Sean Miller to Texas: Roster Decisions, Xavier Transfers, and Rebuilding Timeline

The University of Texas hired Sean Miller as its new head basketball coach on Monday, and plenty of questions arose regarding the brevity of the search. Did they really go out and get the best option possible? The answer to that question will obviously take years to fully determine, but athletic director Chris Del Conte and the Board of Regents were not reckless by acting quickly — they were, in fact, doing the opposite. The decision had to be made as soon as possible.

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To stagnate is to die in college basketball, and waiting around for a hypothetical yes or no simply does not fit the timeline of a program that wants to compete as soon as next season. To the chagrin of everyone involved in college hoops, the transfer portal opened on March 24 this year, right in the middle of the NCAA Tournament. Every day a program sits without a head coach, it falls behind in what has become the lifeblood of team building in NCAA basketball — the transfer portal. So the process was swift.

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How Long Will It Take Sean Miller to Turn Things Around?

Plenty of coaches have rebuilt programs quickly, some even in their first year. Look at Pat Kelsey at Louisville and Dusty May at Michigan, both of whom stepped into miserable situations and turned their schools’ fortunes around immediately. Louisville was one of the worst high-major teams in the nation last season, finishing 3–17 in conference play. Kelsey, in one season, improved their record to 18–2 in the ACC with essentially an entirely new roster. Michigan was 8–24 before May got them to 27–9 and into the Sweet 16.

This isn’t to say turnarounds like these are the norm, but in the NIL and transfer portal era, it’s certainly possible to build a competitive team in a single offseason. Someone like Mark Pope, who built a roster essentially from scratch at Kentucky and took them to a 3-seed and the Sweet 16, is another example of short-term success.

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Who Will Be Back for Texas?

There are a few players with eligibility left on the Texas roster. They are:

• Guard Jordan Pope / Senior
• Guard Chendall Weaver / Senior
• Guard Tramon Mark / Graduate
• Wing Devon Pryor / Junior
• Forward Nic Codie / Sophomore
• Center Jamie Vinson / Sophomore

Of these players, the two most likely to be retained are Chendall Weaver and Jordan Pope.

Weaver’s role on this or any team is obvious, and Miller made it a point to praise him several times to members of the media around Xavier’s First Four game against Texas. Weaver is a high-impact, sparkplug athlete with a very high motor who makes plays on defense with elite quickness and lateral speed. On offense, he can finish, handle the ball, and rebound — all plug-and-play traits.

While people may have been underwhelmed by what Pope did in Texas’ isolation-heavy offense, a system like Miller’s — which prioritizes scoring guards — could allow him to unlock the potential he showed at Oregon State, where he averaged 17.6 points per game. His ability to shoot off the bounce, ranking in the 96th percentile nationally last season, makes him a valuable piece in a motion-heavy offense.

Tramon Mark is a third player to consider retaining after his strong showing as Texas’ lead initiator down the stretch. Whether Miller prefers him on or off the ball remains to be seen, but Mark’s game doesn’t align perfectly with Miller’s “threes-and-frees” philosophy. Still, he’s talented and experienced enough for Miller to find ways to use him effectively.

Another intriguing returnee could be Nic Codie, a highly recruited forward from Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas. Rated as the No. 64 overall prospect by On3 and the No. 7 power forward in the class of 2024, Codie could develop into a high-ceiling stretch-four — a piece Texas sorely lacked last season.

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Xavier’s Roster: Who Could Follow Miller to Texas?

Miller may look to bring over some players from his Xavier roster. The two “big fish” are combo guard Ryan Conwell and defensive specialist Dailyn Swain.

Conwell, who played at Indiana State with Julian Larry and Jayson Kent before transferring to Xavier, is an elite shooter both off the catch and bounce. His scoring was made even more effective within Miller’s motion-heavy offense, which helped generate clean looks.

Swain is an old-school wing who slashes, doesn’t shoot much from deep, but defends at a high level. He scores efficiently at the rim and uses a solid handle to attack off the bounce. Though improving his three-point shot would help his NBA stock, he’s highly effective inside the arc and would likely be a Day 1 starter at Texas — as would Conwell.

Swain entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Monday.

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Conclusion: A New Era with Familiar Challenges

Chances are, this Texas team will look completely different next season. Roster turnover is so common in modern college basketball that lack of continuity is no longer a valid excuse — when everyone has a new roster, no one does. Even if Miller retains some of the previously mentioned Longhorns, the majority of the team will be new.

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NIL will play a significant role in building this roster, but signs point to positive momentum in that regard as well. If Miller wins early, the financial backing will likely grow stronger. And with his experience, system, and a strong support staff, Texas basketball may be entering a new and more stable era.