Milik suspended indefinitely from all team activities

[BEARZ77]

I think Muller's on the court success has been more than acceptable; sure everyone wants NCAA Tourney bids , but some of that is simply beyond coaches at this level control. In response to that though, he's made a significant effort to upgrade his schedule and do whatever he can to put ISU in position for consideration. Again, winning an MVC Tourney is certainly something you start to expect at some point. But overall he's done a solid job as coach in most things you measure a coach on.

I just think it's counter-productive to his program to have the repeated off court distractions. Some of that happens at every program, and again is beyond a coaches control. With a guy like MY, to me it's not about whether he's guilty or not or the degree of the transgression; those are legal issues. Coaches are not subject to having to prove guilt or intent. They simply have to look at if a player is repeatedly involved in situations that cast a negative image on their program, distract or interrupt the teams focus , plain and simple. To me, and again jmho, when things have involved law enforcement and made the media multiple times, that's too much from one individual regardless of legal outcome.

Muller is the one who has to make those decisions, but it's understandable when you have repeated public instances that it's gonna reflect poorly on him and his program when he seems to be soft on consequences in service of wins/loses. All coaches are different in how they handle such things. Three year's ago, the LadyBears had a young lady get a DWI; this was a model citizen and student type, but she was suspended for the year on scholarship to focus getting her life together and to find another opportunity to pursue basketball, but not at MSU. On the other hand, the Bears had two individuals involved in an after hours party and theft last year, and Lusk only suspended them a couple games. It was a first offense, but most fans felt it should have been a termination issue. Tough decisions for coaches but as in all things, "take what you want and pay".

[Redhawk]

When you fire a guy you better be sure the next guy is an upgrade.

[Adunk33]

I also have questioned if Muller would be on the hot seat...

-Always been above .500 but that includes 4 out of 6 seasons ending with 18 wins
-3 Championship game appearances... but all ended loses
-2 NIT.... I do agree they should have gotten a shot in 2017; but in fairness the margin of defeat against Wichita was hard to ignore, especially with a weak Valley (a 41 point loss and 20 point loss). Still though, the NIT is more than most Valley teams have made in recent years.
-Lots of player turnover
-Consistent questions of player character, it seems as though every year there's SOMETHING and the response always seems "meh" at best. It sucks too because i'm sure most of them are good kids and get lumped into the "jailbirds" stereotype.

But in fairness to all of that, most fans closer to the team know more. It's why most Rambler fans defended Porter when a lot of others were down on him; so i get there's something I may be missing. From the outside it seems like same Redbirds every year. Rich with talent; but also rich with off the court distractions. So my question is: why isn't it nearing a hot seat yet? It could be faith that the "just misses" and NIT's will turn into hits this year, or the alumni connection, or that people like how he represents the university through social media; I'm just curious what it is for Redbird fans!

And beyond that; at what point would fans start to get antsy? Hypothetically if Yarbrough plays and the team finishes with 18 wins this season and 2nd/3rd in conference would that have an effect?

EDIT: Just saw Redhawks post which makes some fair points, I didn't think about conference finishes; but would love to hear from others!

This is a really sensible post.

I'll address the Milik situation again briefly. As the situation progresses, it seems a lot was blown out of proportion. We will likely never know what actually happened that night. It is annoying that that things like this do come up. Hawkins before Milik, Knight before him with his issue. At this level, the reason players of Miliks talent aren't at a higher level is due to academic/off the court issues. P5's often don't have to take these risks. Muller has. I know ISU is not the only school in the MVC that has had legal issue but it has been an annual (or more) thing and it is annoying.

Regarding Muller on the hot seat, as some have suggested if Muller was on the hot seat, we better make sure whoever comes in will be better. I don't see that at this time. His inability to get over the hump at this juncture, I think a lot of Redbird fans are numb to. We have seen 6 losses on Sunday in STL in the last 10 years. The thing I like about Muller is that his teams have always been competitive against good teams. I compare Muller to where ISU was before he got here. I loved Porter Moser but he clearly wasn't ready to be a HC at the time. During Tim Jankovich's time, it was GREAT (sarcasm)! The Birds won 25+ games a year often but against the likes of Nichols State or Winston-Salem. When Muller was hired, his first commitment was scheduling. In his first year he got a H/H with Drexel, who had been nearing the T25, played @ No.5 Louisville, and started the H/H with Dayton. The next year, VCU, @NW, and a H/H with Depaul. Not to mention the game @ No.1 Kentucky, and against No.1 Maryland in the same year. These are games Jank would have never sniffed.

Muller is also consistently beating out some P5 teams for recruits. Again, something Jank never really did. Reputation set aside, the on-court trajectory of the program has been on the rise each year Muller has been here. The Redbirds are consistently recognized as an "under the radar" team in preseason media coverage.

Lastly, Muller has signed an extension. He quietly did so last August. The administration sees him as a commodity. As young as Muller is, I would love for this to be his last job. I am not naive enough to believe that, but it would be nice. Redbird fans are eager to make the NCAA Tournament, but many feel we are a Sweet 16 run away from Muller taking a bigger job. The contract extension he signed is through 2024. He's pulling in 600k when it's all said and done. Muller signed the contract in pencil though with an easy out. I believe if he takes another job he has to pay ISU 10k and schedule ISU in a H/H with his new team.

Short answer? His seat is in the freezer and hasn't started thawing yet.

[Blers]

Awesome post Adunk! Appreciate the insight. It paints a pretty clear picture!

[Birdfan2018]

Will Mueller do the right thing and dismiss this idiot, or will it be no play in exhibition game, and another slap on the wrist?

Who is this "Mueller" guy you speak of? And what are the charges against this "Idiot" that he has been proven guilty of? I would love to see your past history; I'm sure it is squeaky clean. We all know about how SIU is such a low crime Institution.

[Birdfan2018]

The guy has had so many chances. I'm ready to be rid of the headache but I am now interested in the case because on public access it's listed as TR (traffic). Not even listed as CM (misdemeanor). If it's just a traffic case I don't think he'lll miss more than one exhibition game.

I'm just gonna say that regardless of the severity of this actual infraction, any coach and administration with integrity would just say "enough". To me it's not an issue of how bad was this particular infraction, it's the fact that he's had repeated problems and does not seem to place his responsibility to the team and program above his individual desires and impulses. This is not a "court of law" issue as far as his status with the team and University. Just such a bad reflection on both to be trying to find legalistic reasons to keep him.

What are the list of charges that Milik Yarbrough has against him, and what are the charges he has been proven guilty of?

Hey BEARZ77, still waiting on your answer

[Jsnhbe1Birds]

Reckless conduct and driving on a suspended license are the correct answers for convictions.

Current charges are failure to give information and render aid to an injured person.

[BEARZ77]

Hey BEARZ77, still waiting on your answer

If you don't know the history , sorry you're so ill informed, but your fellow redbird fan has helped educate you. And again, I don't get caught up in what the legal outcomes are, doesn't matter to me, I simply look at how many times has this guy ended up in law enforcement situations with bad press for ISU. I'm counting 3-4 in less than 2 years.

[Birdfan2018]

Hey BEARZ77, still waiting on your answer

If you don't know the history , sorry you're so ill informed, but your fellow redbird fan has helped educate you. And again, I don't get caught up in what the legal outcomes are, doesn't matter to me, I simply look at how many times has this guy ended up in law enforcement situations with bad press for ISU. I'm counting 3-4 in less than 2 years.

I do know the history. I'm just interested to see if you can give me the specifics as to the evidence that you have that Milik should be kicked of the the team. I am sure that there is not enough to through him off the team if he was wearing the uniform of the Missouri State Bears. So how bout you just worry about the Bears, and let Coach Muller worry about Milik.

[Birdfan2018]

Reckless conduct and driving on a suspended license are the correct answers for convictions.

Current charges are failure to give information and render aid to an injured person.

I am aware of what the charges are/were against Milik. But I will let the courts and Coach Muller decide on how to handle this man's future as a student Athlete at Illinois State University. I know I was no angel when I was Milik's age. Hell, I drove for a year before I even got my drivers license, and while intoxicated at times. I am quite sure most, if not all on this board, did the same. I was going into bars, and buying alcohol, before I was of legal age, AND smoking weed. And I think I turned out to be a pretty good guy. Glad that some of the dumb s*** I did at that age didn't define who I am as a person. I personally do not want to see Milik's future ruined because of minor dumb s***. And if Milik was playing for one of the other schools on this board they would not want "this idiot" as a certain Saluki fan put it, to be kicked off their team.