Strategy for rest of year

[X Factor]

What should Xavier do going forward without Freemantle. Obviously, Xavier is going to be underdogs in just about every conference game.

I think Sean should tell them to shoot at least 35 threes a game. Just chuck 'em up. Maybe they can make 12-15 a night and keep them in most games.

Swain needs to drive, drive, and keep driving to the hoop. Get to the FT line, kick out, etc. He needs to take 10 shots a game.

Everyone needs to crash the boards.

Play zone on defense. We will be severely undermanned on the defensive end of the court.

Wednesday is going to be fun or really, really ugly.

[Xavier]

Wednesday will be really ugly.

I don’t think we will be underdogs for most of the season. I think we will be competing with GT, DePaul, SH, Butler, Providence. Says more about the BE obviously. But we will still be hard to watch. Ugly games. Ugly wins.

It’s hard to say what to expect. Just going to suck. Back to back years of brutal bball to watch bc of injuries.

[Xville]

From what miller said, it sounds like they are going to go uber slow tempo and mix in zone. All of that makes sense. This sucks.

[profson]

If you thought teams crowded the 3 point line because they feared neither our guards off the bounce or an interior game, just watch.
If you were worried about rebounds, just watch.
If you were worried about fatigue at game end, just watch.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Wednesday will be really ugly.

I don’t think we will be underdogs for most of the season. I think we will be competing with GT, DePaul, SH, Butler, Providence. Says more about the BE obviously. But we will still be hard to watch. Ugly games. Ugly wins.

It’s hard to say what to expect. Just going to suck. Back to back years of brutal bball to watch bc of injuries.

Before the UC game (and obv before Free injury) we were only favored in 3 of our next 15 games.

I think we will most certainly be a dog in most our BE games moving forward. Every road game certainly. The home games against the top of the league.

[Xavier]

We were only favored in 3 of our 10 home games? I find that hard to believe. Per kenpom we were projected to win 10 of our remaining games before the Crosstown. The crosstown would’ve only improved our numbers.

[Xville]

I’d find that really hard to believe as well based on kenpom. I’d think we were favored around 5 to 7 in the next 15. Still quite shitty.

[Strange Brew]

Whole lotta of think/tinkerers on this board these days. :)

Next game is on Weds. You ride with what you have.

Let’s go X!

[D-West & PO-Z]

We were only favored in 3 of our 10 home games? I find that hard to believe. Per kenpom we were projected to win 10 of our remaining games before the Crosstown. The crosstown would’ve only improved our numbers.


I’d find that really hard to believe as well based on kenpom. I’d think we were favored around 5 to 7 in the next 15. Still quite shitty.

I was looking at Bart Torvik before the UC game. From what I have seen him and Kenpom are usually pretty close but I did not look at KenPom.

Torvik currently has (don't know if this accounts for Free injury, doubt it, and looks similar to what I saw before):

@UC- 9 pt dog
@UConn- 10.5 pt dog
Marquette- 3.5 pt dog
Seton Hall- 8 pt fav
@Georgetown- 1pt dog
St. Johns- 3pt dog
@ DePaul- 3pt dog
Villanova- 2 pt fav
@Marquette- 11 pt dog
@ St. Johns- 11pt dog
UConn- 3pt dog
@Creighton- 8pt dog
Georgetown- 6.5 pt fav
@Villanova- 5.5 pt dog
@ Providence- 1pt dog

That is favorite in 3 of next 15.

He then has us favored in 4 of our last 6.

So 7 of the remaining 21 (including UC).

[GoMuskies]

Pray

[Strange Brew]

Pray

Couldn’t hurt. ;)

Come on Muskies. I remember a time when we’d never beat UC again (Huggins), the season is over (The Run), we’ll never compete in the BE (2 and1 seed in the Tourney). Not saying this is the year however I find everyone’s lack of faith disturbing. ;)

[GoMuskies]

Couldn’t hurt. ;)



Unfortunately, in this league prayer should really only give us a competitive advantage against UConn and Butler. And maybe Georgetown. They don't seem particularly Catholic anymore.

[Strange Brew]

Unfortunately, in this league prayer should really only give us a competitive advantage against UConn and Butler. And maybe Georgetown. They don't seem particularly Catholic anymore.

Well, that’s potentially three wins. Which is a start. :)

[Jehoya]

Lose lol

[Xville]

One thing I'm hoping for is to see less of the packline moving forward. Is there any chance we abandon that in future years? I hate that defensive strategy, it's hard for newer players to pick up, especially in this day and age of portal etc, and quite frankly i don't think it fits anymore in this era of college basketball. There are just way too many shooters in today's game. Hopefully out of necessity, a lot of that is gone for the rest of the year, or at least there is more of a mix of zone and other defensive strategy.

The most disappointing thing to this point of the season though is on offense. Personally, its been shocking how bad that side of the ball has been with this set of players. It would make the most sense to just go five out (like Louisville has done with all of their injuries this year), and live with the consequences. I think other than slowing the tempo to a snail's pace, thats the only way for this team to really play the rest of the season.

[Xville]

I was looking at Bart Torvik before the UC game. From what I have seen him and Kenpom are usually pretty close but I did not look at KenPom.

Torvik currently has (don't know if this accounts for Free injury, doubt it, and looks similar to what I saw before):

@UC- 9 pt dog
@UConn- 10.5 pt dog
Marquette- 3.5 pt dog
Seton Hall- 8 pt fav
@Georgetown- 1pt dog
St. Johns- 3pt dog
@ DePaul- 3pt dog
Villanova- 2 pt fav
@Marquette- 11 pt dog
@ St. Johns- 11pt dog
UConn- 3pt dog
@Creighton- 8pt dog
Georgetown- 6.5 pt fav
@Villanova- 5.5 pt dog
@ Providence- 1pt dog

That is favorite in 3 of next 15.

He then has us favored in 4 of our last 6.

So 7 of the remaining 21 (including UC).

geez. At georgetown and depaul as dogs? I could see one of them but both? Even with Free being down, I'm going moneyline on both of those. Depaul and Gtown are both getting a lot of respect for beating really shitty teams.

[A Fan]

With Zach Freemantle out, watching games this season could feel especially painful, particularly if we drop games to teams in the lower half of the league. To avoid letting the losses get to me, I’ve decided to take a completely different approach to watching the games.

Instead of focusing on the scoreboard, I’m going to study the roster construction and team chemistry of our opponents. In today’s NIL and transfer portal-driven world, success requires a mix of player development, transfers, and strategic recruiting. Watching how other Big East teams are built—how transfers integrate, how role players develop, and how chemistry evolves—will help me better understand what it takes to succeed at this level.

That’s the perspective I’ll be watching from, and it might even make the losses a little easier to bear !

[X-band '01]

geez. At georgetown and depaul as dogs? I could see one of them but both? Even with Free being down, I'm going moneyline on both of those. Depaul and Gtown are both getting a lot of respect for beating really shitty teams.

Wichita State is the first team they've beaten that has a pulse. I think this might be the first time they'll be favored to beat Xavier when they play in Chicago in January. I'd like to think they won't know how to react to that.

[nickgyp]

Couldn’t hurt. ;)

Come on Muskies. I remember a time when we’d never beat UC again (Huggins), the season is over (The Run), we’ll never compete in the BE (2 and1 seed in the Tourney). Not saying this is the year however I find everyone’s lack of faith disturbing. ;)

Brew:

I am with you; ride with what we have. What else is there to do but deal the hand you are dealt. The loss of Freemantle hurts but it isn’t like the rest of the team cannot play at all. The lack of inside game even with Freemantle was a worry. Miller has to approach the rest of the team and impress upon them to the best they can as there is talent on the team but the talent isn’t enough to show up 30-40% of the game.

To quote a famous but inspiring movie line:

“Over? It’s not over until we say it’s over…Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”

Buckle up; play with determination. Give it your best effort. Have fun and be competitive. Isn’t that all we really ask of these players? Win or lose, be the best you can be and we can be proud of you.

[drudy23]

Two guys have to start being way more assertive on offense and that's Swain and McKnight. No more picking and choosing your spots, they almost have to become volume shooters behind Conwell. Empower these kids to play with no fear and see if their talent can get this team over the hump.

Even if it means Swain has a couple 2-12 days...don't care, keep shooting. Not opposed to Foster and Maddox trying to find their groove as well. Bottom line is the coaches can no longer afford to bench some of these guys for mistakes. Let them play free and let the chips fall - it may actually be empowering for some players playing with no fear.

Conwell probably needs to shoot 20x per game. But it can't be all 3s - he needs to be more aggressive towards the paint to expand his game.

[drudy23]

In saying all that, I have no idea what we do on defense, especially playing good/great frontcourts. Hope we are hitting a bunch of shots those days!!

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Two guys have to start being way more assertive on offense and that's Swain and McKnight. No more picking and choosing your spots, they almost have to become volume shooters behind Conwell. Empower these kids to play with no fear and see if their talent can get this team over the hump.

Even if it means Swain has a couple 2-12 days...don't care, keep shooting. Not opposed to Foster and Maddox trying to find their groove as well. Bottom line is the coaches can no longer afford to bench some of these guys for mistakes. Let them play free and let the chips fall - it may actually be empowering for some players playing with no fear.

Conwell probably needs to shoot 20x per game. But it can't be all 3s - he needs to be more aggressive towards the paint to expand his game.

According to the show, Miller is doing the exact opposite. He is going to grind out every possession for the best shot. They will walk the ball up the court. Everyone is going to crash boards allowing opponents easier breakout runs to the gain of more offensive boards. I am going to guess he will employ a 2/3 zone, but a 1/3/1 with Swain being active and athletic in the middle would be interesting.

Packline defenses work great but these players just don't seem to be comfortable enough with it. I think either of those zones could be effective for a while. Let's remember Mack did it with Macura in the middle. Worked until we ran into Gonzaga.

[Xville]

According to the show, Miller is doing the exact opposite. He is going to grind out every possession for the best shot. They will walk the ball up the court. Everyone is going to crash boards allowing opponents easier breakout runs to the gain of more offensive boards. I am going to guess he will employ a 2/3 zone, but a 1/3/1 with Swain being active and athletic in the middle would be interesting.

Packline defenses work great but these players just don't seem to be comfortable enough with it. I think either of those zones could be effective for a while. Let's remember Mack did it with Macura in the middle. Worked until we ran into Gonzaga.

I disagree with your pack line assessment. Most coaches that used to use it have gone away from it for the reasons I mentioned. Our defense since miller came back has been atrocious. This year’s team probably is the best out of the three and it’s barely average. If you look at kenpom and the defensive ratings, none of the top 25 use the pack line, not sure of any in the top 50, maybe there are some there. However for the majority of the top 25, it’s a high pressure on ball man to man d. Either miller needs to recruit and develop guys that can play the packline to the best of its ability, or he needs to change strategy. It’s not working. I think Virginia still uses it, at least some of its main principals, and it helped to win them a championship however many years ago now, but to me it's a dinosaur strategy.

In regard to the 1-3-1 I’d like to see it. Swain at the top, have McKnight and conwell on the wings with fletcher in the middle of them and then have hunter or hugley for his five minutes on the backend.

[xukeith]

Next season, X has two freshmen guards, maybe Conwell returning, Anderson at pg, Swain and Fletcher battling for 3/4, Traore and Hugely at center, and Swain/Fletcher pf
I think X will need a transfer pg and sg, and at least three post transfer players - one proven scorer /rebounder, and two Ciani/Ousmane types.

[bleedXblue]

We rolled the dice on the future by hoping Free could come back and play an entire year and stay healthy. I think it was worth it for a player of his caliber. It just backfired and now we have to deal with the consequences.

I still think the overall strategy has to change. We need more depth and developmental guys THAT FIT MILLERS system. You win by the NIL guys sometimes and will lose bc most of the guys we will get will be coming from smaller schools and are harder to project how they will fit in. Of course if Miller can convince high D1 guys to transfer without having to empty Fort Knox, thats an entirely different thing. He's not shown that he can do that.....and that may be unrealistic anyway.

[MHettel]

Brew:

I am with you; ride with what we have. What else is there to do but deal the hand you are dealt. The loss of Freemantle hurts but it isn’t like the rest of the team cannot play at all. The lack of inside game even with Freemantle was a worry. Miller has to approach the rest of the team and impress upon them to the best they can as there is talent on the team but the talent isn’t enough to show up 30-40% of the game.

To quote a famous but inspiring movie line:

“Over? It’s not over until we say it’s over…Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”

Buckle up; play with determination. Give it your best effort. Have fun and be competitive. Isn’t that all we really ask of these players? Win or lose, be the best you can be and we can be proud of you.

Yeah. I used to see it that way. Then we entered this period of mercenaries. Now it’s win or take the heat that goes with losing. Kinda ironic that bearing treated like an employee might also come with some of the accountability of an employee.

[drudy23]

We rolled the dice on the future by hoping Free could come back and play an entire year and stay healthy. I think it was worth it for a player of his caliber. It just backfired and now we have to deal with the consequences.

I still think the overall strategy has to change. We need more depth and developmental guys THAT FIT MILLERS system. You win by the NIL guys sometimes and will lose bc most of the guys we will get will be coming from smaller schools and are harder to project how they will fit in. Of course if Miller can convince high D1 guys to transfer without having to empty Fort Knox, thats an entirely different thing. He's not shown that he can do that.....and that may be unrealistic anyway.

What I find interesting, is that both Steele and Miller kind of laid out their paths back to success. Steele wanted to be Villanova 2.0 and he doubled down on that philosophy for his entire tenure, even though we didn't have the players to really pull it off. It was almost like he felt frozen having to adjust from that, and frankly, couldn't. He was going to go down with the ship to prove to everyone it could work. Not a good trait.

Miller has come in with his own roadmap of the pack-line defense and an up-tempo, push the pace style. Is that going to get us where we need to go, and if it's not, is he willing to adapt and try another path? You have to be constantly evolving, especially with so many new players every year.

[D-West & PO-Z]

What I find interesting, is that both Steele and Miller kind of laid out their paths back to success. Steele wanted to be Villanova 2.0 and he doubled down on that philosophy for his entire tenure, even though we didn't have the players to really pull it off. It was almost like he felt frozen having to adjust from that, and frankly, couldn't. He was going to go down with the ship to prove to everyone it could work. Not a good trait.

Miller has come in with his own roadmap of the pack-line defense and an up-tempo, push the pace style. Is that going to get us where we need to go, and if it's not, is he willing to adapt and try another path? You have to be constantly evolving, especially with so many new players every year.

And that offensive philosophy was new for Miller. His Zona teams were not run and gun it crazy tempo teams. So I don’t think he will be stubborn like Steele and not change/adapt if a certain philosophy is not working, at least offensively. I do think he’s always only run the pack line defense though, so he might be more stubborn on that front.

[drudy23]

And that offensive philosophy was new for Miller. His Zona teams were not run and gun it crazy tempo teams. So I don’t think he will be stubborn like Steele and not change/adapt if a certain philosophy is not working, at least offensively. I do think he’s always only run the pack line defense though, so he might be more stubborn on that front.

I guess we will find out on Weds.

Would anyone be opposed to finally getting back to some tough paint presence and playing a more traditional style? Honestly, I really don't care if it gets the program back on track and into the tournament 80-90% of the time. Seems to still work for Izzo.

My gut tells me there's no way Miller is abandoning ship this quickly however. People will think he's panicking if he does. Maybe for the duration of this year, but not moving forward.

[Xville]

I guess we will find out on Weds.

Would anyone be opposed to finally getting back to some tough paint presence and playing a more traditional style? Honestly, I really don't care if it gets the program back on track and into the tournament 80-90% of the time. Seems to still work for Izzo.

My gut tells me there's no way Miller is abandoning ship this quickly however. People will think he's panicking if he does. Maybe for the duration of this year, but not moving forward.

Gonna be honest, when he was first hired this time around I was thrilled, I mean beyond thrilled, like I wanted to have another child just so I could name him Sean and if it was a girl? Shauna.

However, I cringed a little later on when he mentioned the offensive style and I don’t remember the words but it came off that defense was going to take a back burner. I did not like that at all but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

However, the reason I had been so excited about getting miller back was because when he was here the first time, those guys were tough as nails, defensively, offensively and they didn’t give an f what you thought and neither did Sean . After he left the first time, we lost that, even a little bit with Mack teams. I thought we were getting the same guy back, and we haven’t.

It’s not bad, but it’s different and I dunno if I’m really loving it.

I’m not saying fire Sean tomorrow, I just wonder what he is thinking in terms of offensive and defensive philosophy after this year. Is he going to change if he thinks it’s not working? Does he think it’s just the injuries and so it hasn’t been tested yet?


And yes I know im completely dismissing the first year and it was awesome, and it worked, but that seems like a lifetime ago.

[MHettel]

Gonna be honest, when he was first hired this time around I was thrilled, I mean beyond thrilled, like I wanted to have another child just so I could name him Sean and if it was a girl? Shauna.

However, I cringed a little later on when he mentioned the offensive style and I don’t remember the words but it came off that defense was going to take a back burner. I did not like that at all but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

However, the reason I had been so excited about getting miller back was because when he was here the first time, those guys were tough as nails, defensively, offensively and they didn’t give an f what you thought and neither did Sean . After he left the first time, we lost that, even a little bit with Mack teams. I thought we were getting the same guy back, and we haven’t.

It’s not bad, but it’s different and I dunno if I’m really loving it.

I’m not saying fire Sean tomorrow, I just wonder what he is thinking in terms of offensive and defensive philosophy after this year. Is he going to change if he thinks it’s not working? Does he think it’s just the injuries and so it hasn’t been tested yet?


And yes I know im completely dismissing the first year and it was awesome, and it worked, but that seems like a lifetime ago.

Miller spent far more time in the Pac12 than in the A10 and BE. PAC 12 has a certain style. Maybe Sean went soft on us….

[Xavier]

I’ve seen people on the board being critical of Sean taking certain players out for “one or two mistakes”. And some posters calling for him to go back to his roots (myself included). But Sean being the old Sean is pulling players after a dumb mistake. Can’t remember the kids name- but we brought in a pretty talented player (white player, supposedly known for his shot) I was excited about. He’d get two minutes, miss a shot and immediately pulled. Transferred to a Mac school (Akron I think) after the year.

Anyways, it’s a long way of saying you can’t have it both ways. I personally think Sean can thrive in this era by going back to the tough style of play, developing players and snagging one or two solid transfers to push us over the top. I thought his new offensive style was smart in large part because it’s easier to recruit and bring transfers in to play that way. I still think it can work but I’d rather take the time to rebuild the program.

[xukeith]

Well this hurts but I must say it. UD has a nice winning style up north. They keep on winning

[Xavier]

I will say- I think Sean is loved by the majority of the fanbase. I get the frustration- I just think the history with Sean, people love him and want him to succeed at X. All that is to say- I think NIL dollars are going to be higher for a guy like Sean. I bring that up because a few of my buddies suggested a new, up and coming coach who doesn’t have as high a salary. Use the difference in salary towards NIL and just bring in higher level talent.

Just….the thought of a Travis Steele coaching a slightly more talented roster is scary, too.

[Xville]

Well this hurts but I must say it. UD has a nice winning style up north. They keep on winning

I can’t decide whether I want them or uc to lose more later this week. It’s a real toss up. Both of those fan bases are gross

[Xavier]

Well this hurts but I must say it. UD has a nice winning style up north. They keep on winning

Last year was the first year they were in the tournament since 2017. They have made the second weekend just once in the last 40 years.

[Xville]

I will say- I think Sean is loved by the majority of the fanbase. I get the frustration- I just think the history with Sean, people love him and want him to succeed at X. All that is to say- I think NIL dollars are going to be higher for a guy like Sean. I bring that up because a few of my buddies suggested a new, up and coming coach who doesn’t have as high a salary. Use the difference in salary towards NIL and just bring in higher level talent.

Just….the thought of a Travis Steele coaching a slightly more talented roster is scary, too.

I love Sean and want him to succeed and to not have to deal with all this injury nonsense. It’s been a very frustrating run since that damn night in Nashville. We need an exorcism.

[Xville]

Last year was the first year they were in the tournament since 2017. They have made the second weekend just once in the last 40 years.

Yeah they still really suck, but boy are they puffing their chests out so far this year. One of the grossest fanbases in sports. I really hope they lose tonight so they calm their asses down a bit

[Tim]

I can't believe the number of people in here and in other threads questioning Miller. Did we have some concerns before Free's injury? Yes. But Miller has a track record for improving teams over the course of a season and most importantly Miller has a track record!

After seeing Steele destroy our program for many years, I'm still thankful to God that we were lucky enough to get Miller back in the fold.

The issues from last year and this year are injuries, plain and simple. WAY too much overanalyzing on this. NO coach could overcome these injuries with this depth.

We're all frustrated, I get it. But Miller is NOT the problem in any way. We are so damn lucky to have him.

[XU_Lou]

I can't believe the number of people in here and in other threads questioning Miller. Did we have some concerns before Free's injury? Yes. But Miller has a track record for improving teams over the course of a season and most importantly Miller has a track record!

After seeing Steele destroy our program for many years, I'm still thankful to God that we were lucky enough to get Miller back in the fold.

The issues from last year and this year are injuries, plain and simple. WAY too much overanalyzing on this. NO coach could overcome these injuries with this depth.

We're all frustrated, I get it. But Miller is NOT the problem in any way. We are so damn lucky to have him.

Bingo!

[Xville]

I can't believe the number of people in here and in other threads questioning Miller. Did we have some concerns before Free's injury? Yes. But Miller has a track record for improving teams over the course of a season and most importantly Miller has a track record!

After seeing Steele destroy our program for many years, I'm still thankful to God that we were lucky enough to get Miller back in the fold.

The issues from last year and this year are injuries, plain and simple. WAY too much overanalyzing on this. NO coach could overcome these injuries with this depth.

We're all frustrated, I get it. But Miller is NOT the problem in any way. We are so damn lucky to have him.

We don’t really know if he is or isn’t because as you said, we have had injuries. He has the track record at x and at zona absolutely. No one was more happy to get him than me, and the sweet 16 year was great. But in the grand scheme of what has happened since then as far as the landscape of college bb, that’s a lifetime ago. I want it to work, more than anyone, and like I said I’m not saying fire him tomorrow, but I don’t think it’s crazy to wonder if this is going to work or not. These are some of the things that concern me:


Dante Maddox——Illinois wanted him, Louisville wanted him. He was a big recruiting coup. What’s happened to him so far?
Hugley—-what is going on?
Dayvion—-he’s regressed since last year. It was about this time last year he turned it on. I’m hoping for a repeat.
Swain—-is he any better than last year? I think he will be or at least I hope so but up to this point? He isn’t.

Now, id put a lot of this of course on the players, themselves, but also on Sean’s staff. Does he have the right guys?


Is his defensive and offensive philosophy going to work in this era? If not, is he willing to change or is it going to be “do what we do” no matter what?


Again, I want this to work. Maybe I’m just ridiculously frustrated, but I’m starting to get concerned. I also freely admit I have very little patience lol.

[Xville]

Lastly I’ll say, I hope x beats UConn tomorrow and Sean tells me to shut the f up.

[American X]

I can hear Sean Miller crying on the inside during the radio show.

[Xavier]

There is still an element of bringing great mid majors up and hoping they respond/adjust. It’s not going to work everytime, but beating out Illinois and Louisville is a good sign. He’s been coach for two years and sent two guys to the league.

I actually think Swain slightly improving. He’s a bit more aggressive in transition, and has had a handful of good drives. It’s clear it is still not an easy thing for him to do, and his outside shot sucks, but I think he’s slightly better.

Injuries have just been brutal. Obviously wish they didn’t happen but moreso just to see how the style/gameplan might work or not.

[Xville]

There is still an element of bringing great mid majors up and hoping they respond/adjust. It’s not going to work everytime, but beating out Illinois and Louisville is a good sign. He’s been coach for two years and sent two guys to the league.

I actually think Swain slightly improving. He’s a bit more aggressive in transition, and has had a handful of good drives. It’s clear it is still not an easy thing for him to do, and his outside shot sucks, but I think he’s slightly better.

Injuries have just been brutal. Obviously wish they didn’t happen but moreso just to see how the style/gameplan might work or not.

All fair points. I’ll step back from the ledge :)

[MHettel]

Bingo!

Well….

The fact that Steele sucked has no bearing on what’s occurring this year.

Miller should be an elite coach. Steele is not, nor has he shown flashes.

Miller is in year 3. This roster is his. There are no excuses.

The idea that he’s better than Steele is the biggest argument for mediocrity that I could conceive.

The idea that the players, coaches, and systems aren’t Millers after 2 full years is crazy.

Miller is presiding over a dumpster fire. You can ignore it if you’d prefer.

The roster is dysfunctional, old, expensive and flawed.

This season is done. Miller needs to figure out who his core will be going forward and nurture it. Even at the expense of some losses. Too bad Green left.

Swain and Fletcher? Let Hugley just play through whatever it is that he’s dealing with.

How ironic. Hugley looses 60 pounds and now Miller wants to play a slowed down style. I’d rather have the 290 lb version of Hugley.

This is what I’m talking about. What kind of fucking roster is this?

We really don’t have any young guys. We have 2 good recruits, for now. We saw last year how tenuous that can be.

Someone please give me a blueprint for getting out of this.

As ironic as it might be, could a team of former XU transfers beat us this year?

A crap year this year just makes it harder to recruit into.

[Xville]

Well….

The fact that Steele sucked has no bearing on what’s occurring this year.

Miller should be an elite coach. Steele is not, nor has he shown flashes.

Miller is in year 3. This roster is his. There are no excuses.

The idea that he’s better than Steele is the biggest argument for mediocrity that I could conceive.

The idea that the players, coaches, and systems aren’t Millers after 2 full years is crazy.

Miller is presiding over a dumpster fire. You can ignore it if you’d prefer.

The roster is dysfunctional, old, expensive and flawed.

This season is done. Miller needs to figure out who his core will be going forward and nurture it. Even at the expense of some losses. Too bad Green left.

Swain and Fletcher? Let Hugley just play through whatever it is that he’s dealing with.

How ironic. Hugley looses 60 pounds and now Miller wants to play a slowed down style. I’d rather have the 290 lb version of Hugley.

This is what I’m talking about. What kind of fucking roster is this?

We really don’t have any young guys. We have 2 good recruits, for now. We saw last year how tenuous that can be.

Someone please give me a blueprint for getting out of this.

As ironic as it might be, could a team of former XU transfers beat us this year?

A crap year this year just makes it harder to recruit into.

In case you forgot, you just responded to the idiot that was gong to “come back on here when Steele took x to the sweet 16” and tell me how much I didn’t know what I was talking about. Zero credibility on anything basketball related. He thought Steele was going to turn it around and we should keep him longer than anyone with a brain thought we should have.


We will see how this year pans out. I’m not optimistic but crazier shit has happened. In regards to the roster itself, it’d look a hell of a lot better with traore and free healthy. How much? I dunno, but it can’t be completely ignored.

In general though, I do agree about roster construction. I’d like to see more of an emphasis on development and freshmen recruiting, and then fill in the gaps with 1-2 portal guys a year. I’d be interested to hear what miller thinks about that at this point?


Everything you said to me is fair. I think at this point, people giving miller a free pass on everything is a bit silly. In the same vein, can’t completely discount what has happened with injuries (we didn’t look good with free yet this year though.)

I’m excited for UConn, I hope I’m still excited five minutes into the game.

[Xavier]

I think maybe 10 schools could battle through losing a starting front court two years in a row. Losing an all big east player mid way thru year one is hard, too. We were one of the best teams in the country at the time. Still turned it into one of the best seasons X has ever had.

I think Hugely was brought in to be a back up, change the body and be a good fit for next year. Que injuries and his timeline is pushed up. Sounds like the same exact situation with Osman last year. But the core roster just needs to be built from within. Completely agree. That needs to be the adjustment.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I can't believe the number of people in here and in other threads questioning Miller. Did we have some concerns before Free's injury? Yes. But Miller has a track record for improving teams over the course of a season and most importantly Miller has a track record!

After seeing Steele destroy our program for many years, I'm still thankful to God that we were lucky enough to get Miller back in the fold.

The issues from last year and this year are injuries, plain and simple. WAY too much overanalyzing on this. NO coach could overcome these injuries with this depth.

We're all frustrated, I get it. But Miller is NOT the problem in any way. We are so damn lucky to have him.

I generally agree with this. I think Miller has to consider his roster construction, assistants, and overall philosophy to some degree though. It isn't like we were cruising prior to this injury.

But overall, I am not sure we could do any better than Miller. The guys is a heck of a coach and I have faith he gets us consistently good again.

[A Fan]

Sean Miller has been dealt a brutal hand this season. Losing two key frontcourt players for the year is a blow that would derail even the most talented of rosters. As a result, success this season cannot be measured in wins alone. Instead, the real test of Miller’s coaching ability will come through other metrics—ones that reflect how much growth, effort, and identity he can instill in his team despite the challenges.Here is how I would measure success.

First and foremost, tenacious defense should be a cornerstone of this team’s approach. Defense doesn’t require elite talent, just discipline, effort, and buy-in. Miller has the chance to mold this group into a scrappy, hard-nosed defensive unit that frustrates opponents, fights for every possession, and keeps games competitive. If this team can establish itself as defensively sound, it will send a clear message that no matter what adversity they face, they won’t back down.

Second, the team needs to embrace its underdog mentality and dominate the hustle plays—starting with crashing the boards. With frontcourt depth depleted, everyone on the court will need to contribute on the glass. Guards must box out, wings must attack the boards aggressively, and the entire team has to commit to winning the battle for rebounds. Outworking the opponent on the boards is something this team can control, regardless of talent gaps.

On offense, this is a perfect opportunity to improve key fundamentals. Perimeter shooting, for example, is a skill that can make or break games. Miller should focus on sharpening his players’ ability to knock down open looks,. Similarly, better penetration into the paint will be critical. Even without traditional post players, guards and wings can learn to attack the rim with confidence and purpose, breaking down defenses to create scoring opportunities for themselves and their teammates.

This team has also been written off by many, and that can be freeing. With no heavy expectations weighing them down, they can take risks and play with a looseness that may catch opponents off guard. Miller has the chance to instill a fearless mindset in his players, encouraging them to play aggressively and take advantage of opportunities that come with being underestimated. This is the kind of season where a team can surprise people—not by dominating opponents, but by showing heart, grit, and a refusal to roll over.

Finally, this team can make fans believe in the power of doing a lot with a little. The players have the opportunity to prove that effort, adaptability, and teamwork can overcome adversity. If Miller can foster a culture of resilience and incremental improvement, he will have succeeded in ways that transcend the win column.

While this may not be the season anyone envisioned, it’s a season that could set the stage for future success by building habits, instilling confidence, and showing that even with the odds stacked against them, this program will fight to the very end.

If Miller accomplishes this the season will be successful.

[XUGRAD80]

Th fact is that Xavier currently has a depleted roster that is going to heavily rely on guards and wings, with little front court ability. Swain is NOT a power player or a low post player. Hunter has not shown to be a low post player either. Fletcher’s best shot is his 3 pointer. That leaves only Hugley. I was very happy that X brought him in, but he was seen from the very beginning as someone that was not counted on to be more than a backup this year. Same with Fletcher.

So X will have to adjust. They will slow the ball down to reduce possessions. They will play a lot of zone in order to protect what front court depth it has from foul trouble. They will use walk on players a few minutes per game in order to protect and rest their scholarship players.

None of this will result in a winning season, but it will help to keep them from being embarrassed.

I’m writing this season off and just going to watch and see how players develop, with an eye towards next year. I suspect that Miller will look to carry at least one more frontline low post player on the roster next year.

Just unbelievable that this has happened two years in a row.

[xukeith]

Are Gonzaga and Arizona both running teams with little frontcourts and more star power in wings and guards?

That is where Miller was inspired by the run and gun offense. no?

[bleedXblue]

Last year was the first year they were in the tournament since 2017. They have made the second weekend just once in the last 40 years.

I mean you cant ignore the Covid year where they would have been a #1 seed.

[Xville]

I mean you cant ignore the Covid year where they would have been a #1 seed.

Since Xavier left that shithole of a conference, Dayton has made the tournament about half the time. Considering the resources they have compared with other schools in that even further watered down league thatn when we were in it, that's effing terrible. Last thing I want to do is worry about Dayton's non success in that shit league.

We are going thru the worst stretch in 40 plus years of this program and we still have had more tourney and program success than they have since we left. Fuck them.

[bleedXblue]

Since Xavier left that shithole of a conference, Dayton has made the tournament about half the time. Considering the resources they have compared with other schools in that even further watered down league thatn when we were in it, that's effing terrible. Last thing I want to do is worry about Dayton's non success in that shit league.

We are going thru the worst stretch in 40 plus years of this program and we still have had more tourney and program success than they have since we left. Fuck them.

Yeah, fuck them I agree........just trying to keep things real.

It hurts this year in particular b/c they're having a good year and we're eating another shit sandwich

[Xville]

Yeah, fuck them I agree........just trying to keep things real.

It hurts this year in particular b/c they're having a good year and we're eating another shit sandwich

We can always hang our hat that we still destroyed them in their own arena, whether they want to admit that their team was trying or not :) .

[nickgyp]

Yeah. I used to see it that way. Then we entered this period of mercenaries. Now it’s win or take the heat that goes with losing. Kinda ironic that bearing treated like an employee might also come with some of the accountability of an employee.

Fully understand. The mercenary nature of NILs and transfer portals sometimes make me think Miller should play what’s his name…Who?…..You know the guy who transferred in from what’s the school? you know the one who has an undetermined number of years of eligibilty left…but only if he’s done red shirting….

Makes Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First?” seems more definitive…

[muskiefan82]

OR go full Loyola Marymount and chuck up a 3 every 10 seconds.

[xu82]

I’d consider punting on 3rd down a lot.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I know Steele loved it, but Wright's 'Nova style won two titles. He often had one big on the court and even then that big was 6'7 or 6'8. Now he had a lot of NBA talent and he had 4-5 guys who could hit threes. I am not saying that we need to go full 'Nova but there were some aspects Miller should employ.

XVILLE posted it, we need to be the team the plays defense like each game is our last. Everyone plays hard defense, clogs lanes, dives for balls, everything. That was a trait of those 'Nova teams. Hurley's ASU teams might be a better example, he often never had a decent big or just one decent big and ran 4 out 1 in offense. He even used small guards to defend bigs in games and hoped to just slow them down enough for his guards to hit enough shots to keep them in games.

Not sure if any would work but this is another year where he can throw stuff against a wall and see if it sticks.

[drudy23]

I know Steele loved it, but Wright's 'Nova style won two titles. He often had one big on the court and even then that big was 6'7 or 6'8. Now he had a lot of NBA talent and he had 4-5 guys who could hit threes. I am not saying that we need to go full 'Nova but there were some aspects Miller should employ.

XVILLE posted it, we need to be the team the plays defense like each game is our last. Everyone plays hard defense, clogs lanes, dives for balls, everything. That was a trait of those 'Nova teams. Hurley's ASU teams might be a better example, he often never had a decent big or just one decent big and ran 4 out 1 in offense. He even used small guards to defend bigs in games and hoped to just slow them down enough for his guards to hit enough shots to keep them in games.

Not sure if any would work but this is another year where he can throw stuff against a wall and see if it sticks.

Yeah, the Steele problem was that even though he told us all we will see the best shooting teams in 20 years, that simply wasn't even close to reality. Most of the guys he brought in to run the Wright look-alike show weren't anywhere close to the talent level of those Nova players. That's kinda important.

The system works with the right personnel and the right leader. We had neither.

[muskieindent]

I'd say run and gun but with our depleted bench that might be risky.I would agree that three point shooting is the way to go.PUT UP 35 + a game.Really need Maddux to put up some big numbers.This guy was pretty highly sought but has been a no show so far. I can't see more than 6 BE wins .So sad for a team that I saw in October practice and I thought could make a deep run in March.About 15 minutes after I thought that, Trabore went down with his knee injury

[hoopster68]

Several posters have encouraged growing more talent from the freshman year on. My question is: what happened with Jonathan Powell? He decommitted from X on May 3, 2024 and signed with WVU on May 6, 2024. He is currently averaging nearly nine points per game. Did Miller show him the door, recruit over him, feel he couldn't make the grade at X, some combo of these, or something else? What ever happened, X ended up with no frosh this year. What type of sign does that send to current HS juniors?

[drudy23]

Several posters have encouraged growing more talent from the freshman year on. My question is: what happened with Jonathan Powell? He decommitted from X on May 3, 2024 and signed with WVU on May 6, 2024. He is currently averaging nearly nine points per game. Did Miller show him the door, recruit over him, feel he couldn't make the grade at X, some combo of these, or something else? What ever happened, X ended up with no frosh this year. What type of sign does that send to current HS juniors?

I have a feeling this was more to do with Powell's camp vs. anything the X staff did. Kid seemed pumped to come to X, then he wasn't. Got a better NIL offer?

[94GRAD]

Several posters have encouraged growing more talent from the freshman year on. My question is: what happened with Jonathan Powell? He decommitted from X on May 3, 2024 and signed with WVU on May 6, 2024. He is currently averaging nearly nine points per game. Did Miller show him the door, recruit over him, feel he couldn't make the grade at X, some combo of these, or something else? What ever happened, X ended up with no frosh this year. What type of sign does that send to current HS juniors?

He wanted to be guaranteed minutes and Sean wouldn't do it.

[Xville]

He wanted to be guaranteed minutes and Sean wouldn't do it.

I wonder how much of a problem that’s going to be recruiting freshmen, everyone wants it right here, right now. Going to take a special kind of person. You are seeing it so much in football. Guys are just not willing at all to wait their turn for what seems like a majority of athletes

[xu82]

I don’t blame Jay Wright or the UVA coach. This aren’t the same challenges they faced for most of their careers. I hope today’s recruits make cuddly Bill Belichick regret his UNC decision.

[A Fan]

Something I wrote for another venue but is apt to today’s discussion.

“Being a college basketball coach in today’s NIL environment is a job that is almost unrecognizable compared to even 5 years ango. ago. The expectations and responsibilities have shifted dramatically, transforming what was once a profession focused on developing young athletes and building cohesive teams into a high-pressure, transactional role dominated by fundraising, deal-making, and roster management.

First, coaches are no longer just responsible for game plans, practices, and recruiting. They now have to help raise NIL money—essentially acting as fundraisers to ensure their programs remain competitive in the new financial landscape. This involves courting donors, NIL collectives, and boosters, all while staying within whatever NCAA guidelines still exist. Coaches are no longer judged solely on wins and losses but also on how effectively they can secure funding to attract and retain players. The job requires not only basketball knowledge but also business acumen, public relations skills, and constant networking.

Once NIL money is raised, the next challenge is allocating it. Coaches must decide how much to offer incoming recruits, portal transfers, and current players. If you bring in a freshman and spend years developing them into a standout, you may be creating a player who becomes more valuable to other programs—and those programs may outbid you for their services. The loyalty that used to be part of the player-coach relationship is totally absent, as players are incentivized to chase bigger offers elsewhere. Coaches face the painful reality that the athletes they’ve invested in can leave at any time, forcing them to start over again and again.

Meanwhile, the transfer portal has created a chaotic secondary recruiting market. Coaches now have to sift through an ever-changing pool of players, many of whom are seeking a step up to more competitive programs or a higher NIL payout. Coaches gamble on these players, hoping they can thrive at the next level, but often the fit isn’t right, or the player doesn’t live up to expectations. This creates a vicious cycle of constant roster turnover, making it nearly impossible to build the type of sustained success that programs once prided themselves on.

This new, transactional world is one that would likely have alienated principled coaches like Jay Wright, Skip Prosser, or Tony Bennett. Jay Wright, for instance, thrived in a culture where loyalty, development, and team-building were the cornerstones of his success. The current environment—dominated by short-term thinking, NIL negotiations, and roster churn—is so far removed from that world that it’s easy to imagine Wright struggling to maintain his values while staying competitive. The same could be said for Tony Bennett, who emphasized character and fit over quick fixes, and for Skip Prosser, whose focus on relationships and personal growth would feel increasingly out of place in today’s high-stakes, financially driven game.

Coaching college basketball has become a profession with burnout and failure baked into the system. Coaches are judged on their ability to deliver results in an environment where continuity is nearly impossible and where every roster decision carries immense pressure. The emotional toll of constantly managing NIL demands, recruiting portal players, and rebuilding teams every year is enormous. It’s no wonder that decent men like Jay Wright have stepped away, or that others may follow, as the job becomes less about the love of the game and more about navigating an unforgiving business landscape.

As the profession continues to evolve, it risks losing the very people who once made college basketball special—coaches who cared deeply about their players’ growth, who built programs with integrity, and who valued the journey as much as the results. What remains is a transactional, cutthroat world where loyalty is scarce, and the grind never ends. The question for the future is whether this system can sustain itself, or whether it will drive away the very leaders who once defined what college basketball was all about.

[drudy23]

Something I wrote for another venue but is apt to today’s discussion.

“Being a college basketball coach in today’s NIL environment is a job that is almost unrecognizable compared to even 5 years ango. ago. The expectations and responsibilities have shifted dramatically, transforming what was once a profession focused on developing young athletes and building cohesive teams into a high-pressure, transactional role dominated by fundraising, deal-making, and roster management.

First, coaches are no longer just responsible for game plans, practices, and recruiting. They now have to help raise NIL money—essentially acting as fundraisers to ensure their programs remain competitive in the new financial landscape. This involves courting donors, NIL collectives, and boosters, all while staying within whatever NCAA guidelines still exist. Coaches are no longer judged solely on wins and losses but also on how effectively they can secure funding to attract and retain players. The job requires not only basketball knowledge but also business acumen, public relations skills, and constant networking.

Once NIL money is raised, the next challenge is allocating it. Coaches must decide how much to offer incoming recruits, portal transfers, and current players. If you bring in a freshman and spend years developing them into a standout, you may be creating a player who becomes more valuable to other programs—and those programs may outbid you for their services. The loyalty that used to be part of the player-coach relationship is totally absent, as players are incentivized to chase bigger offers elsewhere. Coaches face the painful reality that the athletes they’ve invested in can leave at any time, forcing them to start over again and again.

Meanwhile, the transfer portal has created a chaotic secondary recruiting market. Coaches now have to sift through an ever-changing pool of players, many of whom are seeking a step up to more competitive programs or a higher NIL payout. Coaches gamble on these players, hoping they can thrive at the next level, but often the fit isn’t right, or the player doesn’t live up to expectations. This creates a vicious cycle of constant roster turnover, making it nearly impossible to build the type of sustained success that programs once prided themselves on.

This new, transactional world is one that would likely have alienated principled coaches like Jay Wright, Skip Prosser, or Tony Bennett. Jay Wright, for instance, thrived in a culture where loyalty, development, and team-building were the cornerstones of his success. The current environment—dominated by short-term thinking, NIL negotiations, and roster churn—is so far removed from that world that it’s easy to imagine Wright struggling to maintain his values while staying competitive. The same could be said for Tony Bennett, who emphasized character and fit over quick fixes, and for Skip Prosser, whose focus on relationships and personal growth would feel increasingly out of place in today’s high-stakes, financially driven game.

Coaching college basketball has become a profession with burnout and failure baked into the system. Coaches are judged on their ability to deliver results in an environment where continuity is nearly impossible and where every roster decision carries immense pressure. The emotional toll of constantly managing NIL demands, recruiting portal players, and rebuilding teams every year is enormous. It’s no wonder that decent men like Jay Wright have stepped away, or that others may follow, as the job becomes less about the love of the game and more about navigating an unforgiving business landscape.

As the profession continues to evolve, it risks losing the very people who once made college basketball special—coaches who cared deeply about their players’ growth, who built programs with integrity, and who valued the journey as much as the results. What remains is a transactional, cutthroat world where loyalty is scarce, and the grind never ends. The question for the future is whether this system can sustain itself, or whether it will drive away the very leaders who once defined what college basketball was all about.

This is all so very true. Great post.

[Xville]

Something I wrote for another venue but is apt to today’s discussion.

“Being a college basketball coach in today’s NIL environment is a job that is almost unrecognizable compared to even 5 years ango. ago. The expectations and responsibilities have shifted dramatically, transforming what was once a profession focused on developing young athletes and building cohesive teams into a high-pressure, transactional role dominated by fundraising, deal-making, and roster management.

First, coaches are no longer just responsible for game plans, practices, and recruiting. They now have to help raise NIL money—essentially acting as fundraisers to ensure their programs remain competitive in the new financial landscape. This involves courting donors, NIL collectives, and boosters, all while staying within whatever NCAA guidelines still exist. Coaches are no longer judged solely on wins and losses but also on how effectively they can secure funding to attract and retain players. The job requires not only basketball knowledge but also business acumen, public relations skills, and constant networking.

Once NIL money is raised, the next challenge is allocating it. Coaches must decide how much to offer incoming recruits, portal transfers, and current players. If you bring in a freshman and spend years developing them into a standout, you may be creating a player who becomes more valuable to other programs—and those programs may outbid you for their services. The loyalty that used to be part of the player-coach relationship is totally absent, as players are incentivized to chase bigger offers elsewhere. Coaches face the painful reality that the athletes they’ve invested in can leave at any time, forcing them to start over again and again.

Meanwhile, the transfer portal has created a chaotic secondary recruiting market. Coaches now have to sift through an ever-changing pool of players, many of whom are seeking a step up to more competitive programs or a higher NIL payout. Coaches gamble on these players, hoping they can thrive at the next level, but often the fit isn’t right, or the player doesn’t live up to expectations. This creates a vicious cycle of constant roster turnover, making it nearly impossible to build the type of sustained success that programs once prided themselves on.

This new, transactional world is one that would likely have alienated principled coaches like Jay Wright, Skip Prosser, or Tony Bennett. Jay Wright, for instance, thrived in a culture where loyalty, development, and team-building were the cornerstones of his success. The current environment—dominated by short-term thinking, NIL negotiations, and roster churn—is so far removed from that world that it’s easy to imagine Wright struggling to maintain his values while staying competitive. The same could be said for Tony Bennett, who emphasized character and fit over quick fixes, and for Skip Prosser, whose focus on relationships and personal growth would feel increasingly out of place in today’s high-stakes, financially driven game.

Coaching college basketball has become a profession with burnout and failure baked into the system. Coaches are judged on their ability to deliver results in an environment where continuity is nearly impossible and where every roster decision carries immense pressure. The emotional toll of constantly managing NIL demands, recruiting portal players, and rebuilding teams every year is enormous. It’s no wonder that decent men like Jay Wright have stepped away, or that others may follow, as the job becomes less about the love of the game and more about navigating an unforgiving business landscape.

As the profession continues to evolve, it risks losing the very people who once made college basketball special—coaches who cared deeply about their players’ growth, who built programs with integrity, and who valued the journey as much as the results. What remains is a transactional, cutthroat world where loyalty is scarce, and the grind never ends. The question for the future is whether this system can sustain itself, or whether it will drive away the very leaders who once defined what college basketball was all about.

Good post and all true. I am all for kids getting paid, and I don't feel sorry for multimillionaire coaches, but guardrails are needed for sustainability purposes i believe. I just don't know how they are going to ever institute them legally. I think schools directly paying would help some of that sustainability...just add "service fees" to tickets, merchandise etc, and there has to be some kind of limits on the transfer portal whether its two year contracts, transfer once without any kind of penalty, pay back your nil...something.

[drudy23]

It is an unsustainable model. It's more of the wild west than it was before.

The NCAA went from an enforcement model with outdated rules to pretty much no guardrails. They've lost control.

[paulxu]

If the head coach has devolved into what is described above, maybe the next step is an assistant who is more of an "offensive coordinator" like in pro football.
Then the head coach can actually have the time to manage those other things.
Whatever, I don't like what's happened. Too unstructured.

[murray87]

It's really spun out of control (especially with college football). It seems a NIL $$ cap would even the playing field a bit but would the courts go along? If not, college sports becomes MLB and the big money rules all.

[xu82]

It is an unsustainable model. It's more of the wild west than it was before.

The NCAA went from an enforcement model with outdated rules to pretty much no guardrails. They've lost control.

I have to agree 100% with this. I don’t begrudge the players some freedom or compensation, but the result is a product I care much less about. Some reasonable restraints need to be found, or I’ll just stop caring.

[D-West & PO-Z]

It's really spun out of control (especially with college football). It seems a NIL $$ cap would even the playing field a bit but would the courts go along? If not, college sports becomes MLB and the big money rules all.

The issue is not big money rules all. For one, that has always been the case in college athletics and two, there has never been more parity in college football than right now. The issue is fixing the portal. I like the ability to transfer at least once without sitting out but maybe (if allowed legally) it should be capped at that or at least fix some of the timing issues with the portal and when you can and cannot enter.

[GoMuskies]

Do whatever we did last night 19 more times.

[American X]

Trip the other team every possession. Apparently it is not a foul.

[Section 200]

Trip the other team every possession. Apparently it is not a foul.

Hey that white haired ref that we seem to have every year for multiple years had a Christmas party he was late for. He didn't have time for OT

[D-West & PO-Z]

Hey that white haired ref that we seem to have every year for multiple years had a Christmas party he was late for. He didn't have time for OT

The one and only Brian "Charge" O'Connell.

Blows his whistle non stop all game every game and then swallows it on that. Ridiculous.

[Xville]

The one and only Brian "Charge" O'Connell.

Blows his whistle non stop all game every game and then swallows it on that. Ridiculous.

I have seen the highlight and the picture of that play from what would have been the trailing refs point of view. Its simply effing incredible he swallowed his whistle....the marquette player is basically doing the splits and trips Conwell. Insanity

[Xville]

Just watched the Miller postgame conference with Paul and the rest of the Media. He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks and sounds like a lot of us on here. This team needs a win badly.

[muskieindent]

Just watched the Miller postgame conference with Paul and the rest of the Media. He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks and sounds like a lot of us on here. This team needs a win badly.

They get 10 days to stew on it too.Next Tuesday vs. SH is a must win . It's one thing to lose to the top 2 teams in the BE. SH was picked near the bottom of the league.
I think Sean was gambling on a lot of guys returning from injuries this year. May not have been the best strategy. I think I'd take Ousmane over Hugley at this point

[drudy23]

The BE is down, but typical gimmes like GTown and DePaul are not guarantees this year.

We are capable of 12 wins, but life on the road is not as simple as it looks.