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Indiana Basketball: Analyzing Archie Miller’s tenure at Indiana

By Trevor Gersmehl

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Archie Miller of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts in the first half of the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 25: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Michigan Wolverines at Assembly Hall on January 25, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 25: Archie Miller the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers gives instructions to his team against the Michigan Wolverines at Assembly Hall on January 25, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Conclusion

I am definitely a proponent of having patience with Archie Miller.

I understand that this season has been incredibly disappointing and a lot of that falls on Miller’s shoulders, but he deserves another chance.

He doesn’t have guys who fit his system, and the team is so young. Players like Jerome Hunter, Rob Phinisee, Damezi Anderson, and the incoming Armaan Franklin will all grow as they get older and make a bigger impact every year.

The foundation Miller has set through his recruiting is strong. They will help fix the terrible offense from this season. It is a harsh predicament when no one on your roster shoots the three well and your two best players are at their best in the paint. Defenses are able to just pack it in without any fear of allowing three’s, taking away Langford and Morgan’s bread and butter.

Adding more talent and developing the current talent will fix this, and it is something I believe Miller is well on his way to accomplishing.

It is also hard to coach effort. You can demand the respect of the players of course, but if a guy doesn’t feel like playing hard, then there’s not much a coach can do, especially with a shallow, inexperienced bench. The reason Zach McRoberts plays is because he is the only guy who goes all out every single play and sets the energy standard that every coach wants. That message shouldn’t have to be communicated to players playing at Indiana University.

The argument of Archie Miller being in over his head is just silly to me. He got to the Elite Eight with Dayton in only his third season ever being a head coach. Indiana hasn’t been to the Elite Eight since 1993. The A10 (Dayton’s Conference) and the Big Ten both sent 6 teams to the tournament that year. Miller is also just 40 years old and has so much potential to fulfill.

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I understand the impatience from some fans. I hate losing as much as anyone. However, with all the different arguments laid out on paper, I think it would be absurd to fire Archie Miller. Give him a little more time to get his own players, establish his own culture, and get all the gears turning before judging him as an incompetent coach. Archie Miller didn’t wind up coaching Indiana basketball by chance; he is the coach because he deserves to be.

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