Miller vs. Gregory

[CarlosTheJackal]

That was a woodshedding last night. "We" collectively flog Miller here for about everything, so I think we should be cheering loud and long today when he so obviously wins the coaching matchup.

The defensive plan for Roberts was totally effective. Stan was picking him up at 30 feet and pushing him into traps all night. The gamble was that the rest of the team couldn't or wouldn't make 3s; or find a way to the basket playing 4 on 3. Jimmie Binnie standing at the arc with his head on a swivel wondering where to pass it, classic.

So Gregory had 7 full days to get his team ready for playing without Wright and Little. Sean's plan could not have been unanticipated, so why weren't the Flyers ready?

Game, set, match, Miller.

[Masterofreality]

Because Sean Miller can coach and recruits depth. The midget stands there and looks perplexed.

Nice job on the contrast Carlos. Sean Miller completely remade his team on the run in 2006 after B Thornton went down. I don't think that gregory has a clue.

Smell the glove, Cryers.

[XU 87]

To be fair to Gregory's coaching, other than Roberts, the talent he has on the floor are players who should be playing in conferences that don't even qualify as mid-majors. Of course, those same players were stolen from schools that don't qualify as mid-majors (see Jacksonville, the college not the NFL team).

London Warren is terrible. That Searcy kid looked terrible. Huelsman is big... and slow. Jimmy Binnie stinks. Perry? Sandorov? None of those guys would even be on Xavier's roster.

As much as I dislike UD, it's too bad that they lost Little and Wright. But other than Roberts, the talent level after those guys is nothing short of awful.

Miller's game plan appears to have been "Stop Roberts and let the rest of those stiffs try to beat us."

[Mr. Neutral]

Break out the champagne! I agree with everybody! Miller outcoached Gregory, AND UD's talent on the floor last night, excepting Roberts, was decidedly not that of a top 20 team. Really, we can't judge a UD team that doesn't have Wright and Little.

The Flyers did knock off #8 Pittsburgh (depleted themselves), #26 URI and #34 Louisville, so it's not like they can't play when healthy.

[XU 87]

The Flyers did knock off #8 Pittsburgh (depleted themselves), #26 URI and #34 Louisville, so it's not like they can't play when healthy.
[/quote]

True. Except I can't help but think that their lack of depth was eventually going to catch up with them. To their credit, they previously won a bunch of close games. But with or without Little and Wright, eventually the ball was going to bounce the other way.

But after what I watched last night, they are going to lose a lot more games.

[joetitan]

First, out-coaching Brian Gregory when Wright & Little are on crutches is like claiming to be a chess master b/c you beat Bobby Fischer in Battleship.

Second, how often did XU isolate DBrown when he was guarded by Binnie (Ans: NEVER) but I truly think Miller believed even Gregory was not that stupid.

Third, other than playing various zone defenses as opposed to man-to-man what was UD supposed to do to win the game ? There is no suggestion results would change if UD zoned XU.

If any single factor decided the game, it was XU continued shooting the ball so proficiently.

[vee4xu]

I agree with Titan. Comparing Miller to the Midget just isn't fair. Miller is to be compared to all of the best coaches in DI men's basketball. Saying Miller is a better coach that the Midget is like saying John Wooden is a better coach than Nolan Richardson.