If TS is still the coach for next year

[skyhops]

How about Creighton? They lose a bunch of players from last year and they don’t skip a beat because of coaching and development. They are going to be even better for the next few years and we are stuck with Steele and will probably only be picked number 9 preseason BE.

[Anti-Homer]

How about Creighton? They lose a bunch of players from last year and they don’t skip a beat because of coaching and development. They are going to be even better for the next few years and we are stuck with Steele and will probably only be picked number 9 preseason BE.

They didn't just lose a bunch but lost their starting five. McDermott did some out of the box thinking, but his wacky paradigm has worked: He adapted his offense to align to the player's skillset as opposed to making them adapt to his plan (See Goodin, Marshall shooting treys like Bluiett, Freemantle futilely trying to defend wing players like Gates, and Scruggs playing point despite having average dribbling skills for a two guard).
He ingrained the mentality into his player's heads that threes should be taken within the context of the flow of the offense, and not randomly because they are open. Someone tweeted a damning indictment of something yours truly has been saying is one of several glaring, failing coaching philosophies of Steele's.

The lowest three-point shooting percentage players in Xavier's history for ones who averaged at least 1.5 a game were: Carter, Hunter, Freemantle. DO you suppose this is why they have been one of the worst three-point shooting teams during Steele's era? Steele not only embraced it but doubled down by saying: "I have confidence they will start falling." This is similar to what Mman keeps telling me about the MLM calling card investment I made in 2010 with him, as he keeps telling me: "Cell phones are a fad. Calling cards will explode any day now."

Creighton's metrics:

2021: Pts/Gm 77. Three point attempts per GM: 24 ; made: 37%

2022: Pts/GM 70. Three point attempts per GM: 22 ; made: 31%

The stats are subtle, but 25 - 35% or more games a year are decided by four or fewer possessions in high-caliber leagues. Think of our beloved Muskies: They had a number of games that would qualify in this range including games against: OSU, V Tech, MQuette, SH, Providence 2x, Butler 2x, Depaul, among others.

Sorry for the sobering dose of reality, but being a Mod isn't always a happy place.

[X-lucidity]

These are excellent and cogent comparisons of Creighton to X and thank you both for bringing this up. I have always been impressed and a HUGE fan of McDermott. The keys to note here are "adjustments to personnel" and "development" Plus he is a pretty darn good in game X & O strategist to boot. Why so many on this board can't see how incredibly lacking X is and has been now for 3+ years is simply mind-blowing to me. Hell, are we not believing that we are a big-time D1 program? Or do we still fancy ourselves as a Mid-major? Cuz if we keep Steel then we have branded ourselves for the next decade as a bottom feeder in the BE. I think many times fans are myopic and well intentioned believing their inner most optimistic nature. But this is a quickly changing cut throat business. You are either fully invested in this arena or you are climbed over by hungrier and more competent programs. Sorry to be so direct. I believe we all like Travis, a good man - hard working and devoted. Our record was not horrible, yet with the base talent we had at the start of this season you need to dig much deeper to gain a pure perspective on how our coaching staff stacks up to the norm and where we are headed should X foolishly stay the course. Once again, fantastic analysis of Creighton - who's season was an absolute 180 degree flip of Xavier's - and the most crucial key point being: Neither Creighton's nor X's outcome was by accident.

[Anti-Homer]

These are excellent and cogent comparisons of Creighton to X and thank you both for bringing this up. I have always been impressed and a HUGE fan of McDermott. The keys to note here are "adjustments to personnel" and "development" Plus he is a pretty darn good in game X & O strategist to boot. Why so many on this board can't see how incredibly lacking X is and has been now for 3+ years is simply mind-blowing to me. Hell, are we not believing that we are a big-time D1 program? Or do we still fancy ourselves as a Mid-major? Cuz if we keep Steel then we have branded ourselves for the next decade as a bottom feeder in the BE. I think many times fans are myopic and well intentioned believing their inner most optimistic nature. But this is a quickly changing cut throat business. You are either fully invested in this arena or you are climbed over by hungrier and more competent programs. Sorry to be so direct. I believe we all like Travis, a good man - hard working and devoted. Our record was not horrible, yet with the base talent we had at the start of this season you need to dig much deeper to gain a pure perspective on how our coaching staff stacks up to the norm and where we are headed should X foolishly stay the course. Once again, fantastic analysis of Creighton - who's season was an absolute 180 degree flip of Xavier's - and the most crucial key point being: Neither Creighton's nor X's outcome was by accident.

These are excellent and cogent comparisons of Creighton to X and thank you both for bringing this up.
Once again, fantastic analysis of Creighton

X-luc, I don't think I have ever said this to a poster, but this is one of the most insightful takes to grace the board.

Another example: Iowa

Last year, they had the POY in their bruising center, Garza, so despite shooting 39% from 3 as a team, they only shot it 18 times a game. Finished at 24-9.

This year, they are still shooting it well from three point land at a 37% clip, but average 24 a game. Why? They no longer have a very effective inside game. Coach McCaffery adjusted to his personnel. Current record, 25-9. Like you said: Outcomes don't occur by accident.

[xavier71]

When your father-in-law donates 22 million, I doubt you're going to get fired. The only hope is that he will quit, but doubtful, because, I believe, he thinks he is a really good coach. We all aspire for X to be like Gonzaga or Villanova, but the only way that is going to happen is to get a good coach who doesn't want to leave, like Jay Wright or Mark Few. Because money trumps most things, that is going to be very hard to find. I thought Mack would be that person, but he chased the money. That's why I think Miller would be a logical candidate. He loved Cincinnati, his wife didn't want to leave, and he probably wishes he hadn't. He would probably stay for as long as we wanted. I don't care about Arizona. Our Catholicism teaches forgiveness so I am willing to forgive.