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Thursday, December 23, 2010
Jeff Kreill: ‘Lucky and fortunate’ to be Butler’s head coach
VANDALIA - Butler boys basketball coach Jeff Kreill took the long way to get where he’s at.
Standout guard at Beavercreek for one of the first really great Larry Holden teams, Kreill (‘85 grad) played with UD recruit Steve Pittman for the Beavers. Kreill spent the next season playing at Sinclair, then dropped out of school - the day after the season-ending banquet - for 10 years.
I know that long and winding road. Physically, you’re fit to play college ball. Mentally and emotionally, you’re light years away from handling the academic life.
Like Kreill, I also spent a long weekend in college, then dropped out for many years. I like to say I was on Wright State’s 16-year undergrad program. My only problem is I’m not kidding.
Anyway, all his players unashamedly gave Kreill a heartfelt nod for helping give the Aviators’ recent downtrodden hoop program new life. I liked what I heard. I think you will, too.
Jeff Kreill, in his words:
“Fortunately, (last year’s seniors) were willing to buy into to what we wanted to do and take a backseat to some other players. … Throw in AJ Pacher and you know we had a pretty good mix. It was a phenomenal first year at Butler.
“We’ve got a goal, a direction. I still don’t think we’re one of the best teams in the area. We’re in that mix of some good teams, but we’ve got some growth to do to get where we want to be.”
On beating Tipp in double-OT in the season opener: “That set the tone. … Now we know that we can win against a good team. We hadn’t beat them in years. To get that monkey off our back was big.”
On junior Ryan Pugh, who swished the game-winning FT vs. Tipp with 0:00 left: “I’ve tried different things. How they’re shooting; their form. Now, I just don’t say anything to them. There’s nothing that I’m going to say to them that changes what they do. I don’t want to mess them up. Anything that I say just screws them up. At that time, they’re on their own; they’ll talk with their buddies; they’ll be OK.”
On pursuing a college degree and coaching: “Athletics is what got me back into … college and to get through college. You just learn so much through athletics. How to work hard, communication, relationships, how to get through adversity. All that stuff.
“Obviously, I’ve always had a passion for sports. Being in a position to have an opportunity to repay some of that and develop relationships with players and students and community members, that’s an honor. I’m lucky and fortunate to be here.”
On assistant Andy Holderman, who Kreill coaxed back into the program this season. Holderman, a dead-eye 3-point shooter at Wright State University, had quit coaching when he didn’t land the Butler head boys position:
“Andy Holderman is one of the best things to happen to us. He’s an X’s and O’s guy. I called and begged. … He can sit on the bench and see little tidbits here and there that I don’t see because I’m watching other things and he can make little adjustments. Those adjustments that he has made has been the difference of winning or losing those close games.”
On playing hoop at Sinclair: “I made it through one season. Played pretty well. I was an assist guy; defended well. But as soon as we had our banquet, I dropped out of school the next day. I couldn’t handle academics. I wasn’t ready for it. I worked construction for 10 years. It was a path to get here and I’m thankful that I made it.
“Went back to Sinclair and did two years there then finished at UD. I was lucky. My wife was working at the time and she said, you know, all you’ve done is dig ditches and build houses. Why don’t you do something else? So she let me quit my job - and I was making some good money - and we struggled for four-five years and it was well worth it. I’m a lucky guy, let me tell you.”
Butler beat Greenville 80-48 on Thursday, improving to 7-1. Next up is “very athletic teams in Xenia, Troy, Northmont, Trotwood and Cin. Aiken. In the past, we’ve struggled against very quick, athletic teams. I’m hoping that we can put the past behind us. If we win all those little battles and do the things that we want within the game, winning and losing will take care of itself.”
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TweetBraxton Miller’s OSU status receives unexpected upgrade
Say goodbye to Terrelle Pryor and hello to Braxton Miller.
The Wayne High School product just received a major hike in his status as Pryor’s heir apparent as Ohio State University’s next starting quarterback on Thursday.
Miller could be in the lineup as soon as the Scarlet and Gray spring game, let alone next season’s opener vs. Akron.
Pryor returning for half his senior season next fall — he must sit out the first five games — would be a longer shot than Carson Palmer regaining whatever it was that he had. If Pryor doesn’t return, Miller misses out on a designated mentor for at least his freshman season.
But after Pryor’s incredible lack of off-field decision making, that may not be such a bad thing.
“That’s hard to think about,” said Miller on Wednesday after learning Pryor was among six Buckeyes to be hit with NCAA violations for “selling awards, gifts and university apparel and receiving improper benefits in 2009.”
“I wanted to learn from (Pryor) a little bit. Just step in and see what’s going on.
“I come in with a different mind set now.”
Miller, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, closed out his senior season with the best two-month streak of his over hyped and until then unfulfilled career. That sizzling streak culminated with a 35-28 setback to unbeaten Lakewood St. Edward in the Division I state championship at Canton.
OSU head coach Jim Tressel was at Fawcett Stadium that night and saw an incredible performance by Miller. He probably likes what he witnessed even more, now.
Miller graduated early from Wayne last week and will begin classes at OSU on Jan. 3. He’ll participate in spring training, but now the spotlight will be even brighter on the nation’s consensus No. 1 QB recruit.
Pryor is eligible for the Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl vs. Arkansas at the Superdome, but his next game as a Buckeye would be Oct. 8, 2011 at Nebraska.
Even if Pryor returns to spring training, OSU must jump-start its efforts to secure a starting QB when next season starts. That would be awkward at best for players and coaches.
Joe Bauserman is currently listed as OSU’s No. 2 QB, but he’ll be a senior next fall. There are also sophomores-to-be Taylor Graham, Kenny Guiton and Justin Siems. Bauserman and Guiton have combined this season for 22 passes. Graham and Siems haven’t played.
Although the circumstances are unfortunate, Braxton Miller just received the all-time Christmas gift of his budding Buckeyes life.
“I’ve got to come in level headed and work hard,” Miller said.
“There’s a couple (other quarterbacks) there. I’ll just keep a level head because you never know what might happen.”
Pryor and the others reportedly traded signed OSU memorabilia for cash and other discounts, including personal tattoos. Miller has 10 tats, including a giant OSU “Block O” on an arm that he sat for his past summer.
“Cost me about $100,” he said. “That’s not too much.
“It took about an hour and a half to get all the details and things going on around it. … The only part it hurt on me was my chest. You get on that collar bone and it’s, woooo.”
That’s what many who saw him play this fall often bellowed. And now he’ll have a sooner-than-expected chance to woo over Buckeye Nation, too.
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