Reflections on Coach Miles

[artguy68]

Fun personality, good with the media, upbeat, and swings for the fences when it comes to recruiting. NU took a chance on him, hiring him instead of a proven commodity, and that was the kind of chance we needed to take after two straight safe and unremarkable tenures.

First season, some flashes of hope before a poor finish with a team that had next to no experienced talent.
Second season, 19-13, 4th in the Big 10, and the NCAA tournament. A miraculous turnaround after losing the first 4 games of conference play.
Third season, some early season promise and excitement with so much returning talent. Total collapse at the end of the season, losing 11 of its final 12 games. Players leave the program, but a very promising recruiting class comes in.
Fourth season seems to be repeating the previous season. Like the previous season, line ups shuffle and players fall in and out of favor rapidly. Key individual players like White and Webster regress. Young players who looked promising are not improving or playing much.

We are losing Shields and Parker to graduation. Like nearly every season, it seems likely there will be additional departures. I'm beginning to wonder what is happening within the team and with Miles' leadership.

Anyone with insights?

 

[Harry Caray]

His recruiting still gives me hope, and I like how many of our players have developed, but his in-game coaching has been mostly mediocre throughout his tenure here. We all loved that one month in 2014 when we got hot, but overall Miles has a worse record than Sadler did after his first 4 years, and about the same record that Collier did. And those guys didn't have the amazing facilities to work with.

I would hope we could at least make the NIT next year. Not many coaches at this level can survive 4 losing seasons in 5 years.

 

[spartanhusker]

A good hire for him would appear to be a good bench coach with experience and strategy insights...I LIKE Miles, but it is about time to produce better things.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

It's time for some real reflection. We are not good at all on defense. What good is Molinari if that is the case? Without shooters or a true #5, next year will probably be the same story.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

No Shavon will be huge...he is great

 

[Aksarben]

Molinari (in my opinion) was not a good hire.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

Miles really can't afford to lose any of the core freshman. It would not be the worst thing in the world if Fuller or Hammond moved on...we need help in more ways than one. Another shooter and big man is needed. Unfortunately finding those two will he tough at this point in the recruiting cycle unless we can land some year transfers.

 

[dinglefritz]

Miles really can't afford to lose any of the core freshman. It would not be the worst thing in the world if Fuller or Hammond moved on...we need help in more ways than one. Another shooter and big man is needed. Unfortunately finding those two will he tough at this point in the recruiting cycle unless we can land some year transfers.

Fuller and Hammond should and will be role players IMO going forward (bench depth). We really NEED a big this next cycle that is ready to come in and play right away. As far as the defense goes, as good as Andrew White is as a shooter, he has trouble getting open and he struggles to cover reasonably athletic guys on defense. I watched him specifically on multiple offensive possessions and it doesn't look to me like he tries hard enough to get open. Just seems to lack the intensity that Shields plays with. Hammond and Fuller are defensive liabilities and we've been forced to play them way too many minutes late this season. IMO, we have much better talent than we recruited under Doc in this freshman class. Losing Shields is obviously huge, but IMO we've turned the corner in recruiting and should be better going forward IF Miles can continue the recruiting mo.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

Fuller and Hammond should and will be role players IMO going forward (bench depth).

Fuller's scholarship should be available once the season is over, at least for me it should be. Hammond, meh, he's 6'10" and plays as if he's 6'2". Last night, he had a dunk opportunity and pump faked a 6'3"-ish guard at the rim with Hammond at the free throw line coming down. Throw is down man, get the points. Instead, he gets fouled, on the floor, and we start the possession all over again.

Losing Shields and Parker, adding Gill, Roby, Horne and a TBD (x2?) should be addition by subtraction. We become more athletic across the board with better offensive skill and leapers.

Shoulder stinger for AW3 has been a killer for the last 3 games.

 

[Nebraskakid555]

Short & brief: Free throw line hasn't changed in over 50 yrs, yet, our team throws bricks, no pure shooters .( our opponents seem to have, lack of coaching ( teaching); And every comment made in earlier statements is correct.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

So far, as I have noted before, Miles has not done anything Danny Nee did not do. And Nee did not have our current facilities to help him. Sure, Miles is an improvement over Collier and Sadler, and he has been able to recruit a few decent players, but other than a really fun one month stretch two years ago he has done absolutely nothing special. Seems like typical crappy NU basketball to me. No, he should NOT be fired. Give him another two years. But if in 2 years it is the same product, then, despite his charm, he has to go.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

Fuller and Hammond should and will be role players IMO going forward (bench depth). We really NEED a big this next cycle that is ready to come in and play right away. As far as the defense goes, as good as Andrew White is as a shooter, he has trouble getting open and he struggles to cover reasonably athletic guys on defense. I watched him specifically on multiple offensive possessions and it doesn't look to me like he tries hard enough to get open. Just seems to lack the intensity that Shields plays with. Hammond and Fuller are defensive liabilities and we've been forced to play them way too many minutes late this season. IMO, we have much better talent than we recruited under Doc in this freshman class. Losing Shields is obviously huge, but IMO we've turned the corner in recruiting and should be better going forward IF Miles can continue the recruiting mo.

I'm fine with Fuller and Hammond sticking around if we can't find better...but Miles has done well in the transfer market and I think we can upgrade from the two mentioned. Right now we have 1 scholorship that is available for a big man...we will find one, but I think we need more help than just 1 more big man IMO.

 

[otismotis08]

Patience, all you grasshoppers. This is nebrasketball.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

Patience, all you grasshoppers. This is nebrasketball.

Sorry, I disagree...this isn't the same Nebrasketball...maybe the actual results on the court. But, we have opened up the checkbook for once and in my mind that changes expectations. We now have facilities that competes with just about any program, Miles is getting paid 2 Million per year, and we are spending on recruiting. It has helped in recruiting, but it will need to show on the court soon.

 

[otismotis08]

Sorry, I disagree...this isn't the same Nebrasketball...maybe the actual results on the court. But, we have opened up the checkbook for once and in my mind that changes expectations. We now have facilities that competes with just about any program, Miles is getting paid 2 Million per year, and we are spending on recruiting. It has helped in recruiting, but it will need to show on the court soon.

Until the program sustains some significant progress, it's still the same.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

Until the program sustains some significant progress, it's still the same.

The expectations shouldn't be the same though....the resources are now in place to compete. We didn't double Miles salary compared to his predecessor to expect same ole same ole Nebrasketball.

 

[newAD]

I'm fine with Fuller and Hammond sticking around if we can't find better...but Miles has done well in the transfer market and I think we can upgrade from the two mentioned. Right now we have 1 scholorship that is available for a big man...we will find one, but I think we need more help than just 1 more big man IMO.

Fuller and Hammond are what they are. They will never be stars. They should be role players. If we can land Jordy Tshimanga, that would help them, and the whole team for that matter, be what they are should be, and not what Miles has to have them be out of necessity.

It's hard for Hammond to get better in practice when he doesn't have anyone to go against that is at least a BIG quality center.

 

[otismotis08]

The expectations shouldn't be the same though....the resources are now in place to compete. We didn't double Miles salary compared to his predecessor to expect same ole same ole Nebrasketball.

Understood. Throwing money around will help but doesn't guarantee anything, especially when you're trying to elevate the program from a perennial non-factor.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

I'm fine with Fuller and Hammond sticking around if we can't find better...but Miles has done well in the transfer market and I think we can upgrade from the two mentioned. Right now we have 1 scholorship that is available for a big man...we will find one, but I think we need more help than just 1 more big man IMO.

We also need shooters badly. One guy that has that does not get his own shot is about 2-3 short of what is needed in the "offense" we run. I don't get why we never have anyone that can shoot, and on defense we play stupid schemes, and refuse to defend a screen and roll at even a junior high level.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

A few years back a team like Butler made it to the final four. Smallish to medium private schools like Xavier, Marquette, Villanova, Creighton and Georgetown, routinely field respectable to excellent teams. Small schools like to invest in basketball because it only takes a roster of 10-11 good players to compete at the highest levels. We now have top tier facilities and a coach making a big salary. I am sick, sick, sick of hearing BS excuses about how we are "on the verge" and "just need time". All it takes to go from being crap to being good in basketball are three or four difference maker players and a serviceable big man at center. Miles has now had four years and has not moved the needle of NU basketball an inch from its history of awfulness. He has recruited better than recent past coaches but not well enough. And don't give me any BS about how he needs time to develop his new recruits. Frick! Top notch high school bball players come in and make a huge difference right away at schools that recruit well. Hell, the truly great ones go pro right out of high school. So sorry, I am not buying the "these new guys need two more years to develop" smokescreen. This is not football. Recruit well and you should be seeing improvement in year four.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

A few years back a team like Butler made it to the final four. Smallish to medium private schools like Xavier, Marquette, Villanova, Creighton and Georgetown, routinely field respectable to excellent teams. Small schools like to invest in basketball because it only takes a roster of 10-11 good players to compete at the highest levels. We now have top tier facilities and a coach making a big salary. I am sick, sick, sick of hearing BS excuses about how we are "on the verge" and "just need time". All it takes to go from being crap to being good in basketball are three or four difference maker players and a serviceable big man at center. Miles has now had four years and has not moved the needle of NU basketball an inch from its history of awfulness. He has recruited better than recent past coaches but not well enough. And don't give me any BS about how he needs time to develop his new recruits. Frick! Top notch high school bball players come in and make a huge difference right away at schools that recruit well. Hell, the truly great ones go pro right out of high school. So sorry, I am not buying the "these new guys need two more years to develop" smokescreen. This is not football. Recruit well and you should be seeing improvement in year four.

Agree. Youth excuse is a load of shiat in hoops.

 

[jay-cheese]

Maybe he needs a new hair stylist...

Hey at least he's funny b/c you know that losing is a lot easier to take when you can crack a good one liner and at least laugh about it. Forget the 2 mill/yr or the brand new arena...as long as we're still smiling it's all good (that's sarcasm)... The reality is that he's got at least another year (probably two due to his funny factor).

 

[hddude55]

Bring back Cip!

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

the resources are now in place to compete. We didn't double Miles salary compared to his predecessor to expect same ole same ole Nebrasketball.

You want to compete or win? If Nebrasketball under Miles is the same for you as it was Sadler or even Collier, there's no helping. We play a more exciting style, with better players, and the future continues to look bright - from that standpoint. Neither could be said under Sadler or Collier.

Does that mean Miles is the one? Nope, but there's enough available to the eye to see where this program currently is and that's in A LOT better shape than at any point since the 90's. If Miles is let go, the next coach has plenty to work with. Again, this hasn't been the case since the 90's...

Agree. Youth excuse is a load of shiat in hoops.

No, it's a valid reason behind struggles. Just the other day, all I heard (their game vs Io_a) from the commentators was how young Ohio State is and the growing pains will be worth it.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

You want to compete or win? If Nebrasketball under Miles is the same for you as it was Sadler or even Collier, there's no helping. We play a more exciting style, with better players, and the future continues to look bright - from that standpoint. Neither could be said under Sadler or Collier.

Does that mean Miles is the one? Nope, but there's enough available to the eye to see where this program currently is and that's in A LOT better shape than at any point since the 90's. If Miles is let go, the next coach has plenty to work with. Again, this hasn't been the case since the 90's...



No, it's a valid reason behind struggles. Just the other day, all I heard (their game vs Io_a) from the commentators was how young Ohio State is and the growing pains will be worth it.

I would like to win the Big Ten obviously but that's probably not very realistic. The next jump is to get in the middle tier of the Big Ten and in some years that may be good enough for an at large bid depending on our non-con. I'd take Miles over Sadler every day of the week and twice on Sunday's but I'm really having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps a good offseason in which we find a legit big man and some more help may calm my fears but I'm afraid our issues run deeper than just personnel.

 

[meo1960]

Fun personality, good with the media, upbeat, and swings for the fences when it comes to recruiting. NU took a chance on him, hiring him instead of a proven commodity, and that was the kind of chance we needed to take after two straight safe and unremarkable tenures.

First season, some flashes of hope before a poor finish with a team that had next to no experienced talent.
Second season, 19-13, 4th in the Big 10, and the NCAA tournament. A miraculous turnaround after losing the first 4 games of conference play.
Third season, some early season promise and excitement with so much returning talent. Total collapse at the end of the season, losing 11 of its final 12 games. Players leave the program, but a very promising recruiting class comes in.
Fourth season seems to be repeating the previous season. Like the previous season, line ups shuffle and players fall in and out of favor rapidly. Key individual players like White and Webster regress. Young players who looked promising are not improving or playing much.

We are losing Shields and Parker to graduation. Like nearly every season, it seems likely there will be additional departures. I'm beginning to wonder what is happening within the team and with Miles' leadership.

Anyone with insights?

imho, it looks to me like Nebraska's biggest problem is not having a prominent big man. Hard to win having no inside presence.

 

[huskerbaseball13]

imho, it looks to me like Nebraska's biggest problem is not having a prominent big man. Hard to win having no inside presence.

It's really killing us on the defensive end. Our constant double teams is leaving teams with quite a few open looks and a big reason why we are second to last in three pt defense during conference play. We really need to find a 5th year transfer big at this point IMO as I think any true freshman we sign will likely be a project.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

I would like to win the Big Ten obviously but that's probably not very realistic. The next jump is to get in the middle tier of the Big Ten and in some years that may be good enough for an at large bid depending on our non-con. I'd take Miles over Sadler every day of the week and twice on Sunday's but I'm really having a hard time seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps a good offseason in which we find a legit big man and some more help may calm my fears but I'm afraid our issues run deeper than just personnel.

We're a lot closer to the middle of the pack then we are to stay in the bottom fourth. This year alone, 2 games (Ohio State, Pedo State) that came down to the final possession, flip the results and that's middle of the pack. It seems to me, and I understand the thought but disagree with it, that last season is still trickling over to this year with people's thoughts. The light is there to see, by talent and offensive style of play, if one chooses to objectively look.

If you think it's deeper than personnel, you're on record that Miles isn't going to cut it. Hope you're wrong, we'll find out soon enough.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

You want to compete or win? If Nebrasketball under Miles is the same for you as it was Sadler or even Collier, there's no helping. We play a more exciting style, with better players, and the future continues to look bright - from that standpoint. Neither could be said under Sadler or Collier.

Does that mean Miles is the one? Nope, but there's enough available to the eye to see where this program currently is and that's in A LOT better shape than at any point since the 90's. If Miles is let go, the next coach has plenty to work with. Again, this hasn't been the case since the 90's...



No, it's a valid reason behind struggles. Just the other day, all I heard (their game vs Io_a) from the commentators was how young Ohio State is and the growing pains will be worth it.

That's fine.... but it seems like we are continuously getting stuck in the "we are young" explanation (awfully similar to Kenny Sadler)

 

[huskerbaseball13]

We're a lot closer to the middle of the pack then we are to stay in the bottom fourth. This year alone, 2 games (Ohio State, Pedo State) that came down to the final possession, flip the results and that's middle of the pack. It seems to me, and I understand the thought but disagree with it, that last season is still trickling over to this year with people's thoughts. The light is there to see, by talent and offensive style of play, if one chooses to objectively look.

If you think it's deeper than personnel, you're on record that Miles isn't going to cut it. Hope you're wrong, we'll find out soon enough.

I'm afraid I'm leaning towards that way.....I hope I'm wrong as well. Starting over is not ideal.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

A big factor is what teams do you think will get better/worse in conference next year.

That, mixed in with the conference schedule, will determine things.

 

[Soda Popinski]

How is Miles supposed to setup a game plan without Benny Parker?

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

That's fine.... but it seems like we are continuously getting stuck in the "we are young" explanation (awfully similar to Kenny Sadler)

Continuously? We're reading different forums then.

Were we young in year one? Nope, had shit to work with.

Were we young in year two? Possibly, doesn't matter, results are results.

Were we young in year three (last year)? Nope, utter failure of results.

Are we young in year four (this year)? Maybe, I say it's inexperience instead of young. 55% or more of minutes played are guys that have never played before (true freshmen) or a guy that averaged 5 minutes a game at his previous school (AW3).

Miles screwed up with his recruiting early on. If I need to spell it out for people again, let me know and I'll find the post. But, go ahead with your "continuously getting stuck in the we are young" straw-man.

 

[Soda Popinski]

Continuously? We're reading different forums then.

Were we young in year one? Nope, had shit to work with.

Were we young in year two? Possibly, doesn't matter, results are results.

Were we young in year three (last year)? Nope, utter failure of results.

Are we young in year four (this year)? Maybe, I say it's inexperience instead of young. 55% or more of minutes played are guys that have never played before (true freshmen) or a guy that averaged 5 minutes a game at his previous school (AW3).

Miles screwed up with his recruiting early on. If I need to spell it out for people again, let me know and I'll find the post. But, go ahead with your "continuously getting stuck in the we are young" straw-man.

To be fair, Miles has continued to whif on big men (over 6'8") with a pulse.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

To be fair, Miles has continued to whif on big men (over 6'8") with a pulse.

Has nothing to do with the post I responded to or anything in my post.

 

[Soda Popinski]

Has nothing to do with the post I responded to or anything in my post.

You said he screwed up with his recruiting early on. He has been much better lately in recruiting, I agree, but he still hasn't produced a big man that can play at the level we need.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

You said he screwed up with his recruiting early on. He has been much better lately in recruiting, I agree, but he still hasn't produced a big man that can play at the level we need.

A post over 6'8" isn't needed.

 

[HuskerTimOmaha]

To be clear, here's what I'm talking about...

Vucetic, dud.
Hawkins, dud.
Biggs, dud.
Smith, dud.
Fuller, plays sparingly.
Hammond, plays sparingly.

Compare that to:

Watson, McVeigh, Morrow, Jacobson, Roby, Horne.

He's done pretty well with transfers early on and recently, I'd say the last 2 (White, Gill) are better than the first 3 (Petteway, Pitchford, Abraham).

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

A post over 6'8" isn't needed.

I like Jacobsen and Morrow alot. But it is my belief that they should not be constantly guarding a 5. If we could get a 6'10" guy with a big frame (to defend the 5 and rebound) I think it would take alot of pressure off Michael and Ed. And they don't need to play a ton of minutes. Maybe 8 minutes a half so the other 2 can defend their natural match-ups. I still think we are going to continue to struggle unless that, and 2 legit shooters are added.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

I like Jacobsen and Morrow alot. But it is my belief that they should not be constantly guarding a 5. If we could get a 6'10" guy with a big frame (to defend the 5 and rebound) I think it would take alot of pressure off Michael and Ed. And they don't need to play a ton of minutes. Maybe 8 minutes a half so the other 2 can defend their natural match-ups. I still think we are going to continue to struggle unless that, and 2 legit shooters are added.

Also it should be pointed out that Jacobsen is taking full advantage of the weight room.