How USC’s 2022 coaching search adds interesting dynamic to today’s Xavier game
There was a time when Sean Miller nearly found himself on South Carolina’s sidelines.
In 2022, Miller was reported to be a top candidate for USC’s head coaching vacancy after the departure of Frank Martin. Instead, the Gamecocks hired Lamont Paris, while Miller opted for a second stint at Xavier.
Now, the two coaches face off as USC and Xavier meet at the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Monday, offering a tantalizing glimpse at what might have been.
Miller was one of the hottest names on the coaching market at the time of South Carolina’s opening. He quickly rose to the top of USC’s coaching search back then — and for good reason.
He won 120 games in five seasons during his first stint at Xavier and continued that success at Arizona, a national powerhouse. During 12 seasons with the Wildcats, he led them to three Elite Eight appearances, four 30-win campaigns and consistent NCAA Tournament contention, missing the field only twice.
It was reported that USC had scouted Miller for months prior to the coaching search. But Miller’s candidacy didn’t come without its drama.
Reports claimed he was spotted meeting USC administration at Hall’s Chophouse in Columbia during the search, fueling speculation. Though those reports were later refuted and retracted, it certainly created buzz and intrigue surrounding Miller and USC’s search.
Ultimately, USC chose Paris, while Miller returned to Xavier. Paris’ ability to turn around programs, like he did with UT-Chattanooga, made him an attractive candidate for the Gamecocks.
Both coaches have since left their marks.
Miller guided the Musketeers to 27 wins and a Sweet 16 berth in his first season back, though the team stumbled last year with a 16-18 record and a first-round NIT exit. Paris, meanwhile, struggled in his first season, winning just 11 games. But he quickly turned things around, leading the Gamecocks to a program-record-tying 26 wins in 2023-24 and their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017.
As the two programs collide on Monday, it’s not just a clash of teams but a reflection of alternate paths. While both schools found success with their chosen leaders, things could’ve been different had Miller chosen South Carolina instead.
WHAT CHANNEL IS THE GAME ON?
- Who: South Carolina (3-2) vs. Xavier (5-0)
- Where: Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Florida
- When: 8:30 p.m. Monday
- TV: FS1
- Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Derek Scott, play-by-play; Casey Manning, analyst)
- Satellite radio: Sirius/XM channel 385 or 975
South Carolina Basketball 2024-25 Schedule, Scores
- Nov. 4 — North Florida 74, South Carolina 71
- Nov. 8 — South Carolina 86, SC State 64
- Nov. 12 — South Carolina 80, Towson 54
- Nov. 16 — No. 16 Indiana 87, South Carolina 71
- Nov. 21 — South Carolina 84, Mercer 72
- Nov. 25 — vs. Xavier – Fort Myers Tip-Off – 8:30 p.m. on FS1
- Nov. 27 — vs. Michigan/Virginia Tech – Fort Myers Tip-Off 6/8:30 p.m. on FS1
- sDec. 3 — at Boston College, 7 p.m. (ACC Network)
- Dec. 7 — vs. East Carolina, TBD (SEC Network Plus)
- Dec. 14 — vs. USC Upstate, TBD (SEC Network Plus)
- Dec. 17 — vs. Clemson, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Dec. 22 — vs. Radford, TBD (SEC Network)
- Dec. 30 — vs. Presbyterian, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 4 — at Mississippi State, 2 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 8 — vs. Alabama, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 11 — vs. Auburn, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 15 — at Vanderbilt, 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 18 — at Oklahoma, TBD (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
- Jan. 22 — vs. Florida, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 25 — vs. Mississippi State, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Jan. 28 — at Georgia, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 1 — vs. Texas A&M, 8:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 8 — at Kentucky, noon (ESPN/ESPN2)
- Feb. 12 — vs. Ole Miss, 7 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 15 — at Florida, 8:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 18 — at LSU, 9 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 22 — vs. Texas, 8:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Feb. 25 — at Missouri, 9 p.m. (ESPN2/U)
- March 1 — vs. Arkansas, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
- March 4 — vs. Georgia, 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
- March 8 — at Tennessee, 2 p.m. (SEC Network)
