
One yr in the past, Wes Miller admitted he was in an “absolute whirlwind”, feeling like he was figuratively making an attempt to drink water from an amazing fireplace hose.
Every little thing occurred to him shortly.
A yr later, Miller, getting into his second season because the College of Cincinnati males’s basketball coach, is taking his sips a bit of extra comfortably.
Next steps for the Cincinnati Bearcats: ‘Right now it’s trying to decompress from the year’
“I hate the phrase cozy,” MIller instructed The Enquirer on Thursday. “I believe the minute we really feel comfy, we’re in hassle, as a result of then you do not actually push the bounds to get higher. So, we all the time really feel uncomfortable, and I need saying that in a extremely wholesome, constructive manner. We will attempt to make ourselves uncomfortable daily with a loopy sense of urgency to get higher.
“However within the final seven to 10 days, that is the primary time since we arrived in Cincinnati that we will form of take a deep breath, actually course of and actually plan and put together for the way in which that we want for this summer season and this coming season.
“It was a superb feeling.”
In an in-depth chat with The Enquirer, Miller opened up about his turbulent first season on the helm of the Bearcats program, his last weeks on the recruiting path, the departure of high reserve guard Mike Saunders Jr., and what followers can anticipate from a brand new Cincinnati staff within the 2022-23 season.
New Bearcats
After main Cincinnati to an 18-15 (7-11 AAC) document final season and main his staff’s marketing campaign stopped by Houston, seeded on day two of the American Athletic Convention event, Miller recharged, shortly.
Over the previous two months, MIller has acquired comeback commitments from 7 toes ahead Viktor Lakhin2021-22 Third-Crew All-AAC guard David DeJuliusahead switch Kalu Ezikpe (Previous Dominion), switch keeper Rob Phinisee (Indiana) and former star of Memphis Nolley II landers.
Miller will match these commitments with the arrival of freshmen and four-star recruits Daniel Skillings and three-star newcomers Josh Roseau and Tolentino sage to construct a staff he hopes will string collectively extra wins than final season’s staff.

“I really feel actually good with our new gamers,” Miller mentioned. “Whether or not it is our three transfers from the switch portal this spring or the three incoming freshmen, I really feel like we’re getting longer, we’re getting extra versatile, we’re getting extra dynamic offensively, and we’re getting guys that actually align with the issues we get pleasure from and the mindset that we attempt to construct daily.
“I believe it’ll assist the fellows again. Final yr, generally offensively, I felt like we put a lot strain on David and Jeremiah (Davenport) to create for our staff. The best way different groups – particularly within the last stretch – have been capable of put together to take them, it made it very troublesome for them and for our staff. I believe we’re going to have a dynamic attacking staff now which ought to launch them to have higher alternatives and higher offensive effectivity.
“So yeah, I believe the additions will assist us in a whole lot of methods.”
“I’m a Bearcat to death”: Viktor Lakhin pledges allegiance to Cincinnati program
After:David DeJulius will return for “one last dance” with the Cincinnati Bearcats
Rayvon Griffith keep residence
Possibly the most notable commitment Miller acquired in current weeks got here from four-star guard at Taft Excessive Faculty Rayvon Griffith. After main the Senators to the Division III state championship, Ohio’s high rookie for the Class of 2023 introduced plans Could 1 to play school ball for Miller and the Bearcats.
The 6-foot-7 Griffith selected to remain residence in Cincinnati over provides from Alabama, Kansas, Ohio State, UCLA and others.
Though Miller is just not licensed to talk publicly about Griffith or Griffith’s dedication till Miller receives Griffith’s Nationwide Letter of Intent (per NCAA rules), Miller shared a few of his recruitment philosophy, together with the significance of constructing your program with shut expertise.
“It is Cincinnati. Who we’re historically as a basketball program and the place we’re going, we now have to get gamers to that space, and I do not assume you are able to do that if you aren’t getting the very best. gamers on this group,” Miller mentioned. “It is just like the No. 1 recruiting precedence once we acquired right here, and it will proceed to be a precedence. So yeah, we wish to make this space a precedence and we wish to make this group right here a precedence. for the nice guys who match into our program. We’ll proceed to take action.

A brand new Jeremiah Davenport?
Talking of homegrown expertise, Miller mentioned he hopes the brand new additions to the roster will create house and pave the way in which for senior guard Jeremiah Davenport.
After being the one Bearcats participant to earn a spot on the 2021 AAC All-Event Crew and receiving a preseason second-team All-AAC choice previous to final season, the previous standout of the Moeller’s highschool noticed his capturing percentages drop two-point vary, three-point vary and free throw line in his junior marketing campaign.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson mentioned after ousting Cincinnati within the AAC event in March that his staff knew Davenport was restricted offensively and “not going to create a shot for himself.”
Miller mentioned Davenport was absolutely conscious of Sampson’s phrases and the way groups would attempt to shield him going ahead.

“I believe Jeremiah has an actual alternative this offseason to enhance as a participant. I believe he can enhance as a lot as anybody on our roster,” Miller mentioned. which he and I talked about in depth on the finish of the season and it is one thing we discuss every day.
“Typically we now have to appreciate the place we’re in when gamers change. Final yr was the primary time Jeremiah was on the high of the scouting report. It’s very completely different. After doing that for years I used to be solely on the high of the I did a scouting report as soon as as a participant and that is once I performed professionally in England I’ll all the time keep in mind that expertise as a result of I understood in a short time how troublesome it was.
“Each participant needs to be a main attacking possibility, but it surely’s actually troublesome when the opposite staff is designing their protection to take you out. I believed Jeremiah dealt with that actually nicely generally. I believed it was troublesome generally. However I believe that was actually vital for his progress and improvement, and I believe he is actually motivated due to the issues he discovered, particularly within the league final yr.
“He is acquired issues he must deal with and work on, and I believe he is motivated to do this. I believe it is a actually vital offseason for Jeremiah, and I believe he’ll add to his sport. I believe he’ll get extra bodily dynamic with the work he is doing with coach Rehfeldt (UC affiliate athletic director for sports activities efficiency Mike Rehfeldt). I am excited to see the results of what he is doing. ‘he is organising by the point we begin coaching in October.
After:University of Cincinnati, AAC is working on a settlement that allows UC to join the Big 12 sooner
Departure of Mike Saunders Jr.
A notable subtraction from Miller’s roster this coming season shall be high reserve Mike Saunders Jr. The 6-foot guard, who performed for 2 completely different teaching groups throughout his two seasons at Cincinnati, chosen to enter the transfer portal following a dialog with Miller on the finish of final season.
After averaging 3.5 factors and 1.4 assists in 15.5 minutes per sport as a rookie underneath Cincinnati coach John Brannen, Saunders averaged 7.3 factors and a couple of.7 assists in 20, 2 minutes off the bench underneath Miller.
Saunders will play his junior season underneath a 3rd coach (Craig Smith) at Utah.
“I actually loved teaching Mike Saunders,” Miller mentioned. “I take into consideration him so much as a younger man and as a participant. I do not wish to put phrases in Mike’s mouth, however I believe he had an analogous feeling about being a part of our program right here. I believe he had an ideal expertise and believed within the course we have been going.
“Mike needs to play some function as level guard. I believe we each sat down and talked in regards to the future right here, which was good as a result of we have been each actually sincere, it wasn’t a detrimental factor. I believe he felt it was a troublesome determination. However maybe the very best alternatives for him have been to look elsewhere, and we want him the very best.
“Once more, I take into consideration the world of Mike, I take into consideration the world of his capability, and I believe he’ll have an ideal profession at Utah.
“Faculty basketball has modified. Typically that is what makes probably the most sense. In that particular state of affairs, I believe we each noticed it that manner.”
What’s subsequent for Wes Miller?
Much like Miller’s first offseason as Cincinnati coach, Miller mentioned his aim this offseason can be to construct camaraderie. Between exercises, workout routines and learning the film, Miller mentioned he needs to maintain having enjoyable as soon as his new roster members arrive on campus in June.
“We are saying on a regular basis, ‘We will work actually onerous, we’ll be very demanding, however we’re additionally going to have a whole lot of enjoyable,'” Miller mentioned. “We will get pleasure from being collectively, and never simply on the pitch. So we’ll be doing a little enjoyable actions as a staff this summer season and this offseason. We’ll attempt to doc that higher on social media so followers can form of see us in a distinct gentle.”