Sports

Cincinnati Hoops Coach Wes Miller Admits Failure In Emotional Presser Amid $10 Million Dilemma

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Wes Miller / Cincinnati Bearcats

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The Cincinnati basketball team fell to league rival West Virginia in Big 12 play on Thursday. Head coach Wes Miller was emotional after the fact.

The Bearcats leader admitted his failure to fans amid a disappointing season that’s sparked a near-$10 million dilemma.

Cincinnati is a proud program that boasts two national titles and six Final Four appearances. It hired Miller ahead of the 2021 season in hopes of a revival.

The Bearcats were strong during the Mick Cronin era, making nine straight NCAA Tournament fields before he was hired away by UCLA. They went into a slight decline during a two-year stint with coach John Brannen.

Brannen won a regular season conference title in his first season but was fired the next year due to alleged misconduct. Miller was brought in to right the ship. He’s failed.

The Bearcats have not made the Big Dance across any of his previous four seasons. Barring a Big 12 tournament championship, they will miss out again in 2026.

The team fell to 11-12 after its most recent loss to West Virginia. Miller was emotional after the setback. He understands the expectation, which he’s been unable to meet.

Wes Miller admitted failure.

The coach signed a deal to lead the team in 2020. At the time, he was considered a top young leader following a successful stint at UNC Greensboro.

He was extended through 2028-29 amid a 23-win campaign in ’22.

To date, that remains his lone season in which the Bearcats have posted a winning record in conference play. In the three years to follow his extension, Cincy is just 52-43 with a 17-31 mark in the Big 12.

The team’s success rate has dipped in each of those years. This season could be the program’s first below .500 since 2007-08.

Cincinnati ranks 15th in the league in scoring. Those offensive woes were evident in a Thursday night loss at home to West Virginia.

The Bearcats were anemic in a 54-point performance. They blew a 12-point second half lead, allowing the Mountaineers to close the contest on a 31-14 run.

After the game, Wes Miller apologized.

The head coach spoke directly the onlookers that stuck around to see him enter the locker room. His emotion carried over to the press conference.

Some believed he was on the brink of tears.

Will Cincinnati fire its basketball coach?

Wes Miller entered the year on the hot seat. Calls for his job are being made amid the disappointing season.

His buyout currently sits at $9.9 million. It seems unlikely, however, that he’ll be fired midseason.

The cost to part ways drops significantly after March 31. This April, the buyout dips to $4.69 million, which would certainly impact the Bearcats’ decision making.

That new number is much more reasonable. Miller appears very aware his position.

The coach sounds like a man that knows his job is on the line. He made his pitch to administration for another season.

Will it be enough to convince Cincinnati to keep him past the 2025-26 campaign? Time will tell.