NCAA Basketball: Grading the biggest 2022 CBB coaching hires two years later

Kyle Neptune, Villanova Wildcats: D

Things have not gone as swimmingly for Kyle Neptune at Villanova after the abrupt retirement of another all-time great, Jay Wright. Neptune, who was Jay Wright’s assistant from 2013-2021, spent one season at Fordham before taking the Villanova job in 2022. In his two years leading the Wildcats, Villanova has failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament -- a far step removed from the championship standard Jay Wright embedded. Even if the Wildcats have been competitive in the Big East, the consistency has not been there. Example: Last season, Villanova beat North Carolina, Memphis, Texas Tech and Creighton but fell to Penn, St. Joe’s and Drexel in the Big 5. Year three feels like a do-or-die year for Neptune, who is among college basketball’s coaches who will face the most pressure entering the 2024-25 season.

Sean Miller, Xavier Musketeers: A-

Sean Miller hit the ground running in his first season leading the Xavier Musketeers, finishing the 2022-23 campaign with 27 wins, reaching the Sweet 16 as a three-seed. Unfortunately for Sean Miller, Xavier couldn't continue its momentum as the injury bug bit Xavier big-time. The Musketeers lost Zach Fremantle and Jerome Hunter to season-ending injuries before the 2023-24 season event started, which ultimately proved to be their demise. They would finish last season two games under .500, losing in the first round of the NIT. 

Despite its shortcomings -- which was out of their control -- the Musketeers anticipate to compete in the top half of the Big East next season with a loaded transfer portal class. As a coaching veteran for nearly 20 years, Sean Miller has established himself among the better coaches in the game, making the (re)hire at Xavier a seamless translation over the past two seasons.