Cincinnati Enquirer Post Mortem

[RushmoreAcademy]

I agree with a few here that none of this came off as whiny to me.  Not that I ever like to side with Miller but I see nothing of note here.

[real chili 83]

At one point MUBB had 17 points off of 15 X turnovers.

The Cincy Enquirer beat writer comes across as thinking any X turnover is unforced, and he is reluctant to creeit MUBB for some of those. MUBB does this to a lot of teams, and, is top 20 nationally at forcing turnovers, and in scoring offense.

DIS ^^^^^^^^

[79Warrior]

Guys, he's just covering for his player. Not everything is a diss of Marquette OK?

Exactly.

[Lennys Tap]

Most amazing stat of all? We were down 4 at the half and Xavier shot 70% overall and 71% from 3 in the second half. Finding a way to win given those numbers is incredible.

[NCMUFan]

Great other teams underestimate MUs defense.
Let them walk into it blindly.

[MU82]

This thread encapsulates how hypersensitive fans are to absolute nothingburgers

Totally this.

I didn't think Miller sounded whiny at all, and the beat writer pretty much only relayed facts and quoted Miller -- who did credit Marquette with forcing most of the turnovers. Boum not being able to practice did sound "excuse-y," but it's also a fact, and it was Miller answering reporters' questions.

We've all heard coaches and/or athletes whine. On the 1-10 Whine Scale, with 10 being "whiny little b!tch," this would be about a 1.1.

And then there's this Miller quote: "We could not get a defensive rebound." ... which sounds like something the typical Marquette fan has said about 100 times this season! Nice to hear an opposing coach have to say it!!

[TVDirector]

Only the comment about Souley not practicing bugged me-
The dude had an offensive night like no other, but the late TOS were the byproduct of missing practice…. Ummmm

[BCHoopster]

Only the comment about Souley not practicing bugged me-
The dude had an offensive night like no other, but the late TOS were the byproduct of missing practice…. Ummmm

Souley Boum played like the player of the year the whole game except the last minute. He was outstanding. Not sure he is a point guard, showed in the last minute he is not.

[wadesworld]

Souley Boum played like the player of the year the whole game except the last minute. He was outstanding. Not sure he is a point guard, showed in the last minute he is not.

He's averaging 5 assists and 2 turnovers per game this season.  He's a very good point guard.

[MU82]

Only the comment about Souley not practicing bugged me-
The dude had an offensive night like no other, but the late TOS were the byproduct of missing practice…. Ummmm

Fair.

[MuggsyB]

Only the comment about Souley not practicing bugged me-
The dude had an offensive night like no other, but the late TOS were the byproduct of missing practice…. Ummmm

Yes.  That's fair to call out imo. 

[MU90620]

Only the comment about Souley not practicing bugged me-
The dude had an offensive night like no other, but the late TOS were the byproduct of missing practice…. Ummmm

In my experience kids are less focused in games where they miss practice leading up to games. They are just off a bit. However, it is also my experience that kids are always focused during scoring opportunities.  So I could see where missing practice would not impact his scoring, but would impact other more mundane aspects of the game.

[Galway Eagle]

He's averaging 5 assists and 2 turnovers per game this season.  He's a very good point guard.

Just not an end of game point guard.

[tower912]

Miller's presser was fine.    MU did a good job creating turnovers, but Xavier shot themselves in the foot.    Xavier was shorthanded, but they battled.    I did not sense anything derogatory about MU.     He knows he has a good team and knows when they are healthy they will be even better.     He lost a conference road game to a ranked team.    He isn't happy, but he has perspective.   

[Herman Cain]

Coach Miller is consistently very respectful of opponents in press conferences. Interviewing him immediately after what, from the X perspective, was a difficult loss is always going to be hard a thing to do.

It is clear Miller didn't want to throw Boum under the buss for his Big Blunder at end. I respect that.

Very delighted our squad beat a Miller coached team. Battles over the coming years between Shaka and Miller are likely to be much like last night. Hard fought classic rivalry Big East games.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Miller looks like he is enjoying himself being back at Xavier and in the Big East for the first time.

[MuggsyB]

Miller looks like he is enjoying himself being back at Xavier and in the Big East for the first time.

Was he unhappy in Zona?  I think it's reasonable to assume he'll jump at another job. 

[Daniel]

I saw his post game presser, and he definitely wasn't whining.

 Thought he was covering for his player and complimented the Marquette team a couple of times.   And about the turnovers, some were unforced for sure.  So I didn’t see it asps dissing MU at all really.  He lost a game he should have won.

[Uncle Rico]

Thought he was covering for his player and complimented the Marquette team a couple of times.   And about the turnovers, some were unforced for sure.  So I didn’t see it asps dissing MU at all really.  He lost a game he should have won.

Fans want coaches to throw players under the bus or rip them publicly.  It’s bizarre.  Of course, Miller would defend a dude that played on a bum ankle and played incredibly well for the most part.  Like you say, Miller was fine postgame in his comments

[Silent Verbal]

Was he unhappy in Zona?  I think it's reasonable to assume he'll jump at another job.

Miller and Shaka have had very similar career trajectories.  Both left smaller programs for near blue bloods (maybe Texas isn’t quite that, but still) only to realize the grass isn’t always greener.  If Xavier can continue to meet Miller’s price, I could see him being there for a long time.  That would be good for the conference.

[Warrior Code]

Was he unhappy in Zona?  I think it's reasonable to assume he'll jump at another job.

What makes you say this? Sometimes people realize the grass isn't always greener 

[cheebs09]

Miller and Shaka have had very similar career trajectories.  Both left smaller programs for near blue bloods (maybe Texas isn’t quite that, but still) only to realize the grass isn’t always greener.  If Xavier can continue to meet Miller’s price, I could see him being there for a long time.  That would be good for the conference.

Well, that and the fact that Miller was on thin ice with the FBI investigation. I think without that, he’d still be at Arizona.

[Dr. Blackheart]

What makes you say this? Sometimes people realize the grass isn't always greener

Well, he was under investigation and was fired, and supposedly his wife never really liked it out there.  I think he sticks.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't know about not practicing in three days leading to the final turnovers, but I think it's completely reasonable to believe that Boum had a great offensive game overall, but playing 40 minutes on a bum ankle with the ball constantly in his hands and Stevie in his grill wore him down and led to him making a few mistakes at the end. I have zero problem with Miller's postgame comments. Hell, he even said that we forced them into 11/17 of the turnovers which I think is about right.

[wadesworld]

Just not an end of game point guard.

He sure was the first time we played them.