I think Steele is young enough that he has enough time to remove some of the stench from X if he can turn Miami around and build his reputation away from Xavier it bodes well for him.
Groce, who knows he may concede the grass isn’t greener for him. While Steele may want another bite at the apple
What stench? He beat top 25 teams there. That conference is lights out. Is not keeping things where Mack left them stench? I think he gets a bad rap from X fans, but Miller (who I like a lot) has had some dubious losses there as well. I think it’s a job with a target as big as the old VOA tower on the back of whoever takes the head coaching job.
I understand all that matters is on-court performance, in the end. But boiling this year down to these metrics ignores a TON of great progress off the court, specifically, the social media presence of the program, the media presence of Coach and Miami (podcasts, 700wlw, Hawktalk, etc), igniting Miami basketball alumni to come back and feel more involved with the program, and communication with the fan base (Field of 68 calls as a prime example).
This staff has done a lot of foundation building off court which can serve to magnify and maximize on-court success (which I’m as optimistic as ever will come).
Cheatin’ ass Sean Miller isn’t exactly tearing it up at X.
I don’t know if it was mentioned, but Ryan Mabrey was in uniform and participated in warmups but did not play. That could mean Coach Steele has shortened the rotation or it could mean Ryan wasn’t ready to play yet. We just played 9 last night.
We don’t need to re-litigate Steele’s tenure at X, but let’s make sure everyone has the same set of facts.
Steele inherited a Xavier program that made the NCAA tournament in 26 of the previous 32 seasons with 5 different coaches. In 4 years at X, he never made the tournament. He was 5-16 against top 25 teams. After being fired, they immediately won the NIT under Jonas Hayes and then made the Sweet 16 with Sean Miller last year as a 3 seed. No doubt they are bad this year, but currently their KenPom rating is higher than 3 of Steele’s 4 Xavier teams.
I don’t knock Steele for his performance at Xavier because I think he was way over his head as a 36 year old first time head coach. I am more focused on what he does at Miami and whether he is able to develop as a coach. So far, he has been perfectly fine at Miami. He has not been wildly successful by any means, but he seems to have us trending in the right direction. I hope he stays at Miami for 20 years and has us in the top 4 in the MAC every year.
Sweet Sixteen in year one. Rebuilding roster in year 2. Think he’s doing just fine…
He’s a cheating ass sweaty bitch who should’ve had a lengthy show cause.
Is that Dick?
I look at Mabry and Dean filling the same role off the bench now. Even if healthy, I am playing Dean. His play of late has been outstanding.
Yes, it’s Dick
I was sitting with the Nolan brothers. Pete and Paul go to almost all road games, James was visiting from Philadelphia.