Game 21: UC On Another 4-Game Losing Streak After 63-50 Loss To West Virginia

As a die-hard Cincinnati Bearcats fan, it pains me to say this, but our basketball program is in shambles. The recent 63-50 loss to West Virginia at home was the final nail in the coffin for what has been a disastrous season.

Let's face it: Wes Miller's tenure as head coach has been an abject failure. In his fourth year at the helm, we're sitting at 2-8 in Big 12 play, with only Colorado performing worse. The team's performance against West Virginia was abysmal, with more turnovers than made field goals in the first half. The once-raucous Shoemaker Center was eerily quiet, save for the boos raining down from frustrated fans.

The most infuriating part? Miller's massive buyout. If UC were to fire him now, it would cost a staggering $13 million. Even waiting until after the season would still require a $9.9 million payout. It's an absurd amount of money for a coach who has objectively failed to deliver results.

What's most concerning is the lack of improvement from players under Miller's tutelage. Nearly every player on the roster has regressed or stagnated. The offense looks lost, with no easy baskets or cohesive game plan. Defensively, a supposed strength of Miller's teams, we've fallen apart.

The roster construction is puzzling at best. Players like Viktor Lakhin, who showed promise in previous years, have struggled to find their footing. The team lacks complementary pieces that allow guys like Aziz Bandaogo and Simas Lukosius to play to their strengths.

Looking ahead, it's hard to see a path forward with Miller at the helm. The fan base has completely turned on him, and rightfully so. The program that Bob Huggins once chose over his alma mater, West Virginia, has become a laughingstock in college basketball.

The administration needs to take a hard look at the direction of this program. Yes, the buyout is steep, but at what point does the long-term health of Cincinnati basketball take precedence? We can't afford to become irrelevant in the ultra-competitive Big 12.

It's time for a change. Whether it's pursuing a proven winner like Will Wade or taking a chance on a up-and-coming mid-major coach, something needs to be done. The passionate Cincinnati fan base deserves better than what we're seeing on the court right now.

As Wes Miller himself said after the West Virginia loss, "If I was someone who supported this program, I'd be frustrated and pissed off." Well, coach, we are. And it's time for the university to do something about it.