May 13, 2025 • 9 mins
As part of our #513Day broadcast from the Lindner Center at the University of Cincinnati, we were joined by the Head Coach of the UC Men's Basketball program, Wes Miller.
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Instagram too: @MoEgger
Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.
Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530.
Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listen
Get more: https://linktr.ee/MoEgger
Follow on X: @MoEgger
Instagram too: @MoEgger
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Join us for the ESPN fifteen thirty Adorn window, Orange
and Black schedule breakdown show BI That's Smoke, Justice, the
Biggest sports Brains breaking down the schedule Tomorrow night, beginning
at six on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of
the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
From six o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty on Moegger
broadcasting from the Lender Center here at the University of Cincinnati.
It is five to one three day learn Moore at
Go Bearcats dot com slash five one three. We have
had a blast talking with coaches, administrators, athletes. Katrina Meriwether's
going to join us in just about ten minutes. My
(00:42):
only regret is he couldn't join us in person, but
he's a busy man. The head coach of the UC
men's basketball team, Wes Miller, is with us. Coach, it
is awesome to have you on the phone. Good afternoon,
How are.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You good, fmo Great to be with you and glad
you're doing this on campus today that I'm not there.
I am in Toronto. Andre Morgan and I on my
staff were up here visiting Jalen Celestine and checking in
on him before he gets here. In three weeks, so
(01:14):
doing something important, spending some time with him and his family.
But I'm sorry, I'm not with you guys today in person.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
That's all right, you have a valid excuse. What Just
describe what the last five or six weeks have been
like and they you've been busy.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
It's it's been a whirlwind, and I think everybody in
basketball would say that right anywhere in the country. But
I'm proud. I'm proud of what we've accomplished. I think
we've put together the extremely, extremely good roster that's prepared
(01:49):
to go in and compete at the highest levels of
our league and of college basketball. And I think it's balanced.
It's it's more experienced, it's more skilled that it's balanced
across the board. So I'm proud of it. But it's
been a it's been a while, six seven weeks. But again,
I think anybody in our sport would.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Say that, Yeah, no questions. So you obviously hit the portal.
You're looking for players who fit, who fit your system,
who are going to mesh with the players that you
bring back from from the outset to now give me
an idea of how you feel the new pieces are
going to mesh with with the players that you already
bring in.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Well, yeah, I think you know, first off, you know,
retaining you know, key backcourt pieces was important. Guys that
I thought, you know, exemplified some of the things that
we all value in Cincinnati, certainly we value in our program.
Data and Gisele, you know, this will be their third
year coming up in the Big twelve. I expect them
(02:53):
to have off seasons to really improve. I think they're
extremely motivated to take some serious steps forward with this program.
So we were excited about their retention. We were excited
about Tyler McKinley and Halvean's retention. You know those guys.
You know, Halving didn't play a whole lot, but you
know feel like he's going to be in his second year. Tyler,
(03:17):
you know, had that injury the first day of practice.
It's it's going to be great to get him healthy
and going. But we felt like we had to add
guys that you know, fit the style we want to
play defensively, the toughness that we wanted to play with,
but also you know, the skill that goes along with
(03:38):
with that in our league and at this level of basketball.
And I think we've done that across the board without
sacrificing who we want to be defensively or how we
want to rebound, and the toughness we want to play with.
I thought we've also we've not sacrificed that at all.
We've gotten even tougher and more physical, but we've also
gotten extremely more skilled.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I feel like you mentioned and toughness, and I mean
the prototype for that has to be Sincere Harris. Correct.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, I mean he was the only perimeter player on
the all defensive team in the Big Twelve last year.
So that that's a great example of, you know, a
guy that I think embodies a lot of the things
that we believe in value and a lot of the
things that are you know, our fans are going to
resonate with with not just like some of the defensive
(04:30):
impact he has on the game, but with the passion
that he plays with right and the toughness that he
plays with on the court.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
The role of general manager in college basketball is not
entirely new, but it's it's growing more and more programs
have one. University of Cincinnati has one now in Corey Evans.
I think you're going to have folks who don't know
what does a GM in college basketball do so so
kind of walk us through a what the role encompasses
and then b why Corey was the right guy for
(05:01):
the job.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
It's an evolving position mode, right, it's a new position.
So I think you'll see a number of teams that
have that, especially at the highest levels of college basketball
this upcoming season. I think by this time next year,
every program in the country will have somebody in that role.
(05:24):
Help it pro a little different, I think from our standpoint.
You know, having somebody that focuses twelve months a year
on everything player personnel, right and not is not involved
in coaching, is not vault in player development. It's spent
twelve months a year on all the aspects of player personnel.
(05:47):
That that's that's the way we envisioned it. You know,
certainly somebody that can can interact with with the agents
and any other the people around in today's game that
isn't out there coaching. I thought that was really important.
And then and certainly you get into the nitty gritty
(06:08):
of contracts and at some point we're going to have
a cap we all hope and how to navigate that,
you know, I think all those things are areas we see,
we see Corey, you know, filling a big void. I
was really excited about him Mo, because number one, we've
had a relationship for fifteen years, you know, when he
was doing scouting as a really young guy breaking into
(06:32):
the kind of the basketball world, and I was a
young head coach, and then you know what I liked
was the trust is there, the relationships there. But then
he spent the last five years with Oklahoma City, which
has been you know, arguably the best organization in the
NBA over that period of time. He worked hand in
hand with Sam Presty, who's been arguably the best general
(06:54):
manager in the NBA you know, for a really long
period of time. So I thought his experience, it's on
the NBA side, connected to one of the best general
managers in all the sports, the things he's learned, like,
he's going to be able to apply that, you know,
not just the spring as we were kind of putting
together a roster, but as we continue to build this
(07:15):
program and navigate this new era of college athletics. So
it felt like the other thing is he's just so
well connected in terms of his relationships globally. You know,
he's you know, spending two hundred and thirty two hundred
and forty days on the road a year for the
last five years for Oklahoma City. I mean, he does
have a ton of reach and information is valuable in
(07:39):
today's today's college basketball where you're making very quick decisions.
So we gained a lot with Corey and I think
his role will just continue to evolve here, you know,
over the next couple of years.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Good stuff. I know you're busy on the road. I
came to where you works and now you have you
owe me an in studio visit Okay Mo.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
There's a there's only a handful of people that if
they ask, it's automatic that I'm coming to see them,
and you're one of them. So you say that the
time and the place, and as long as it doesn't
take away from something that impacts winning in our program,
I'll drop everything and get there.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I Am going to take that piece of audio and
carry it with me all off season and hold you
to it. Thank you so much. Enjoy coach, appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You got it. Thanks mom. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Wes Miller, the head men's basketball coach at the University
of Cincinnati, routing out our list of guests. Katrina Merriwether,
the women's basketball coach here at the University of Cincinnati.
Head coach at the University of Cincinnati. She joins us
Next on five to one three day on ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Station Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Traffic from the u See Health Traffic Center. You See
Health as expert trauma care focusing on prevention, treating injuries,
and supporting long term recovery and rehabilitation. Learn more at
u seehealth dot com. He's found two seventy five at
the Double A Highways an accident blocking off the right lane.
Heavy delays right now back from seventy one to seventy five.
(09:08):
It's about a twenty five minute slowdown in through there.
On the Ohio side, he's found two seventy five as
an accident on the left shoulder after seventy one on
that Ezelic with traffic.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
This report is
Join us for the ESPN fifteen thirty Adorn window, Orange
and Black schedule breakdown show BI That's Smoke, Justice, the
Biggest sports Brains breaking down the schedule Tomorrow night, beginning
at six on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of
the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
From six o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty on Moegger
broadcasting from the Lender Center here at the University of Cincinnati.
It is five to one three day learn Moore at
Go Bearcats dot com slash five one three. We have
had a blast talking with coaches, administrators, athletes. Katrina Meriwether's
going to join us in just about ten minutes. My
(00:42):
only regret is he couldn't join us in person, but
he's a busy man. The head coach of the UC
men's basketball team, Wes Miller, is with us. Coach, it
is awesome to have you on the phone. Good afternoon,
How are.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You good, fmo Great to be with you and glad
you're doing this on campus today that I'm not there.
I am in Toronto. Andre Morgan and I on my
staff were up here visiting Jalen Celestine and checking in
on him before he gets here. In three weeks, so
(01:14):
doing something important, spending some time with him and his family.
But I'm sorry, I'm not with you guys today in person.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
That's all right, you have a valid excuse. What Just
describe what the last five or six weeks have been
like and they you've been busy.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
It's it's been a whirlwind, and I think everybody in
basketball would say that right anywhere in the country. But
I'm proud. I'm proud of what we've accomplished. I think
we've put together the extremely, extremely good roster that's prepared
(01:49):
to go in and compete at the highest levels of
our league and of college basketball. And I think it's balanced.
It's it's more experienced, it's more skilled that it's balanced
across the board. So I'm proud of it. But it's
been a it's been a while, six seven weeks. But again,
I think anybody in our sport would.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Say that, Yeah, no questions. So you obviously hit the portal.
You're looking for players who fit, who fit your system,
who are going to mesh with the players that you
bring back from from the outset to now give me
an idea of how you feel the new pieces are
going to mesh with with the players that you already
bring in.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Well, yeah, I think you know, first off, you know,
retaining you know, key backcourt pieces was important. Guys that
I thought, you know, exemplified some of the things that
we all value in Cincinnati, certainly we value in our program.
Data and Gisele, you know, this will be their third
year coming up in the Big twelve. I expect them
(02:53):
to have off seasons to really improve. I think they're
extremely motivated to take some serious steps forward with this program.
So we were excited about their retention. We were excited
about Tyler McKinley and Halvean's retention. You know those guys.
You know, Halving didn't play a whole lot, but you
know feel like he's going to be in his second year. Tyler,
(03:17):
you know, had that injury the first day of practice.
It's it's going to be great to get him healthy
and going. But we felt like we had to add
guys that you know, fit the style we want to
play defensively, the toughness that we wanted to play with,
but also you know, the skill that goes along with
(03:38):
with that in our league and at this level of basketball.
And I think we've done that across the board without
sacrificing who we want to be defensively or how we
want to rebound, and the toughness we want to play with.
I thought we've also we've not sacrificed that at all.
We've gotten even tougher and more physical, but we've also
gotten extremely more skilled.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I feel like you mentioned and toughness, and I mean
the prototype for that has to be Sincere Harris. Correct.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, I mean he was the only perimeter player on
the all defensive team in the Big Twelve last year.
So that that's a great example of, you know, a
guy that I think embodies a lot of the things
that we believe in value and a lot of the
things that are you know, our fans are going to
resonate with with not just like some of the defensive
(04:30):
impact he has on the game, but with the passion
that he plays with right and the toughness that he
plays with on the court.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
The role of general manager in college basketball is not
entirely new, but it's it's growing more and more programs
have one. University of Cincinnati has one now in Corey Evans.
I think you're going to have folks who don't know
what does a GM in college basketball do so so
kind of walk us through a what the role encompasses
and then b why Corey was the right guy for
(05:01):
the job.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
It's an evolving position mode, right, it's a new position.
So I think you'll see a number of teams that
have that, especially at the highest levels of college basketball
this upcoming season. I think by this time next year,
every program in the country will have somebody in that role.
(05:24):
Help it pro a little different, I think from our standpoint.
You know, having somebody that focuses twelve months a year
on everything player personnel, right and not is not involved
in coaching, is not vault in player development. It's spent
twelve months a year on all the aspects of player personnel.
(05:47):
That that's that's the way we envisioned it. You know,
certainly somebody that can can interact with with the agents
and any other the people around in today's game that
isn't out there coaching. I thought that was really important.
And then and certainly you get into the nitty gritty
(06:08):
of contracts and at some point we're going to have
a cap we all hope and how to navigate that,
you know, I think all those things are areas we see,
we see Corey, you know, filling a big void. I
was really excited about him Mo, because number one, we've
had a relationship for fifteen years, you know, when he
was doing scouting as a really young guy breaking into
(06:32):
the kind of the basketball world, and I was a
young head coach, and then you know what I liked
was the trust is there, the relationships there. But then
he spent the last five years with Oklahoma City, which
has been you know, arguably the best organization in the
NBA over that period of time. He worked hand in
hand with Sam Presty, who's been arguably the best general
(06:54):
manager in the NBA you know, for a really long
period of time. So I thought his experience, it's on
the NBA side, connected to one of the best general
managers in all the sports, the things he's learned, like,
he's going to be able to apply that, you know,
not just the spring as we were kind of putting
together a roster, but as we continue to build this
(07:15):
program and navigate this new era of college athletics. So
it felt like the other thing is he's just so
well connected in terms of his relationships globally. You know,
he's you know, spending two hundred and thirty two hundred
and forty days on the road a year for the
last five years for Oklahoma City. I mean, he does
have a ton of reach and information is valuable in
(07:39):
today's today's college basketball where you're making very quick decisions.
So we gained a lot with Corey and I think
his role will just continue to evolve here, you know,
over the next couple of years.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Good stuff. I know you're busy on the road. I
came to where you works and now you have you
owe me an in studio visit Okay Mo.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
There's a there's only a handful of people that if
they ask, it's automatic that I'm coming to see them,
and you're one of them. So you say that the
time and the place, and as long as it doesn't
take away from something that impacts winning in our program,
I'll drop everything and get there.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I Am going to take that piece of audio and
carry it with me all off season and hold you
to it. Thank you so much. Enjoy coach, appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
You got it. Thanks mom. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Wes Miller, the head men's basketball coach at the University
of Cincinnati, routing out our list of guests. Katrina Merriwether,
the women's basketball coach here at the University of Cincinnati.
Head coach at the University of Cincinnati. She joins us
Next on five to one three day on ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Station Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Traffic from the u See Health Traffic Center. You See
Health as expert trauma care focusing on prevention, treating injuries,
and supporting long term recovery and rehabilitation. Learn more at
u seehealth dot com. He's found two seventy five at
the Double A Highways an accident blocking off the right lane.
Heavy delays right now back from seventy one to seventy five.
(09:08):
It's about a twenty five minute slowdown in through there.
On the Ohio side, he's found two seventy five as
an accident on the left shoulder after seventy one on
that Ezelic with traffic.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
This report is
Mo Egger News
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