The Coaching of Sean Miller

[Mr. Neutral]

http://goxavier.cstv.com/sports/m-baskb ... mbb34.html

Per the box score above, it was Lewis who hit the 3-pt. bomb with 6 seconds left in regulation. But Conley scored OSU's first 7 pts. on the OT, and 11 of OSU's 16 points in the OT. He also had 2 blocks in the OT. Crap, that game will piss us off 'til the day we die.

[jimmythegreek]

Miller is having a very good year that includes 2 bad losses and several very good quality wins. While X has improved on the road, they need to continue this trend. While I hated losing to Miami, you do have to realize that it was early and you see how much his best rotation (and improvement of Love is). They still should have won and were outcoached in the second half. Losing to Temple was the other real bad loss. Halftime adjustments were not there for X. Temple did not shoot well in first half but Temple got shots for Christmas in the second half. But, like players, coaches have bad games. Wins over IU on a neutral court and KSU at home were huge. People give Miller a lot of credit for the offense (5 scorers in double figures) but I would give him way more credit for the defense. Miller should be congratulated for his recruitment of these players that have bought into the system. Most players heavily recruited are done so for the offense. Miller has implemented the defense. Offense is an easier thing to coach. I just hope Miller keeps up the intensity on the road because I didn't think he could do it. I hope he proves me wrong. We all know he can already win at home and on neutral sites which will bode well in March.

[wkrq59]

however; UVA, UC, Creighton, Auburn all having "down years. We beat one good team IU; and folded against Tenn. <

Nothing personal here but if I hear one more time about Xavier's victories over Big 6 conference teams not being over good teams, I think I'll puke.
Virginia is still a respected and feared member of the ACC, especially in Charlottesville games. UC, while playing sub .500 ball has shocked the sh!t out of some pretty darn good BE teams. Creighton still is highly regarded by opponents in and out of its league. And Auburn is always a tough opponent and win to get on it's home floor. Beating IU on a neutral floor and Kent State as well showed the coaches who vote and the AP that this is a special team.
Yes, had the team been able to play consistent defense at the end of the Tennessee game or Temple for that matter, those games would have been in the W column.
You don't mention Kansas State and the job Miller's team did against UMass on the road, and Dayton, even if the Flyers were undermanned and had a sick Brian Roberts.
Yes, this team is still capable of being very , very good or shockingly bad.
But I submit most every solid team that has depth, rebounds and plays good defense can be described in those terms.
Did Roy Williams do a bad job of coaching against Maryland? Has John Calipari been perfect in all his moves? Did Mike Krzyzewski cause Duke to lose to a (very good at the time and ranked) Pitt team? Or Bruce Pearl at Kentucky?
Like it or not, Sean Miller is slowly proving to even the most negative of thinkers that he is not only Xavier's coach but becoming a very good coach with every game.
His substitution patterns kept Drew, Derrick, Josh, Stanley and BJ-CJ fresh at the end of the game. That I think is one of the reasons most of Xavier's players are able to make free throws, especially at the end of the game when legs are tired.
When the people who put together the RPI rate Xavier's schedule as one of the most difficult in college basketball, there must be a reason for that assessment.
Xavier, under Miller's guidance has won 17 of 21 games against some very good competition. Hey, even ESPN recognizes that.
I imagine Sean will hear from other schools at the end of the season and I'm pretty sure he'll say "No thanks." I really think Xavier has found it's Mark Few or Dana Altman.

[XU84]

I predict Sean Miller will eventually hold the all-time wins record at XU.

[xugrad]

xu84, I predict you are going to be wrong, as usual! 3-4 years more tops & he is gone to a larger program. The money is just too tempting.

[Masterofreality]

xu84, I predict you are going to be wrong, as usual! 3-4 years more tops & he is gone to a larger program. The money is just too tempting.

Well, grad, I hope you're giving money to help keep him here. If you aren't, you ought to start. Xavier has some of the lowest contribution percentages of any school to its booster club. Let's step it up and guys won't just go.

[XU84]

MOR, I couldn't agree more. If we can match the $$ of the larger programs, why would he leave if he can win it all here? And I think he can. XUGrad needs to pony up some $$ for once.

[xugrad]

Last time I checked it was not my job to give money to keep a coach here, that is the job of the administration. Unless you are donating hundreds of thousands of dollars, like I am sure XU84 is donating, donations to the boosters are not swaying a college coach. When you get a college (major college with exposure) dangling a couple of million a year and you can set your family up for life you think he is going to stay here, you are crazy. Look at the list of coaches that have left and they all took more presigious jobs with major colleges for alot more money, hello guys wake up, Thad Matta, Skip Prosser. Xavier does not have the TV & conference exposure that some of these other schools have so we are at a disadvantage. The facts are on my side 84.

[SM#24]

Last time I checked it was not my job to give money to keep a coach here, that is the job of the administration.

Yes it is your job, it is the job of all XU fans to donate as much as they possibly can. This then gives the administration more flexibility and wherewithal to retain coaches. Some will leave for as much as $1 more, some have aspirations tied to certain schools or conferences, but some may look at a BCS job that's offering double, but only 1/2 as much job security and stay.

[Mr. Neutral]

<<Some will leave for as much as $1 more,>>

Which coach has left one school for another over a $1?