OT: Arizona should be better

[Robertelamin]

They were half an inch away from beating the eventual national champions and getting to the final four in 2011. Last year his team lost in OT in the elite 8. He took Xavier to an elite 8 and took Zona there this year. He is also only 46 so he has 25-30 more chances.

Fire Sean Miller!

 

[BearJWS]

Decker is very impressive. Does he remind anyone else of Keith Van Horn?

He's a very much a KVH clone, in look & game. I think Dekker has a better handle, but KVH had a better post game, but I've had similar thoughts. Both smart, great shooters, versatile & knows what it takes to win. Dekker is an NBA player.

 

[AstarIsBorn31]

He's a very much a KVH clone, in look & game. I think Dekker has a better handle, but KVH had a better post game, but I've had similar thoughts. Both smart, great shooters, versatile & knows what it takes to win. Dekker is an NBA player.

Is he smart tho? Kind of has a little gronk in him I think haha

 

[UConnNick]

Wow that's strong
Once you are 1 thru 4 seed (with exception to Kensucky this year) the talent level is basically on a par so losing to a lower seed like 4 beating 2 is really not a big deal
He's a good coach but has seen to do some questionable things in the big games

Yeah, like today when he goes to a full court press with over five minutes left in a game that was hovering in the 8-10 point range. Oh, and almost his whole starting five had four fouls already. Needless to say, one of them fouled out with a few minutes left. Then in the last minute down only five, nobody fouls anybody and they let Wisconsin run out the clock. Was this the Calipari strategy from the champ. game last season?

"We didn't foul because UCONN always makes their foul shots." - John "The Squid" Calipari, April, 2014

 

[uconnbill]

I'm rooting for Wisconsin to win it all. But if I have to see that poser Cal grad Aaron Rogers rooting on the Badgers in the FF I might throw something through the TV.

Between him and Ashley Judd...

Ashley Judd may sue you, so be careful in what you say

I will root for Wisconsin to win it all as they are a senior laden team and play team ball very well.

 

[Brochacho]

If I'm Arizona I'm pissed at 'Nova. Their paper tiger season forced Arizona into a path of Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Duke if they want to win it all, which is just crazy especially when compared to the East region.
A UK/Wisconsin and Arizona/Duke FF would potentially be one of the best ever, and Villanova stole that from us.

 

[tzznandrew]

Man, you guys are crazy. Miller hasn't been at Arizona that long. In his time there:

2011 they were a 5 seed, destroyed Duke and lost in the E8...barely. Let's not forget how terrifying that last 3 was...

2012, they didn't make the NCAAs.

2013 they made the S16 as a 6 seed.

2014 they were 1-seed who lost to a 2-seed on a controversial travel in the E8.

This year they were a 2 seed who lost to a 1 in the E8.

They've played to seed or better literally every single time they've made the tournament.

 

[Kitaman]

And he recruits at probably the second highest level (to UK) in college basketball.

It helps to have a beautiful campus in your toolbox:

 

[mauconnfan]

Sean Miller recruits well and his teams are pretty good. But underachievers thus far a lot so he is the perfect replacement for Lute Olsen as nothing has changed. Archie may turn out to be the better coach!

 

[Rocktheworld]

It helps to have a beautiful campus in your toolbox:

I think this is the view that catches recruits' eyes

 

[mauconnfan]

Is there a "Love" button rather than "Like"?

RocktheWorld deserves one

 

[Jerry1714]

2 shots go in instead of rim out and Miller has 2 in 5 years. I guess for some people 2 shots are what makes a coach good or not.............

 

[mauconnfan]

2 shots go in instead of rim out and Miller has 2 in 5 years. I guess for some people 2 shots are what makes a coach good or not...

Maybe or maybe they should have not been in that position because they were easily the better team? Again, just win.

 

[tzznandrew]

Maybe or maybe they should have not been in that position because they were easily the better team? Again, just win.

Were they easily the better team in 2011?

Or easily the better team last year? I mean, Wisconsin has now taken almost the same exact team back to the Final Four that went last year. So I'm not convinced that Arizona was easily the better team.

Again, 4 NCAA tournament runs, 3 Elite 8s--all were close--and 1 Sweet 16 loss as a 6 seed to 2 seed Ohio State on a last second 3 from LaQuinton Ross (2 seconds left...but still).

They've never once laid an egg out there, and every time they've gotten in they've made runs.

 

[Robertelamin]

Maybe or maybe they should have not been in that position because they were easily the better team? Again, just win.

Maybe they should win every game! Thats what a good coach would do!

 

[Walker11]

It's obvious that Miller is a very good, maybe great coach, and is not a point worth arguing. He may not be a brilliant offensive mastermind, but neither is KO. His main issue the past two years has been roster composition. You can have all the 5 stars in the world, but if you can't shoot, you're in trouble.

 

[Jerry1714]

Maybe or maybe they should have not been in that position because they were easily the better team? Again, just win.

So they were "easily" better than UConn in 2011?

I guess Calhoun was bum until 1999 too.

Cause just win right?

 

[Lefty2one]

Zona is pretty much UNC-West. They always get high profile recruits, always have the individual talent but never seem to have the toughness or defensive prowess to live up to their potential.

 

[HuskiesAllDay]

Zona is pretty much UNC-West. They always get high profile recruits, always have the individual talent but never seem to have the toughness or defensive prowess to live up to their potential.

This year defensive prowess was their greatest strength. Last year they were great defensively too. Both years they were undone because they couldnt shoot

 

[zls44]

If you think Sean Miller is underachieving, you must've thought Jim Calhoun was throwing away final fours for ten years.

 

[tzznandrew]

If you think Sean Miller is underachieving, you must've thought Jim Calhoun was throwing away final fours for ten years.

It's unbelievable what our 2009-2014 run (3 FF, 2 titles)--and UK's 2010-2015 run (1 title, 4 FF, 1 E8)--has done to some people's perspective.

If Arizona were in the East, they're getting ready to play Duke/Gonzaga. Instead, they were in Wisconsin's bracket--and had a great game against a team that shot 12-18 from 3. You could leave some players open and they wouldn't shoot that.

Arizona was absolutely one of the 3-5 best teams in the country. Sometimes those teams don't make the Final Four and it has little to do with a coach's skill.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Zona is pretty much UNC-West. They always get high profile recruits, always have the individual talent but never seem to have the toughness or defensive prowess to live up to their potential.

WTF are you talking about? Defense is almost always their strength.

 

[Jerry1714]

Zona is pretty much UNC-West. They always get high profile recruits, always have the individual talent but never seem to have the toughness or defensive prowess to live up to their potential.

They are actually the exact opposite of UNC in terms of toughness and defense.

Hard to imagine that you have watched a Zona game in the last 2 years if this what you think.

 

[Hoophound]

Miller gets an awful lot of talent. That's where I would differentiate him from Calhoun pre 99'. Arizona is an easy place to recruit to and always has been. I think he will win a title over the next 3-5 years and that will end any negative talk. However, it is to be expected with the classes he gets that people will expect serious results.

 

[Jerry1714]

Miller gets an awful lot of talent. That's where I would differentiate him from Calhoun pre 99'. Arizona is an easy place to recruit to and always has been. I think he will win a title over the next 3-5 years and that will end any negative talk. However, it is to be expected with the classes he gets that people will expect serious results.

List the first round draft picks Miller has had Zona compared to Calhoun's pre 99.

Calhoun had a lot more NBA players.

People do not seem to have much or any knowledge of Zona basketball but they sure do have a lot of opinions about how they are underachieving under Miller.

 

[Mots010]

I think this is the view that catches recruits' eyes

And this is from an 8am Economics 101 class.

 

[mauconnfan]

List the first round draft picks Miller has had Zona compared to Calhoun's pre 99.

Calhoun had a lot more NBA players.

People do not seem to have much or any knowledge of Zona basketball but they sure do have a lot of opinions about how they are underachieving under Miller.

JC made a lot more NBA players they didn't come in "destined to be" like many of the players that Miller has had go to Zona. Not sure where I can find the list of recruits Miller has gotten but they get some very high profile recruits form the minute he took the job. For some reason not all that many are getting a ton better.

 

[mauconnfan]

So they were "easily" better than UConn in 2011?

I guess Calhoun was bum until 1999 too.

Cause just win right?

I think on paper, beginning of the year - yes! Paper doesn't win I get it, but even as UConn fans we can be honest with ourselves. That was a real good team Zona had, JC outcoached him and had Kemba.

 

[Jerry1714]

JC made a lot more NBA players they didn't come in "destined to be" like many of the players that Miller has had go to Zona. Not sure where I can find the list of recruits Miller has gotten but they get some very high profile recruits form the minute he took the job. For some reason not all that many are getting a ton better.

Ray Allen, Donyell Marshall, El-Amin and Richard Hamilton, all big time recruits who stayed at least 3 years. Calhoun had other

Miller has gotten some great recruits, Stanley Johnson, 1 and done, Gordon, 1 and done, Jarrett one and done.

Ashley and Tarz are some of the only ones who have stayed around. Ashley got hurt last year.

Again, If Miller is an underachiever so was Calhoun, you cannot have it both ways.

 

[tzznandrew]

I think on paper, beginning of the year - yes! Paper doesn't win I get it, but even as UConn fans we can be honest with ourselves. That was a real good team Zona had, JC outcoached him and had Kemba.

Going into the 2010-11 season they were not ranked. They had fewer AP votes than us, and had more coaches poll votes than us.

They weren't thought of any more highly as we were. Roughly even going into the season. Yet we met in the E8 and they were a very-makable, I-still-can't-believe-it-didn't-go-in shot to win the game. And if through us, probably a title.