Joe Boozell of NCAA.com recently wrote an article listing the top point guard/coach combinations in college basketball. The Dayton Flyer’s very own Scoochie Smith and head coach Archie Miller made the cut, receiving some of the national recognition they deserve. As a junior last season, Smith averaged 11.7 points per game to go along with 4.3 assists. In the article, Boozell describes Smith as “a scrappy defender that is underrated as a floor general.” A great description of the 6’2″ point guard out of the Bronx, New York. In the 2015-16 campaign, Smith saved his best performances for last. In the second to last regular season game at Richmond, Smith dropped 26 points and dished out 5 assists. He helped lead Dayton to a tight 85-84 win over the Spiders. Smith followed that performance up, however, with something even more special. At home on senior night against VCU, the junior leader had a career night. He scored 29 points, dropped 5 dimes, and absolutely took over towards the end of the game. His gutsy performance carried the Flyers to a 68-67 overtime win against the Rams, giving them a share of the conference regular season title. Now entering his senior season, Scooch, as Flyer fans call him, will look to create more magic and lead Dayton further than ever.
No doubt about @scoochstackin & @Archie_Miller on this list. #TrueTeam https://t.co/63XLnSjGq5
— Dayton Basketball (@DaytonMBB) August 15, 2016
The 2nd half of this prolific player/coach combo is Dayton head coach Archie Miller. Entering his 6th season at the helm of the Flyers, Miller has taken the basketball program to new heights. Boozell calls Miller a “rising star” who has done “outstanding work in his time at Dayton.” After making a remarkable run to the Elite Eight in the 2013-14 season, Miller started the True Team mantra. Since then, the Flyers have gone on to make three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and have won five tournament games in that time. This success won’t satisfy Dayton though. Miller will have arguably his most talented roster yet this year and is as hungry as anyone in the country to compete for a national championship.
While it’s an honor for the A-10 to have one point guard/coach combo make this list, they arguably should’ve had two. Davidson’s Jack Gibbs and Bob McKillop certainly deserved high consideration to be named one of the top combos in the country. Last season Gibbs averaged a monstrous 23.5 points per game to go along with 4.9 assists and 4.1 rebounds. Now entering his senior year, Gibbs looks to carry Davidson to more wins and also compete for A-10 Player of the Year. Add in his outstanding long-time head coach Bob McKillop, and it’s a wonder how the Gibbs/McKillop duo did not find themselves on this list.
With all due respect to Dayton, Miller, and Schoochie, their not even the best Pg-Coach tandem in the A-!0. That would have to go too 1st Team All A10 Jay Adams and the A10 Coach of the yr Mark Schmidt!.. Dayton may have more wins over the last 3 yrs, but the numbers don’t lie about how well Adams and Schmidt complement each other.. But i am glad to see the A10 getting more recognition..
Definitely agree that Adams is a baller, but Archie is far superior to Schmidt in my opinion. Either way, many great PG/Coach options in the A-10 though! Especially when you factor in Gibbs and McKillop as well. Should be exciting to see which tandem emerges this year!
I to agree that there are “many great PG/Coach options in the A-10” and seeing which one emerges during the season will be exciting!. But again with all due respect, I wouldnt say Miller is far superior to Schmidt. Both Coaches work with what they have, and Schmidt has a limited budget, on the third smallest D1 schools in the nation, has to recruit and try to put together a schedule that makes a their resume (come March) respectable enough to get SBU in the Dance. And being in Western NY, it is impossible to get any big name school, or really any school from a P5, to come too Bona’s and play!. So with the resources at his disposal, Schmidt has done an amazing job at getting Bona’s back on the “map”. And I’m not arguing what Miller has done with Dayton, their record yr in and yr out, has always been at the top of the A10, and Millers recruiting is very well done too!.. I think its hard to compare both Coaches “head to head”!.. Like i said, i have a lot of respect for Miller, and for Schmidt, and i hope every A10 team represents in OOC play, and in Post Season play!..
That’s very true, hopefully both coaches continue taking their programs to new heights!
Completely agree! And i can’t wait for the day when the A10 isn’t considered a Mid-Major anymore! If the American League “isn’t” considered one, which i whole heartedly believe is a notch below us (or at the same level from top to bottom), then we shouldn’t be either! But that’s just my humble opinion…