ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

Ninerballin · 12-10-2012, 04:07 AM

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...or-unlvs-moser

2. The Xavier staff that took the team to the Elite Eight and lost to Duke in 2004 has had quite a rise in the coaching profession this season. The head coach was Thad Matta. The top three assistants are all undefeated as head coaches so far: Sean Miller at Arizona, John Groce at Illinois and Alan Major at Charlotte. The latter two are by far the most surprising. Groce has been dubbed a rising star after the way in which he took Ohio to the Sweet 16. He pulled off one of the most impressive wins in the non-conference with a road win at Gonzaga Saturday night. Major is off to a surprising undefeated start in the 49ers last season in the A-10. Charlotte still has tough games to come but did win the Great Alaska Shootout and knocked off rival Davidson. Miller has the best team in the Pac-12. It won't be a reach at all to see at least three of the four coaches on that staff -- Matta, Miller and Groce -- in the NCAA tournament. Major probably has the most work to do but it's not out of the question.

uz2b-len · 12-10-2012, 06:20 AM

Cool.

xu1990 · 12-10-2012, 07:17 AM

I really like Sean Miller, John Groce and Alan Major. Always seemed like good guys when had the chance to talk to them.

Thad is kind of a tool, IMO.

xudash · 12-10-2012, 08:23 AM

Thanks for sharing that.

Congrats to Charlotte as well. Keep him happy and who knows what happens for your program from here.

moss2k · 12-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Major has totalled revamped Charlotte's roster (outside of Braswell) and our style of play. It's very refreshing and we're excited for our future. A10 play will be tough, I think we'll exceed the preseason expectations. I don't think we're a top 5 team in A10 as of now, we're young and need to see how we start conf play off. We have a brutal Feb schedule.

Ninerballin · 12-10-2012, 06:28 PM

I just found it interesting that not too far back, Xavier had 4 head coaches sitting on its bench, and not to mention 3 of the 4 who've been very successful, and one who is trending in that position this year.

bprichard · 12-10-2012, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xu1990

I really like Sean Miller, John Groce and Alan Major. Always seemed like good guys when had the chance to talk to them.

Thad is kind of a tool, IMO.

Completely agreed on all four. Thad is not a very likable guy, but he certainly can coach (and recruit).

X-man47 · 12-11-2012, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bprichard

Completely agreed on all four. Thad is not a very likable guy, but he certainly can coach (and recruit).

In my opinion, Matta is the best coach (and recruiter) I have seen at Xavier since I came here nearly 30 years ago. Miller and Mack (I think) would be in the next tier, followed by Prosser and Gillen. Bob Staak was coaching when I came to Xavier, but I didn't see him long enough to have an opinion about him.

bprichard · 12-11-2012, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-man47

In my opinion, Matta is the best coach (and recruiter) I have seen at Xavier since I came here nearly 30 years ago. Miller and Mack (I think) would be in the next tier, followed by Prosser and Gillen. Bob Staak was coaching when I came to Xavier, but I didn't see him long enough to have an opinion about him.

Pete Gillen might not be as great a coach, but he is the greatest person.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using VerticalSports.Com App

xu1990 · 12-11-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bprichard

Pete Gillen might not be as great a coach, but he is the greatest person.

Sometimes we glorify people in death beyond what the reality was in life, but not in this case. Skip Prosser is one of the nicest, down to earth, regular guys you would ever have wanted to meet. Had the pleasure of hoisting a few with him over the years, and was a pleasure every time.

Don't get me wrong, love Joe-bag-of-doughnuts Gillen too. They took what Staak started and grew Xavier Basketball into what it is today.

X-man47 · 12-11-2012, 12:46 PM

I agree with both posters above. Gillen, and especially Prosser, were the nicest and classiest coaches in the Xavier coaches I ranked earlier. Both were excellent spokesmen for the university, and both placed academics first. I loved having both men associated with Xavier, but just didn't want them here as head coaches.

moss2k · 12-11-2012, 01:14 PM

Niner fans love Gillen, he was the color guy for the Great Alaska Shootout.. Gillen gone wild!

xu1990 · 12-11-2012, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-man47

I agree with both posters above. Gillen, and especially Prosser, were the nicest and classiest coaches in the Xavier coaches I ranked earlier. Both were excellent spokesmen for the university, and both placed academics first. I loved having both men associated with Xavier, but just didn't want them here as head coaches.

I am really not sure Gillen could have done much more as a head coach before he left. 202-75 record as a head coach at X. That makes his average year 22-8. 9 years, 7 NCAAs and an NIT.

Looking back at the numbers all the way to 1982 reminds me of just how crazy spoiled we are as X fans.

12-10-2012, 04:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ninerballin Star Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,872 Rep Power: 252640	ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebaske...or-unlvs-moser 2. The Xavier staff that took the team to the Elite Eight and lost to Duke in 2004 has had quite a rise in the coaching profession this season. The head coach was Thad Matta. The top three assistants are all undefeated as head coaches so far: Sean Miller at Arizona, John Groce at Illinois and Alan Major at Charlotte. The latter two are by far the most surprising. Groce has been dubbed a rising star after the way in which he took Ohio to the Sweet 16. He pulled off one of the most impressive wins in the non-conference with a road win at Gonzaga Saturday night. Major is off to a surprising undefeated start in the 49ers last season in the A-10. Charlotte still has tough games to come but did win the Great Alaska Shootout and knocked off rival Davidson. Miller has the best team in the Pac-12. It won't be a reach at all to see at least three of the four coaches on that staff -- Matta, Miller and Groce -- in the NCAA tournament. Major probably has the most work to do but it's not out of the question.

12-10-2012, 06:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
uz2b-len Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 817 Rep Power: 5048	Re: ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff Cool.

12-10-2012, 07:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
xu1990 6th Man Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 483 Rep Power: 142932	Re: ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff I really like Sean Miller, John Groce and Alan Major. Always seemed like good guys when had the chance to talk to them. Thad is kind of a tool, IMO. __________________ 4 out of 5 sweet sixteen's : Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina and Xavier. 8 schools have made last 7 NCAAs: Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Michigan State, Texas, Wisconsin and Xavier.

12-10-2012, 08:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
xudash Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,300 Rep Power: 39489	Re: ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff Thanks for sharing that. Congrats to Charlotte as well. Keep him happy and who knows what happens for your program from here.

12-10-2012, 09:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
moss2k Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winston-Salem Posts: 589 Rep Power: 482	Re: ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff Major has totalled revamped Charlotte's roster (outside of Braswell) and our style of play. It's very refreshing and we're excited for our future. A10 play will be tough, I think we'll exceed the preseason expectations. I don't think we're a top 5 team in A10 as of now, we're young and need to see how we start conf play off. We have a brutal Feb schedule. __________________ Charlotte 49ers message board

12-10-2012, 06:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ninerballin Star Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,872 Rep Power: 252640	Re: ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff I just found it interesting that not too far back, Xavier had 4 head coaches sitting on its bench, and not to mention 3 of the 4 who've been very successful, and one who is trending in that position this year.

12-11-2012, 12:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
X-man47 The Professor Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Section 104, Cintas Center Posts: 994 Rep Power: 168143	Re: ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff I agree with both posters above. Gillen, and especially Prosser, were the nicest and classiest coaches in the Xavier coaches I ranked earlier. Both were excellent spokesmen for the university, and both placed academics first. I loved having both men associated with Xavier, but just didn't want them here as head coaches. __________________ Xavier always goes to the NCAA tournament, and almost always makes some noise while there. Projecting anything less than that this season feels like folly. Eamonn Brennan, ESPN (Summer Shootaround, 2012)

12-11-2012, 01:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
moss2k Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Winston-Salem Posts: 589 Rep Power: 482	Re: ESPN blurb on Former Xavier Elite 8 Staff Niner fans love Gillen, he was the color guy for the Great Alaska Shootout.. Gillen gone wild! __________________ Charlotte 49ers message board

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