the University of Texas football program. In need of offensive line recruits, a booster of the program helped set up a NIL deal that would pay $50,000 to each offensive lineman. No surprise that UT suddenly became a destination for offensive linemen transfers and recruits.

College athletics that we've known has changed. Anything related to the NCAA stuff with Miller will likely be a short term risk anyway. Creighton got penalized and they are doing just fine. Thinking long-term, we can go with one of Christopher's hires (likely another dud) or we hire a proven coach who loves the program and will get us back to where we all want to be.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Also we do it to and so does everyone else, we just don’t on that big of a scale.

That said, I hate retreads. This one I would back. I think UA gave him a raw deal, but I see where they were coming from. He is good and it’s clear the way Steele recruits that X is a good spot.

[XUBison]

That's not surprising to me, but this kind of thinking will make this program a BE bottom feeder. Christopher has a bad track record of coaching hires. Folks can point the finger at Miller and call him a cheater. The reality is that what Miller did has been happening for decades. It's how you get recuits at the highest level unfortunately. I'm not going to say what he did was "no big deal" but again, it's the dark side of the business.

Miller will come with the risk of the NCAA stuff. Nobody can predict the future, but I won't be surprised if nothing comes of it given the state of NCAA athletics today. Players are getting paid. Take for example, the University of Texas football program. In need of offensive line recruits, a booster of the program helped set up a NIL deal that would pay $50,000 to each offensive lineman. No surprise that UT suddenly became a destination for offensive linemen transfers and recruits.

College athletics that we've known has changed. Anything related to the NCAA stuff with Miller will likely be a short term risk anyway. Creighton got penalized and they are doing just fine. Thinking long-term, we can go with one of Christopher's hires (likely another dud) or we hire a proven coach who loves the program and will get us back to where we all want to be.

100% yes to this. Why should his baggage from UA affect Xavier in the slightest? What is the NCAA going to do to him? Bill self seems to be doing just fine. I guess we don’t want to look like cheaters, but hiring Sean Miller does not on its own make X a cheater. Put stipulations about cheating in his contract, and provide proper oversight. There, easy peasy.

If someone wanted to claim X must’ve been cheating while Miller was here, how do you think X would defend itself? We would say, “oh no, not here. We provided proper oversight.“ I agree our admin is not apt to bring him back because of this stuff, but that is a total farcical pretense. Are we contenders or pretenders?

Who outside the program would really care if we hired Sean Miller anyway? Some local media and some UC rubes might squawk for a few minutes, but then they would just crawl back in their holes, and life would move on.

[bleedXblue]

Those are legitimate reasons but ok. They have football, that makes a ton more money than basketball ever will. Most of the focus is there, and a city/state school typically don’t care about optics of baggage like a catholic school does. However this particular ad does. All of this on top of a 15 million dollar buy out that goes down to 5 next year . Just because you have a differing opinion, doesn’t make that illegitimate.

In other words, Miller isn’t going there, at least not this year

That's an OPINION on what ONE fan thinks about their BB focus.

The buy out is the most logical hurdle. A donor could step up and pay part of it or they could settle on a reasonable number.

I think it's less than a 50% chance it happens.

[Xville]

That's an OPINION on what ONE fan thinks about their BB focus.

The buy out is the most logical hurdle. A donor could step up and pay part of it or they could settle on a reasonable number.

I think it's less than a 50% chance it happens.


Opinion from an insider aside: 15 million dollar buy out---negotiated buyouts are typically made due to an issue outside of job performance i.e. Mack. He has 5 years left on his deal...what kind of negotiated settlement you think he is going to take? Why would a donor "step up" when they could wait one year and it goes down to 5. that makes zero sense. They aren't Xavier where basketball is paramount.

[XUBison]

Opinion from an insider aside: 15 million dollar buy out---negotiated buyouts are typically made due to an issue outside of job performance i.e. Mack. He has 5 years left on his deal...what kind of negotiated settlement you think he is going to take? Why would a donor "step up" when they could wait one year and it goes down to 5. that makes zero sense. They aren't Xavier where basketball is paramount.

Correct. Pitt would have no leverage to reduce his buyout, unless they could come up with some reason for cause.

[bleedXblue]

Opinion from an insider aside: 15 million dollar buy out---negotiated buyouts are typically made due to an issue outside of job performance i.e. Mack. He has 5 years left on his deal...what kind of negotiated settlement you think he is going to take? Why would a donor "step up" when they could wait one year and it goes down to 5. that makes zero sense. They aren't Xavier where basketball is paramount.

Capel could say yes to 5 Mil now if he doesn't want to go through another year of losing and damage to his career/resume. Maybe they offer slightly more 6-7 mil to go away. Just depends on how bad some of the donors want Miller.

[xudash]

Let's also point out one more consideration when it comes to Sean and Xavier versus Pitt.

Yes, no doubt about it: Sean Miller holds a diploma from Pitt and he grew up in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Here comes the big HOWEVER: he has seen Pitt attempt to function in the ACC. There certainly appears to be a dynamic in play that suggests that Pitt and a southern basketball-centric conference haven't proven to be a great match. Could it be mainly about coaching? Maybe. But Pitt, in the Big East, made sense. Pitt slogging it out with Georgia Tech, et al, not so much, at least in my opinion, given my perception of all this.

When you then flip it around, you have Sean considering a basketball-first school that he knows, and where he knows that the conference affiliation issue has been fixed and where program improvements have been made since his departure. You also have Sean and his wife, who had nothing but a fantastic living experience while in Cincinnati. But let's pile on a little bit as we harken back to a famous quote we know of all too well: the "Lexus versus Buick" thingy. Well, guess what: Villanova and Gonzaga have pretty well proven that P5 status is not tantamount to success in big time college basketball. He has been a direct witness to that, especially given when he faced Xavier in the NCAAT and as he has faced Gonzaga off and on.

Please understand that I am fundamentally assuming that Sean Miller is a good guy who isn't all that "dirty" and who would do things the right way were he to come back to Victory Parkway. I start there when it comes to my desire for having him back. If you believe he is sufficiently "clean" or whatever, then imagine a guy who would be committed to making it work at X. A guy who can truly build a winning culture and deliver the "Final 2%" in reality. A guy who left for greener pastures and probably now gets it in a big way.

BTW, we would help him to get it: the contract we would structure with him would make it prohibitive for him to leave, and I imagine he would have no problem signing it. Again, respect and gratefulness for being provided a second chance, and then most likely a work ethic that would allow him to go out a very big winner on an elegant Jesuit stage.

[Drew]

Opinion from an insider aside: 15 million dollar buy out---negotiated buyouts are typically made due to an issue outside of job performance i.e. Mack. He has 5 years left on his deal...what kind of negotiated settlement you think he is going to take? Why would a donor "step up" when they could wait one year and it goes down to 5. that makes zero sense. They aren't Xavier where basketball is paramount.

15 million dollar buy outs? Pay. The. Players.

[MHettel]

15 million dollar buy outs? Pay. The. Players.

They. Get. Free. Tuition.

And. Housing.

And. Food.

And. Books.

And. Other. Benefits.

[xuphan]

They. Get. Free. Tuition.

And. Housing.

And. Food.

And. Books.

And. Other. Benefits.

Players can go pro whenever they want as well.

[OTRMUSKIE]

I hate when people keep saying basketball only school. Do you think coaches really care about that? They care about the ability to win and being paid. I suppose if they had a God complex They would want a basketball only school but being head honcho at a college is prob not their top concern. I could be wrong.

[xukeith]

I am with you. Against my better judgement and nature, if the admin would commit to hiring SM I would be pulling for a loss. He is a known commodity with long term benefits. We would probably keep the good players and recruits AND be a great choice for transfers. It is such a no brainer it makes me lose sleep. I do not want to see the gradual descent of the MBB program.

And the info is solid. I could give more details but all you get is second guessed,

Maybe Sean could keep Danny Peters too.

[Masterofreality]

Maybe Sean could keep Danny Peters too.

Just a note. After starting out 11-5, Minnesota is now 2-10 in their last 12 games to be 13-15.
I guess late season swoons are in this coaching tree’s blood.

[xukeith]

Just a note. After starting out 11-5, Minnesota is now 2-10 in their last 12 games to be 13-15.
I guess late season swoons are in this coaching tree’s blood.

It happens to some in a top 3 conference. I'll excuse Johnson as it was his first year. Next year for him improves I hope.

[OTRMUSKIE]

What is Steeles buyout? I assume the 15 million someone mentioned was for Jeff Capel?

[xukeith]

It happens to some in a top 3 conference. I'll excuse Johnson as it was his first year. Next year for him improves I hope.

If Archie is part of the package deal, do we bite?

[xukeith]

What is Steeles buyout? I assume the 15 million someone mentioned was for Jeff Capel?

yes. :I hope so

[Straightshooter]

What is Steeles buyout? I assume the 15 million someone mentioned was for Jeff Capel?

I think they should keep Travis Steele until his contract expires. He recruits a competitive team. He has beaten UC three straight years. Beat Ohio State this year. His team has collapsed the last three years in February, but maybe his players aren't as good as people think, as indicated by their play in February, when it counts. Coach deserves most of the blame is understood. He is out of his league it seems.

I think X gains credibility to honor the contract.

[xu82]

I think they should keep Travis Steele until his contract expires. He recruits a competitive team. He has beaten UC three straight years. Beat Ohio State this year. His team has collapsed the last three years in February, but maybe his players aren't as good as people think, as indicated by their play in February, when it counts. Coach deserves most of the blame is understood. He is out of his league it seems.

I think X gains credibility to honor the contract.

IF, and it’s a big IF, I can trade him for Miller I do it in a New York minute. I’m tired of the annual late collapse. This pattern is hard to ignore. BUT, I’d hang on if we finish “better” and there are no clear cut options available to turn things around. Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face.

How we finish means everything, and so far it’s not good. I feel Miller is clearly an upgrade, but after that it seems like a roll of the dice. We can whiff once, but not twice in a row.

If it’s his players not being as good as advertised, then neither is his recruiting. We are good early, then fade or collapse. That feels like coaching to me. He can recruit, I think, but can he develop?

[IM4X]

What is Steeles buyout? I assume the 15 million someone mentioned was for Jeff Capel?

Pitt is known for overpaying for mediocrity. The previous basketball coach they hired before Capel was very average at the job he had before Pitt. Then he came to Pitt and was absolutely the worst. His last season at Pitt was so bad that his team lost every ACC game on the schedule. I mean, he literally went 0-18.

https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2017-18

For Pitt to be so stupid as to replace that mess of a coach with another coach who tried once and failed as a head coach is a real head scratcher. What would be even dumber (and apparently Pitt did it) is if they agreed to a large buyout clause. Those two coaches make Travis Steele look like Jay Wright. The first mistake of a coach was hired by the previous AD at Pitt and the current AD is only safe with her big mistake (Capel) because the football coach finally won an ACC Championship and a few of the women’s teams have done pretty well this season.

[Drew]

They. Get. Free. Tuition.

And. Housing.

And. Food.

And. Books.

And. Other. Benefits.

Keep telling yourself that bud.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

They. Get. Free. Tuition.

And. Housing.

And. Food.

And. Books.

And. Other. Benefits.

And, NIL as well. Sure doesn't seem like they are the poor, exploited souls some would have us believe.

[SM#24]

Keep telling yourself that bud.
They don’t get those things ?

[Masterofreality]

From Jerry Carino: Asbury Park Press:
“ Final score: Seton Hall 65, Creighton 60.
What a gut-check win for the Pirates.
There is NO METRIC for toughness. This team has toughness.
The Pirates have won 5 straight and 8 of 10 with just about every guard hurt. Are you kidding me?”

Rather than sideline mean mugs and empty cliches, that IS what toughness looks like. Excuses are not tolerated.

[OTRMUSKIE]

X has one problem and one problem
Only. The players arnt good at their job. They miss free throws, layups , always fouling the 3 point shooter. Steele just needs better players. Easy fix

[Xuperman]

X has one problem and one problem
Only. The players arnt good at their job. They miss free throws, layups , always fouling the 3 point shooter. Steele just needs better players. Easy fix

No sarcasm font? Obviously, this is not you're narrative.

However, as it stands today its definitely true. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'm posting this, but I don't think X could beat DePaul on Wednesday....mainly for your listed reasons.

Go UConn.

[UCGRAD4X]

X has one problem and one problem
Only. The players arnt good at their job. They miss free throws, layups , always fouling the 3 point shooter. Steele just needs better players. Easy fix

Apparently they are not able to evaluate / recruit / develop talent.

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

From Jerry Carino: Asbury Park Press:
“ Final score: Seton Hall 65, Creighton 60.
What a gut-check win for the Pirates.
There is NO METRIC for toughness. This team has toughness.
The Pirates have won 5 straight and 8 of 10 with just about every guard hurt. Are you kidding me?”

Rather than sideline mean mugs and empty cliches, that IS what toughness looks like. Excuses are not tolerated.

This is so right on. I don't know if (or how) you can recruit for toughness. I've always thought of Kevin Willard as a fighter. HOF coach for a father. Just doesn't back down and his teams never do either even when their talent level isn't the best. And, yes a huge contrast with our coach. I am so ready to move on from Steele. And, I'm deflated thinking he is going to be making the same dumb mistakes next year, saying the same dumb*ss things in the pressers after games that he has said before, still leading a team he hasn't earned the right to lead. How can someone, anyone never effing learn from their mistakes? I'm already pissed off and the game is an hour away!

[Masterofreality]

Welp. There will be a contract extension announced for Steele tomorrow.

[bjf123]

Welp. There will be a contract extension announced for Steele tomorrow.

I’ll take “Things that won’t happen” for $500, Alex. [emoji6]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[SM#24]

No sarcasm font? Obviously, this is not you're narrative.

However, as it stands today its definitely true. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'm posting this, but I don't think X could beat DePaul on Wednesday....mainly for your listed reasons.

Go UConn.
And this is where we are as a program…worried about having to play DePaul.

[XUBison]

Coming off a 21-win season, Florida Gulf Coast just fired their coach— after 4 seasons.

[X-band '01]

2 of those wins came against non-D1 teams, though. I'd have to google the two teams to see if they're NCAA D-II or NAIA.

[XUBison]

2 of those wins came against non-D1 teams, though. I'd have to google the two teams to see if they're NCAA D-II or NAIA.

Take it for whatever it’s worth. But he was coming off his best season, by far. He also spent seven years there as an assistant. They were willing to pull the plug nevertheless.

[Masterofreality]

It sure is nice when shots fall, although Georgetown’s defense was the worst I’ve seen all year.
I’ll give Coach credit on a couple of things last night though:
1) Not hesitating to pull out Freemantle and Paul when they were playing like Knuckleheads. Our best lineup last night was Dwon, Kunk, Nate, Colby & Jack. By far.
2) Releasing the Kraken in Colby. Somebody has finally gotten through to him to stop deferring and be the man. Hope it continues.

I hope that there are many bullets left in the shotgun for New York.

[Xville]

It sure is nice when shots fall, although Georgetown’s defense was the worst I’ve seen all year.
I’ll give Coach credit on a couple of things last night though:
1) Not hesitating to pull out Freemantle and Paul when they were playing like Knuckleheads. Our best lineup last night was Dwon, Kunk, Nate, Colby & Jack. By far.
2) Releasing the Kraken in Colby. Somebody has finally gotten through to him to stop deferring and be the man. Hope it continues.

I hope that there are many bullets left in the shotgun for New York.

To your 1st point, I have been abdicating for that lineup for a while now, or if you wanna go big sub out kunkel for Edwards. I know it will never happen but those are the six that should be playing the majority of the minutes with Scruggs and free playing when they decide they want to defend.

[bleedXblue]

Let's also point out one more consideration when it comes to Sean and Xavier versus Pitt.

Yes, no doubt about it: Sean Miller holds a diploma from Pitt and he grew up in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Here comes the big HOWEVER: he has seen Pitt attempt to function in the ACC. There certainly appears to be a dynamic in play that suggests that Pitt and a southern basketball-centric conference haven't proven to be a great match. Could it be mainly about coaching? Maybe. But Pitt, in the Big East, made sense. Pitt slogging it out with Georgia Tech, et al, not so much, at least in my opinion, given my perception of all this.

When you then flip it around, you have Sean considering a basketball-first school that he knows, and where he knows that the conference affiliation issue has been fixed and where program improvements have been made since his departure. You also have Sean and his wife, who had nothing but a fantastic living experience while in Cincinnati. But let's pile on a little bit as we harken back to a famous quote we know of all too well: the "Lexus versus Buick" thingy. Well, guess what: Villanova and Gonzaga have pretty well proven that P5 status is not tantamount to success in big time college basketball. He has been a direct witness to that, especially given when he faced Xavier in the NCAAT and as he has faced Gonzaga off and on.

Please understand that I am fundamentally assuming that Sean Miller is a good guy who isn't all that "dirty" and who would do things the right way were he to come back to Victory Parkway. I start there when it comes to my desire for having him back. If you believe he is sufficiently "clean" or whatever, then imagine a guy who would be committed to making it work at X. A guy who can truly build a winning culture and deliver the "Final 2%" in reality. A guy who left for greener pastures and probably now gets it in a big way.

BTW, we would help him to get it: the contract we would structure with him would make it prohibitive for him to leave, and I imagine he would have no problem signing it. Again, respect and gratefulness for being provided a second chance, and then most likely a work ethic that would allow him to go out a very big winner on an elegant Jesuit stage.

Most of this makes sense. Especially how he looks at Pitt and their ability to compete in the ACC.

If Miller see's us as his last stop. A school that he knows. A great league. He's made his money. Might be time for him and his wife to settle in for the next 10-15 years of his career.

[xuphan]

Most of this makes sense. Especially how he looks at Pitt and their ability to compete in the ACC.

If Miller see's us as his last stop. A school that he knows. A great league. He's made his money. Might be time for him and his wife to settle in for the next 10-15 years of his career.

Are we safely in the tournament now or do we need to beat Butler to be in?

[X-band '01]

Beating Butler by itself might not be enough. Memphis is another bubblish team and they are doing nasty things to Houston right now.

[bleedXblue]

Are we safely in the tournament now or do we need to beat Butler to be in?

We are not safely in. I think to be "safe" we need to win 2 games in the BET.

Beat Butler we are "likely" in but will be sweating it some next Sunday.

[X-band '01]

I should also add that there is a slight chance that if Xavier is a Last 4 In team, they could end up playing...

Dayton. That alone should be incentive to win multiple games in New York.

[UCGRAD4X]

Keep in mind, last night, Xavier had 6 kills at the half (whether you think that is much of a metric or nor) and got exactly ZERO the rest of the way....against G'town.

[xukeith]

No sarcasm font? Obviously, this is not you're narrative.

However, as it stands today its definitely true. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'm posting this, but I don't think X could beat DePaul on Wednesday....mainly for your listed reasons.

Go UConn.

The players who missed layups, couldn't play defense, and launched poor 3's will be back again next year . Rinse and repeat.

[xuphan]

The players who missed layups, couldn't play defense, and launched poor 3's will be back again next year . Rinse and repeat.

Big win for Steele to get some pressure off his back. If this offense can keep it up we could make a run in NYC.

[XUGRAD80]

Big win for Steele to get some pressure off his back. If this offense can keep it up we could make a run in NYC.


3point shots are fools gold. If X is relying on making 3 pointers as the only way to generate offense, they are going to be in trouble 90% of the time.

[Masterofreality]

3point shots are fools gold. If X is relying on making 3 pointers as the only way to generate offense, they are going to be in trouble 90% of the time.

Absolute Truth.

[X Factor]

Big win for Steele to get some pressure off his back. If this offense can keep it up we could make a run in NYC.

Big win to get some pressure off his back? Georgetown is the 4th worst team Xavier played all year. Worse than Norfolk State. They are as good as a buy game in early November.

A big win would be beating Providence or Villanova, not a team that finished 0-19 in BE play.

It's great X made some threes last night...when's the last time they shot the three ball good in consecutive games?

I fear a lot of bricks from three Wednesday.

[principal]

I watched The Run today, it was a bit depressing, and not just because they still lose to Duke at the end, but because of the contrast between that team and this one. Not to mention that coach and this one.

With that said, I couldn’t help but draw the conclusion that in addition to all of the other problems this team/coach has, it does not have a Lionel Chalmers or even a Dedrick Finn. By that I mean guys who can lead the team and refuses to lose. Am I wrong?

[xuphan]

I watched The Run today, it was a bit depressing, and not just because they still lose to Duke at the end, but because of the contrast between that team and this one. Not to mention that coach and this one.

With that said, I couldn’t help but draw the conclusion that in addition to all of the other problems this team/coach has, it does not have a Lionel Chalmers or even a Dedrick Finn. By that I mean guys who can lead the team and refuses to lose. Am I wrong?

I love The Run though I am still bitter that we got screwed by the refs in the Duke game. I do agree that we are missing a Lionel Chalmers, Stu Holloway, Stanley Burrell type player in the locker room. However, I don’t think Finn was a leader and was dismissed from the team his senior year.

[xuphan]

Big win to get some pressure off his back? Georgetown is the 4th worst team Xavier played all year. Worse than Norfolk State. They are as good as a buy game in early November.

A big win would be beating Providence or Villanova, not a team that finished 0-19 in BE play.

It's great X made some threes last night...when's the last time they shot the three ball good in consecutive games?

I fear a lot of bricks from three Wednesday.

Do you not remember the Seton Hall team? He has the student section chanting for him to be fired and his wife was getting into fights with fans in the arena. Yes, it might be Georgetown but the team played well and the fans weren’t booing him so I would say it has taken some pressure off of him even if it is in the short term.

[xudash]

Who knows. Maybe Johnson and Kunkel stay hot and they go nuts from here.

Yeah, sure.

[xavbball]

Do you not remember the Seton Hall team? He has the student section chanting for him to be fired and his wife was getting into fights with fans in the arena. Yes, it might be Georgetown but the team played well and the fans weren’t booing him so I would say it has taken some pressure off of him even if it is in the short term.

We won and finished 8th in the conference. We are yet again a bubble team that needs to win their first round BE tournament game.

I for one believe that this program deserves better. I disagree with those who say making the tournament is good enough. It's what we've seen from him up to this point that indicates he's not getting us to the final 2%. His fate should already be sealed unless he makes a deep run in the tournament. However, seeing how this program's expectations have deteriorated to the point that what we are seeing now is acceptable and a sign of progress, perhaps those predicting that he will be extended are right. If we look at the trend, we should finish 9-11 next season...

[xukeith]

I know Hoyas were not UCLA but they seldom have gotten blown out.

That was very nice to see.

Anytime Johnson and Kunkel can make 50%+ of their 3;s, that makes life for other players much more easy as defenders are spread out and lane is open to drives.

X won't get as many 3's vs Butler but I will accept 10 made threes here on out.

[xukeith]

We won and finished 8th in the conference. We are yet again a bubble team that needs to win their first round BE tournament game.

I for one believe that this program deserves better. I disagree with those who say making the tournament is good enough. It's what we've seen from him up to this point that indicates he's not getting us to the final 2%. His fate should already be sealed unless he makes a deep run in the tournament. However, seeing how this program's expectations have deteriorated to the point that what we are seeing now is acceptable and a sign of progress, perhaps those predicting that he will be extended are right. If we look at the trend, we should finish 9-11 next season...

Many players might come back. Who can expect better than 7th place?

[JTG]

The problem with this team is, they play one good game, then goof off the next game. It's like, ok, we played hard, now we can go back to goofing off. Somehow Steele needs to tell these guys, Hey, it's win or go home, so bust your asses from the opening tip.

[Masterofreality]

The problem with this team is, they play one good game, then goof off the next game. It's like, ok, we played hard, now we can go back to goofing off. Somehow Steele needs to tell these guys, Hey, it's win or go home, so bust your assessment from the opening tip.

On the postgame with Joe & Byron last night Steele said that after last years game vs Butler at MSG he had an emptiness in the pit of his stomach that wouldn’t go away. He said he told the team that postgame last night and vowed they’d come out ready.

Yeah. I guess if you got totally outcoached, screwed up your lineups blew a 19 point second half lead, and either “Told” Dwon Odom to lay hands on the opposing point guard to foul him 20 feet from the basket, OR neglected to strongly instruct your team NOT TO FOUL when up one in the last 10 seconds, I’d have an emptiness in my stomach too. But not as empty as my head.

We’ll see how much fire the team comes out with on Wednesday. Hopefully an inferno.

[xudash]

We won and finished 8th in the conference. We are yet again a bubble team that needs to win their first round BE tournament game.

I for one believe that this program deserves better. I disagree with those who say making the tournament is good enough. It's what we've seen from him up to this point that indicates he's not getting us to the final 2%. His fate should already be sealed unless he makes a deep run in the tournament. However, seeing how this program's expectations have deteriorated to the point that what we are seeing now is acceptable and a sign of progress, perhaps those predicting that he will be extended are right. If we look at the trend, we should finish 9-11 next season...

Making the NCAAT IS NOT good enough.

Matching or exceeding pre-season expectations (3rd in BE this season) is expected.

Crapping down their legs in February is unacceptable.

It is unacceptable where we now stand, regardless of what he does from here.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Only thing that matters is winning the tournament or making a deep run. . So let's see what happens. If you can make deep runs while still sucking in February who the hell cares. How you finish is what counts. NCAA Basketball seems to be the only sport where the goal for the majority of teams is to finish in the top 4. Hell for some schools it's just making the tournament. It's def a sport that rewards losing. If Steele took us to 10 final fours but never won he would be one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. Not to worry, that isn't happening.

[JEHARDI]

Absolute Truth.

Fools gold.? 45% of the shot Nova takes are 3’s. Baylor, Gonzaga Duke, all 35% or higher. Good teams shoot a lot of 3’s.

[Xville]

Fools gold.? 45% of the shot Nova takes are 3’s. Baylor, Gonzaga Duke, all 35% or higher. Good teams shoot a lot of 3’s.

The point was 1.) X isn’t a good 3 pt shooting team and 2.) can’t generate offense most of the time without it. That’s the difference between x and good teams. That’s why x making a bunch of 3s one game is fools gold.

[IM4X]

Who knows. Maybe Johnson and Kunkel stay hot and they go nuts from here.

Yeah, sure.

I am not going to lie. I can’t help but see this being a possibility. I mean all this talk about none of the current guys being Chalmers. Let me refresh the memory of some fans: While Chalmers was always a good player, he didn’t lock into his superhuman ability and that X team didn’t start playing like Madmen until the A-10 tournament. They were a team that had zero chance of getting to the dance if not for winning the A-10 tournament. They’re record was a mediocre 19-10. Who in the world would have thought we were about to witness “the run.”

Fast forward to this year’s X team. Clearly a team with a lot of talent on the roster. A team that showed flashes of greatness when everyone was locked in. Like “the run” team, this season’s team struggled as the season progressed. Now, in the game before the BE tournament, we saw our two best shooters find their grove from 3. What if this is the beginning of something big? What if Nate and adam stay hot and Scruggs and Free play up to their ability. It’s very likely we see Nunge, Jones and Odom giving continuing to display their toughness and effort.

If Steele can finally allow the hot players stay in and nit screw around with the lineup and screw up moment, it is a possibility. The players need to challenge each other to play 40 minutes of their the best, balls-to-the-wall basketball (offense and defense) and then do it again then again:

I would invite - hell-pay -Chalmers and Bernard to come speak in the locker room before the start of X’s first BE tournament game. If anyone can get this team fired up and ready it should be those two. At the same time, Nate is the guy on the current team who needs to step up and lead the charges from within.

[Xavier]

Making the NCAAT IS NOT good enough.

Matching or exceeding pre-season expectations (3rd in BE this season) is expected.

Crapping down their legs in February is unacceptable.

It is unacceptable where we now stand, regardless of what he does from here.

Do I expect anything accomplished the rest of the year to change my mind? No. But if Steele went on to win the big East, or get to the second weekend- I’d consider him to be on the right path.

[OTRMUSKIE]

I think this team can be a good 3 point shooting team if the people who are supposed to shoot 3's shoot them. The following players should never shoot another 3 unless time is running out .
Nunge
Free
Odom (he knows not to anyway)
Hunter
Scruggs (he honestly shouldn't be getting that many mins. 15 would be perfect.

[Masterofreality]

Fools gold.? 45% of the shot Nova takes are 3’s. Baylor, Gonzaga Duke, all 35% or higher. Good teams shoot a lot of 3’s.

We’re not talking about Villanova with 5 star recruits or any of those other teams.
THIS TEAM- Xavier- shoots 32.8% from 3. That includes last night. That ranks 238th in the country.
I for one, hope that Kunk, Nate and The proper guys take appropriate 3’s and continue the shooting from last night. However, the track record WITH THIS TEAM, suggests Fools Gold. Especially if the coach continues to tolerate a 15% and a 22% shooter to keep jacking them.

[Final4]

Welp. There will be a contract extension announced for Steele tomorrow.

Which tomorrow?

[X Factor]

I am not going to lie. I can’t help but see this being a possibility. I mean all this talk about none of the current guys being Chalmers. Let me refresh the memory of some fans: While Chalmers was always a good player, he didn’t lock into his superhuman ability and that X team didn’t start playing like Madmen until the A-10 tournament. They were a team that had zero chance of getting to the dance if not for winning the A-10 tournament. They’re record was a mediocre 19-10. Who in the world would have thought we were about to witness “the run.”

Fast forward to this year’s X team. Clearly a team with a lot of talent on the roster. A team that showed flashes of greatness when everyone was locked in. Like “the run” team, this season’s team struggled as the season progressed. Now, in the game before the BE tournament, we saw our two best shooters find their grove from 3. What if this is the beginning of something big? What if Nate and adam stay hot and Scruggs and Free play up to their ability. It’s very likely we see Nunge, Jones and Odom giving continuing to display their toughness and effort.

If Steele can finally allow the hot players stay in and nit screw around with the lineup and screw up moment, it is a possibility. The players need to challenge each other to play 40 minutes of their the best, balls-to-the-wall basketball (offense and defense) and then do it again then again:

I would invite - hell-pay -Chalmers and Bernard to come speak in the locker room before the start of X’s first BE tournament game. If anyone can get this team fired up and ready it should be those two. At the same time, Nate is the guy on the current team who needs to step up and lead the charges from within.

That 2004 team also beat the #1 team in country by 20 points. They also played A LOT better defense than this team, and shot it way better from three. They started two freshman in Doellman and Cage, which probaby had something to do with their 10-9 start, as well as playing without the greatest player in X history for the first time in four years. And they won 9 out of their last 10 regular season games, walked through the conference tournament, and came within 4 points of Final Four.

This current team is fighting just to make the tournament.

[xuphan]

That 2004 team also beat the #1 team in country by 20 points. They also played A LOT better defense than this team, and shot it way better from three. They started two freshman in Doellman and Cage, which probaby had something to do with their 10-9 start, as well as playing without the greatest player in X history for the first time in four years. And they won 9 out of their last 10 regular season games, walked through the conference tournament, and came within 4 points of Final Four.

This current team is fighting just to make the tournament.

I would love to see the 2004 team play this team. The Doellman vs Freemantle matchup would be interesting for sure.

[Masterofreality]

I would love to see the 2004 team play this team. The Doellman vs Freemantle matchup would be interesting for sure.

No contest. JD would school Free.

[Xville]

No contest. JD would school Free.

Charmers and sato against Scruggs and whatever 2 trying to defend them… yikes. Sato and charmers would probably combine for at least 50.

[Murph85]

That 2004 team also beat the #1 team in country by 20 points. They also played A LOT better defense than this team, and shot it way better from three. They started two freshman in Doellman and Cage, which probaby had something to do with their 10-9 start, as well as playing without the greatest player in X history for the first time in four years. And they won 9 out of their last 10 regular season games, walked through the conference tournament, and came within 4 points of Final Four.

This current team is fighting just to make the tournament.

I went to all the games in The A10 tourney in Dayton that year. It was magical but to be honest, St. Joe was over rated and it was the A-10, not the Big East.

Would love to see this team do the same but they lack heart, discipline and coaching. Not betting on them playing past Thursday.

[GoMuskies]

2004 St. Joe's would win the 2022 Big East by 3 games.

[IM4X]

That 2004 team also beat the #1 team in country by 20 points. They also played A LOT better defense than this team, and shot it way better from three. They started two freshman in Doellman and Cage, which probaby had something to do with their 10-9 start, as well as playing without the greatest player in X history for the first time in four years. And they won 9 out of their last 10 regular season games, walked through the conference tournament, and came within 4 points of Final Four.

This current team is fighting just to make the tournament.

Not going to lie… that’s a pretty reasonable way of looking at the situation.

Let’s just hope the team looks at my post and not yours. We need them to believe they can do something special here.

[drudy23]

That 2014 game against St Joe's might be the best executed Xavier game of all time. Absolute clinic against an undefeated and #1 St Joe's.

The Florida State game with Mack in the tournament is a close second. Those two games were almost perfect games.

[IM4X]

That 2014 game against St Joe's might be the best executed Xavier game of all time. Absolute clinic against an undefeated and #1 St Joe's.

The Florida State game with Mack in the tournament is a close second. Those two games were almost perfect games.

That St. Joe’s game might have been proof it is possible to be better than perfect.

[X Factor]

2004 St. Joe's would win the 2022 Big East by 3 games.

That team was excellent. They finished 30-2. They were 4th in the nation in 3pt% as a team (.404). They had four guys that shot better than 40% from three, and Jameer Nelson was at 39%.

They also almost never turned the ball over either.

They were basically just like the really good Villanova teams lately.

[chico]

That St. Joe’s game might have been proof it is possible to be better than perfect.

That game was absolutely the best game in the history of the program.

There are a few guys you can make an argument for as the best ever in the program's history, but for those 18 final games starting with UC, Chalmers was the best ever.

[IM4X]

That game was absolutely the best game in the history of the program.

There are a few guys you can make an argument for as the best ever in the program's history, but for those 18 final games starting with UC, Chalmers was the best ever.

Completely Agree. Had they gotten past Duke (with those very questionable calls), who knows how far X would have gone. They were that good. Maybe they’d have even won the whole dam thing.

Without question, it was the most excited I ever was during the NCAA tournament. The entire team just fed off of Chalmers. Yes. I would say no player in the history of X was as good in any stretch of games as Chalmers was during “the run.”

[Murph85]

2004 St. Joe's would win the 2022 Big East by 3 games.

Yet two Big East Teams played in the final. St. Joe winning the BE by 3 is pie in the sky. It's one thing to rip through the A 10, another to rip through the league that put 6 teams in the tournament and both finalist. Out of conference not exactly murderers row.

11/14 #10 Gonzaga H 73–66 W
11/25 Boston A 71–56 W
11/29 Old Dominion A 75–72 W
12/2 San Francisco H 84–52 W
12/6 Penn A 67–59 W
12/9 Boston College H 67–57 W
12/14 Drexel A 92–70 W
12/20 California A 59–57 W
12/27 Pacific H 73–55 W
12/30 Delaware A 75–54 W
1/3 George Washington H 90–81 W
1/6 Richmond A 71–60 W
1/10 Duquesne A 78–61 W
1/13 Fordham H 79–35 W
1/17 Xavier A 81–73 W
1/21 Massachusetts H 92–67 W
1/24 St. Bonaventure A 114–63 W
1/31 Temple A 83–71 W
2/2 Villanova A 74–67 W
2/7 La Salle H 89–63 W
2/11 Dayton H 81–67 W
2/14 Rhode Island H 73–59 W
2/18 Fordham A 72–54 W
2/21 Temple H 76–53 W
2/25 Massachusetts A 83–58 W
2/28 Rhode Island A 57–55 W
3/2 St. Bonaventure H 82–50 W
3/11 Xavier H 87–67 L
3/18 Liberty* N 82–63 W
3/20 Texas Tech* N 70–65 W
3/25 Wake Forest* N 84–80 W
3/27 Oklahoma State* N 64–62 L

[GoMuskies]

That guy must have some baggage along the way. Don't know that, but he has won a lot, going back to his juco days, and was an assistant at some good programs, and he is 54, yet he is making $400,000 and is still at school like ETSU going on 6 years. That tells me people are staying away from him for some reason.

Just flipping back through this thread and saw this hurtful commentary on the ACC Coach of the Year.

[GoMuskies]

Yet two Big East Teams played in the final. St. Joe winning the BE by 3 is pie in the sky. It's one thing to rip through the A 10, another to rip through the league that put 6 teams in the tournament and both finalist. Out of conference not exactly murderers row.

11/14 #10 Gonzaga H 73–66 W
11/25 Boston A 71–56 W
11/29 Old Dominion A 75–72 W
12/2 San Francisco H 84–52 W
12/6 Penn A 67–59 W
12/9 Boston College H 67–57 W
12/14 Drexel A 92–70 W
12/20 California A 59–57 W
12/27 Pacific H 73–55 W
12/30 Delaware A 75–54 W
1/3 George Washington H 90–81 W
1/6 Richmond A 71–60 W
1/10 Duquesne A 78–61 W
1/13 Fordham H 79–35 W
1/17 Xavier A 81–73 W
1/21 Massachusetts H 92–67 W
1/24 St. Bonaventure A 114–63 W
1/31 Temple A 83–71 W
2/2 Villanova A 74–67 W
2/7 La Salle H 89–63 W
2/11 Dayton H 81–67 W
2/14 Rhode Island H 73–59 W
2/18 Fordham A 72–54 W
2/21 Temple H 76–53 W
2/25 Massachusetts A 83–58 W
2/28 Rhode Island A 57–55 W
3/2 St. Bonaventure H 82–50 W
3/11 Xavier H 87–67 L
3/18 Liberty* N 82–63 W
3/20 Texas Tech* N 70–65 W
3/25 Wake Forest* N 84–80 W
3/27 Oklahoma State* N 64–62 L

I didn't say they'd win the 2004 Big East by 3 games.

[X Factor]

Yet two Big East Teams played in the final. St. Joe winning the BE by 3 is pie in the sky. It's one thing to rip through the A 10, another to rip through the league that put 6 teams in the tournament and both finalist. Out of conference not exactly murderers row.

Maybe one day Steele will lead Xavier to a BE record that includes more wins than losses.

[Xville]

Yet two Big East Teams played in the final. St. Joe winning the BE by 3 is pie in the sky. It's one thing to rip through the A 10, another to rip through the league that put 6 teams in the tournament and both finalist. Out of conference not exactly murderers row.

11/14 #10 Gonzaga H 73–66 W
11/25 Boston A 71–56 W
11/29 Old Dominion A 75–72 W
12/2 San Francisco H 84–52 W
12/6 Penn A 67–59 W
12/9 Boston College H 67–57 W
12/14 Drexel A 92–70 W
12/20 California A 59–57 W
12/27 Pacific H 73–55 W
12/30 Delaware A 75–54 W
1/3 George Washington H 90–81 W
1/6 Richmond A 71–60 W
1/10 Duquesne A 78–61 W
1/13 Fordham H 79–35 W
1/17 Xavier A 81–73 W
1/21 Massachusetts H 92–67 W
1/24 St. Bonaventure A 114–63 W
1/31 Temple A 83–71 W
2/2 Villanova A 74–67 W
2/7 La Salle H 89–63 W
2/11 Dayton H 81–67 W
2/14 Rhode Island H 73–59 W
2/18 Fordham A 72–54 W
2/21 Temple H 76–53 W
2/25 Massachusetts A 83–58 W
2/28 Rhode Island A 57–55 W
3/2 St. Bonaventure H 82–50 W
3/11 Xavier H 87–67 L
3/18 Liberty* N 82–63 W
3/20 Texas Tech* N 70–65 W
3/25 Wake Forest* N 84–80 W
3/27 Oklahoma State* N 64–62 L

When was Georgia tech in the big East? St joes lost by 2 in the Elite eight… and, we are talking 2022 big East… not 2004 big East. 2022 big East is good, but I’m pretty confident that no one from the conference this year will be in the final four

[paulxu]

As I burned rubber to Atlanta to see that Duke game, I don't really need any reminders of how close we came to a FF.

[Xville]

As I burned rubber to Atlanta to see that Duke game, I don't really need any reminders of how close we came to a FF.

I cant decide which drive back sucked worse...the one from Atlanta or the one from st. louis after the wisconsin debacle. ugh so much ptsd.

[94GRAD]

I cant decide which drive back sucked worse...the one from Atlanta or the one from st. louis after the wisconsin debacle. ugh so much ptsd.

For everyone that got stuck behind the accident on 75N in Tennesse, Atlanta is the clear winner. Luckily, I was ahead of it by 5 minutes.

[Xville]

For everyone that got stuck behind the accident on 75N in Tennesse, Atlanta is the clear winner. Luckily, I was ahead of it by 5 minutes.

I was behind that accident it sucked...i think i was more pissed off after st. louis though to be honest. Probably the expectations reason...I just assumed we were going to get duked by the refs in 04.

[X-band '01]

I cant decide which drive back sucked worse...the one from Atlanta or the one from st. louis after the wisconsin debacle. ugh so much ptsd.

Wasn't there for the Atlanta trip, but I'll vote for the drive back from Nashville as being worse. Even more of a wasted opportunity than the 2016 season.

[bigdiggins]

For everyone that got stuck behind the accident on 75N in Tennesse, Atlanta is the clear winner. Luckily, I was ahead of it by 5 minutes.

I head down to the Smokies about once a month. Never have any issues getting there, but 80% of the time there is a wreck on 75N when I'm trying to get home. Not sure what it is about 75N between Knoxville and Lexington.

[xukeith]

Wasn't there for the Atlanta trip, but I'll vote for the drive back from Nashville as being worse. Even more of a wasted opportunity than the 2016 season.

I think the 2003 drive home from Nashville was the most difficult. X was a 3 seed and lost in 2nd round to Maryland.

2004 was sad but many exciting new memories for our program.

[xuphan]

I think the 2003 drive home from Nashville was the most difficult. X was a 3 seed and lost in 2nd round to Maryland.

2004 was sad but many exciting new memories for our program.

I agree. Thought DWest was going to carry us that year.

[Masterofreality]

For everyone that got stuck behind the accident on 75N in Tennesse, Atlanta is the clear winner. Luckily, I was ahead of it by 5 minutes.

*Some of us* just flew over it. :ok:

[xu82]

Wasn't there for the Atlanta trip, but I'll vote for the drive back from Nashville as being worse. Even more of a wasted opportunity than the 2016 season.

At least you got to LEAVE! Being IN Atlanta is no treat. But I’m stuck for many reasons.

Nashville is great, but I don’t know how they survive the growth.

[JTG]

Just read where it has been revealed, Gtown signed Ewing to a secret 3 year extension after last year's BE championship. Now they're on the hook for 4 more seasons and a disaster of a program. This should be a precautionary tale for X, even if we somehow make the NCAA. It maybe best to unload Steele, barring anything less than Sweet 16

[paulxu]

Is a secret extension like double secret probation?

[Masterofreality]

Just read where it has been revealed, Gtown signed Ewing to a secret 3 year extension after last year's BE championship. Now they're on the hook for 4 more seasons and a disaster of a program. This should be a precautionary tale for X, even if we somehow make the NCAA. It maybe best to unload Steele, barring anything less than Sweet 16

Two guaranteed wins per year!!!

[OTRMUSKIE]

GTown, Memphis and TTON will all be getting new coaches in the not too distant future. GTown must have money to throw away.

[UCGRAD4X]

At least you got to LEAVE! Being IN Atlanta is no treat. But I’m stuck for many reasons.

Nashville is great, but I don’t know how they survive the growth.

...the same way Atlanta did.

[GoMuskies]

GTown, Memphis and TTON will all be getting new coaches in the not too distant future. GTown must have money to throw away.

Why is Memphis getting a new coach?

[Masterofreality]

...the same way Atlanta did.

Atlanta is sprawled out mess. Lived there 13 years. Couldn’t wait to leave.

[JTG]

GTown, Memphis and TTON will all be getting new coaches in the not too distant future. GTown must have money to throw away.

I doubt Gtown is going to eat 4 years of Ewing salary.

[IM4X]

*Some of us* just flew over it. :ok:

Some of us flew just east of it back to New York.

Even if I had to drive back through that traffic caused by the accident, it still would have been worth it. While the bogus calls on Anthony Myles tainted the game a bit, it was still great to see us outplay Duke and realize the only way those clowns could stop us was to find a way to get Myles out of the game. The man was a beast that game. Now that Coach K is retiring, I just want someone to locate that ref and get him to admit just how much cash he got for those two calls.

[GoMuskies]

I flew east of it back to Boston. I was very sad on that flight.

[bobbiemcgee]

I had to leave the game at half-time to attend my son's best friend's wedding or risk divorce action. I was stealthy listening thru an earpiece and blurted out what a thought was an inaudible MF'er during the ceremony. Apparently it was not. The kid got divorced two years later.

[bobbiemcgee]

Would love to see a repeat performance of Orlando this year. Dagger after dagger after dagger. The stands were giddy.

[bleedXblue]

Today's L isn't on Steele. But, I look at the entire body of work. The last 4 years have not shown me a single thing that I can point at to defend him. It's time. If he stays, I would be very surprised if season ticket sales don't take a steep nosedive. I've also pointed out that I expect at least 1-2 transfers to move on. Depending on who it is, that could be damaging for him as well.

[X Factor]

Today's L isn't on Steele. But, I look at the entire body of work. The last 4 years have not shown me a single thing that I can point at to defend him. It's time. If he stays, I would be very surprised if season ticket sales don't take a steep nosedive. I've also pointed out that I expect at least 1-2 transfers to move on. Depending on who it is, that could be damaging for him as well.

This is absolutely on Steele. Edwards didn't play a single minute against a small, slow Butler team. He played Nunge and Zach almost the entire game. Even if X won, you think they would have anything left for tomorrow?

Steele's teams have no mental fortitude. He's recruited a bunch of guys who can't shoot.

[UCGRAD4X]

This is absolutely on Steele. Edwards didn't play a single minute against a small, slow Butler team. He played Nunge and Zach almost the entire game. Even if X won, you think they would have anything left for tomorrow?

Steele's teams have no mental fortitude. He's recruited a bunch of guys who can't shoot.

and did not coach them up and develop them into players who could

[KabeX]

Today's L isn't on Steele. But, I look at the entire body of work. The last 4 years have not shown me a single thing that I can point at to defend him. It's time. If he stays, I would be very surprised if season ticket sales don't take a steep nosedive. I've also pointed out that I expect at least 1-2 transfers to move on. Depending on who it is, that could be damaging for him as well.
"Today" has been building over the past 4 years. Today and EVERY DAY is on STEELE. Today was the culmination of ineptitude and incompetence.

[bleedXblue]

This is absolutely on Steele. Edwards didn't play a single minute against a small, slow Butler team. He played Nunge and Zach almost the entire game. Even if X won, you think they would have anything left for tomorrow?

Steele's teams have no mental fortitude. He's recruited a bunch of guys who can't shoot.

Cmon, we make some FT's and we win. That isn't on Steele. Could we have done a bunch of other stuff better....sure and of course.

[XUBob]

I beg to differ I was sure that one of the first things I would read was Travis didn’t miss any free throws. Well I’ve said all year teams take on the personality of the coach. I’ve also said we have no mental toughness. They talk a good game but it rarely shows up on the floor. Travis, great guy I’m sure he knows the game but he just might be a lifetime assistant. I know he won’t get fired but give me one reason he should stay, please don’t use recruiting, because that really hasn’t worked out either.

[N67ER]

Today's L isn't on Steele. But, I look at the entire body of work. The last 4 years have not shown me a single thing that I can point at to defend him. It's time. If he stays, I would be very surprised if season ticket sales don't take a steep nosedive. I've also pointed out that I expect at least 1-2 transfers to move on. Depending on who it is, that could be damaging for him as well.

Respectfully disagree about whether this loss reflects on Steele. He refused, once again, to keep his players fresh by subbing in Edwards and Stanley. Nunge was exhausted. Free was fading. You simply cannot expect the big guys to play so many minutes and continue to be effective. Scruggs was so exhausted he couldn’t make free throws and then made some incredibly bad defensive errors.

He doesn’t trust his bench players. Edwards and Stanley should have been big contributors this year. In the most important game of the year neither played a single second. If he doesn’t trust them, why did he recruit them?

Why did Steele continue to assign Kunk to guard a guy he obviously can’t handle? How many times do you have to watch it happen before you change your lineup?

[N67ER]

This is absolutely on Steele. Edwards didn't play a single minute against a small, slow Butler team. He played Nunge and Zach almost the entire game. Even if X won, you think they would have anything left for tomorrow?

Steele's teams have no mental fortitude.. . ..

Agree with these points.

[bleedXblue]

Please anyone tell me one thing Travis and his program have done well the last 4 years.

Gone is our identity. Replaced with mentally weak players who don't play with confidence and a chip on their shoulder.

Gone is player development. Replaced with players who aren't getting better and in most cases regressing.

Gone is Xavier's streak of .500 or better in conference play for 30+ years. Replaced with 3 consecutive years of losing records.

Gone is NCAAA tourney appearances. Replaced with sitting at home "hoping" things turn around next year.

Gone is solid recruiting. Replaced with too many odd and strange pieces that don't fit together. You end up with a team that does nothing well and struggles in almost every facet of the game.

Im sure there are more......

[OTRMUSKIE]

100% on Steele. The guy just lost to Butler! Butler is awful. Thank God this era is finally over with. Now we can get back to the winning ways. And we all know who is the right man for that job.

[Xville]

Please anyone tell me one thing Travis and his program have done well the last 4 years.

Gone is our identity. Replaced with mentally weak players who don't play with confidence and a chip on their shoulder.

Gone is player development. Replaced with players who aren't getting better and in most cases regressing.

Gone is Xavier's streak of .500 or better in conference play for 30+ years. Replaced with 3 consecutive years of losing records.

Gone is NCAAA tourney appearances. Replaced with sitting at home "hoping" things turn around next year.

Gone is solid recruiting. Replaced with too many odd and strange pieces that don't fit together. You end up with a team that does nothing well and struggles in almost every facet of the game.

Im sure there are more......

Absolutely ruined an All Big East Freshman by not playing him once his boyfriend Kunkel became eligible "because he doesn't play defense" yet half the team doesn't.

[paulxu]

Without question, Steele has a LOT of challenges in coaching this team.
And this is not to defend him...but damn, that game was lost because we shot 44% from the FT line.
Just make 1 more, that's all 1...and there's not OT.

[xudash]

Without question, Steele has a LOT of challenges in coaching this team.
And this is not to defend him...but damn, that game was lost because we shot 44% from the FT line.
Just make 1 more, that's all 1...and there's not OT.

Paul, it should not have come down to even that.

[XUBison]

Without question, Steele has a LOT of challenges in coaching this team.
And this is not to defend him...but damn, that game was lost because we shot 44% from the FT line.
Just make 1 more, that's all 1...and there's not OT.

I encourage you to watch the X v. WVU game linked by Muskie in his thread, “March Madness Memories, Poll #1”. You will find a team that almost never missed free throws. Not to mention— onions everywhere. They were so clearly a product of their coach.

[paulxu]

Paul, it should not have come down to even that.

I agree...it should not.
But it did. You have to make more than 44%...especially when you're given 29 chances. That's free money you are pissing away.

[IM4X]

Christopher and the administration to Steele after 4 seasons and tonight’s performance.

(https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=M5QGkOGZubQ&feature=emb_logo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=M5QGkOGZubQ&feature=emb_logo

[D-West & PO-Z]

Today's L isn't on Steele. But, I look at the entire body of work. The last 4 years have not shown me a single thing that I can point at to defend him. It's time. If he stays, I would be very surprised if season ticket sales don't take a steep nosedive. I've also pointed out that I expect at least 1-2 transfers to move on. Depending on who it is, that could be damaging for him as well.

Exactly. This one game, in a vacuum, isn't all Steele's fault. But looking at the last 4 years (especially the last 3) in totality, you can't keep making excuses for Steele. Different players, same sorry results, so late season collapses. It is on Steele.

Can you imagine the buzz and excitement if Sean Miller returns as coach? If he wants it, they have to make the move. Even if he doesn't, a move is needed.

Time for a change.

#SaveTheProgram

[IM4X]

Today's L isn't on Steele. But, I look at the entire body of work. The last 4 years have not shown me a single thing that I can point at to defend him. It's time. If he stays, I would be very surprised if season ticket sales don't take a steep nosedive. I've also pointed out that I expect at least 1-2 transfers to move on. Depending on who it is, that could be damaging for him as well.

I usually agree with what you have to say (and I even agree with much of this post of yours) but this game is very much on Steele.

Once again he did not have his team prepared.

Once again he allowed his team to jack up a bunch of early, quick three’s (looking at you Kunkel and Hunter and Nunge) instead of telling his team to work it inside to Nunge (who had a huge height advantage in the paint and who was scoring at will early on).

Once again, Steele subbed out players that were playing well and kept in players who were cold as ice and even added another bad shooter who of course missed a 3 too.

This is like Bill Murray in Groundhog’s Day, minus the part where he figures it out.

With even adequate coaching, X could have had a 10 point lead going into the half. That would have given the team a little more swagger and it likely turns into an easy win- even with the missed FTs.