Re: Sean Miller
- Thread starter ArcherSPS
- Start date
So, from just a little research, I see that Sean Miller coached at Xavier and Zona, two pretty good basketball schools, with Zona obviously being one of the elite 'haves'. This guy Miller didn't get either to the Final Four. Then I hear he has baggage, of course I don't even know what that means.
Tell me again why this would be different than Ben Howland? If he can't get it done at those two, how will he get it done at State? How do we know it wasn't more of the school than the coach? Both factor into the equation.
Second question - is there any niche in basketball where we could do something different? Something akin to the Air Raid or triple option in football? To me this is the area we need to be looking.
Tell me again why this would be different than Ben Howland? If he can't get it done at those two, how will he get it done at State? How do we know it wasn't more of the school than the coach? Both factor into the equation.
Second question - is there any niche in basketball where we could do something different? Something akin to the Air Raid or triple option in football? To me this is the area we need to be looking.
Understand but I do think a mainstay in the NCAAs is the goal. Howland wasn't even able to do that. Stansbury didn't do it enough. Fans, right or wrong, weren't happy with those guys.
I do think we need to shoot higher, especially with what's happening at Auburn. If we're going to spend money on the Hump, we need to go big. Bruce Pearl is different in that way, as he built a program at Tennessee, who was nobody before him.
Definition of insanity and all. I do think Cohen understands overall that you have to do things different at MSU. Take football for example, while I think we should have promoted from within in 2017, I have no problems with his general line of thinking that got us Slophead and ultimately Leach (i.e. system offense). Then he understood that in baseball, we were an attractive program so going with the super recruiter was the better play. That would never work in football.
What is the play for basketball? You tell me, I really don't know.
Just not true. Pearl was at like D2 or something, then Milwaukee, then Tennessee. He learned to build a program at a 'have-not'.
Isn’t Sean Miller’s offensive philosophy pretty similar if not the same as Howland’s? If true, I’d rather find a more exciting and modern approach.
We are spending $$ on the Hump because we have to look like we are trying. If the rest of the SEC wasn't already doing this - I don't think we would either.
The only place we lead is in baseball as far as facilities.
The only place we lead is in baseball as far as facilities.
He didnt play college basketball. I get what you are saying, but it would have been tough for him to shave points from his spot behind the bench.
Sean Miller has a career record of 422-156 ( .730 winning %) is a proven recruiter, and made the NCAAT 11 times in 16 seasons. Mississippi State has been to the NCAAT once since 2009 and you’re worried he may not “get it done” at State and comparing him to Howland? Who do you prefer? Get a grip on reality, our program would be lucky as hell to land Sean Miller - we deserve much worse.
I prefer the best guy we can get.
And I don’t take the 1783 different opinions I read on sixpack as “expert”.
And I don’t take the 1783 different opinions I read on sixpack as “expert”.
Oh so you want to play? Ben Howland had a career record of 401-206 (0.661 winning %), is a proven recruiter, and made the NCAAT 10 times in 19 seasons. Then you add in 1 Runner-Up and 3 Final Fours. 5 of his first seasons were at Northern Arizona, rather than Pitt (which is about the equivalent to Xavier). In other words, he got a better head start.
Their conference winning percentage over their time at Pac-12 blueblood programs is nearly identical. I can't think of a more equal comparison.
Howland was also 6-5 vs. Miller across 4 seasons, head to head.
Who here doesn't want to see reality and facts?
Last edited:
Coaches deserve second chances, especially coaches that will come here and win. I don't care what he does as long as he doesn't get caught. I don't want someone totally immoral but college sports isn't about ethics. I like when we win. I like it better than losing and not making the NCAA tournament.
Sean Miller = Howland 2.0
I'm willing to bet not one state fan has done any research on his system or style of play or even gone online and watched old games. He runs an almost identical offense as Howland and plays man-to-man defense 99 percent of the time. If ya'll loved the forced entry passes without any motion on perimeter and a forced 3 after dribbling for 10 seconds then Miller is your guy.
His recruiting classes at Arizona ranked according to 24/7
2010 (247 didn't start this early but he had 6 top 100 players, 2 future NBA
2011 ... 4
2012 ... 3
2013 ... 11
2014 ... 3
2015 ... 3
2016 ... 9
2017 ... 3
2018 ... 22
2019 ...6
He's not going to be pulling classes like that to State.
I'm willing to bet not one state fan has done any research on his system or style of play or even gone online and watched old games. He runs an almost identical offense as Howland and plays man-to-man defense 99 percent of the time. If ya'll loved the forced entry passes without any motion on perimeter and a forced 3 after dribbling for 10 seconds then Miller is your guy.
His recruiting classes at Arizona ranked according to 24/7
2010 (247 didn't start this early but he had 6 top 100 players, 2 future NBA
2011 ... 4
2012 ... 3
2013 ... 11
2014 ... 3
2015 ... 3
2016 ... 9
2017 ... 3
2018 ... 22
2019 ...6
He's not going to be pulling classes like that to State.
Left to this group? Simply put: It's something to do between football and baseball seasons
Actually he adjusted his offensive style to be more fast paced in his last two seasons. Actually used some of the same sets as FIBA teams, Steve Kerr and the Warriors. I’d be willing to bet you didn’t do any research or watched recent games.
Last edited:
There's always an exception. I think his association with Ole Miss is as bad as his personal ethics.
Wrong.
I will say this for Miller- even if he runs the same offense as Howland, if he can develop players differently, manage lineups differently, and recruit at the same level but different players- then he could be wildly successful at MSU.
Taking better care of the ball and making outside shots are things that can improve, even if the same system were to stay in place.
Yep.
But I will say…..and Bo Bounds convinced me of this…..continuing what Howland has done might not be just overly terrible. Just a few tweaks here and there and bam, maybe we are back.
You can either get the up and coming guy or get the veteran who is a proven winner. Howland was obviously a proven winner that never could get us over the hump of a mediocre team. But given the option between up and comer and veteran, I’m always taking the veteran, like Howland. Despite the results not being as good as we all hoped, it’s the best path to choose.
After further reflection re Sean Miller, I'm starting to see some of the Howland 2.0 comparisons. Just like there were clues in Howland's last 5 seasons at UCLA that he was past his peak as a coach, there are some clues in Miller's record too. His last 3 seasons at Arizona were his worst since his first season back in 2009-2010. 8-10, 10-8, 11-9 conference records at Arizona is pretty mediocre.
Those years were when the NCAA and FBI were investigating. Surely it was a major distraction. Arizona is currently ranked #3 in the country with the players Miller recruited. He’s also 12 years younger than Howland so it’s not like he would be coasting toward retirement like Howland is.
You would have thought Ben Howland would also. Not sure if this is an Adidas deal or not.
There’s some pushback to this, but it’s a fair point. Since Miller’s name came up I’ve been doing some digging to learn a bit more on him as a coach. And the consensus from Arizona fans has been that he was a great recruiter but lacked elsewhere. A lot of talk about running a stagnant offense that isn’t suited for the modern game, a lack of adjustments, and being overly reliant on talent. And their new coach has come in and gotten better results from Miller’s recruits by modernizing things. Now I totally get that there’s always gonna be a level of negative bias about former coaches who left on poor terms when it comes to fans. But I can’t help but think that sounds a lot like Howland. I don’t care about the NCAA stuff at all. I just want us to win. But the idea of just going with a younger version of what we have now gives me some pause, especially because I doubt he can recruit well enough here to where talent level alone improves us. You’re going to have to coach guys up and ideally play to the modern game. Let me be clear that I don’t think it’d be a bad hire. I can get on board with it. I just don’t know if it’s as slam dunk as it’d be perceived. It may be better to find someone who takes a newer approach.
Latest posts
Get unlimited access today.