Miller Having AZ Recruiting Fits-and-Starts

[vee4xu]

My son sent this article to me. I think it could be indicative of some of the recruiting barriers that west coast teams have generally and specifically AZ has experienced recently.


http://azstarnet.com/sports/basketball/college/wildcats/article_fe005b07-aa01-5b65-9170-d4de859dedd7.html

I am sure that Sean's lack of experience in the west doesn't help. That gap will probably lessen over time, but in the meantime, things could be subject to fits-and-starts in recruiting.

[BandAid]

Cry me a river...

[DC Muskie]

Remarkable. I am completely dumbfounded as to Arizona's place in the basketball world.

Got to hand it to Miller. He is playing this perfectly. He has somehow managed to walk into a place where you can turn down Quinn Cook, and yet still feel slighted.

I tip my cap to him.

[SixFig]

West Coast talent is really down recently. Most guys with any talent go to Findlay Prep or Mater Dei and the rest is not what it used to be. Ben Howland recruited the east from his Pitt roots and thats why he won Final Fours.

The fact that the Pac 10 doesn't have a contract with ESPN has to hurt too

[PMI]

Remarkable. I am completely dumbfounded as to Arizona's place in the basketball world.

Got to hand it to Miller. He is playing this perfectly. He has somehow managed to walk into a place where you can turn down Quinn Cook, and yet still feel slighted.

I tip my cap to him.

Miller turned down Quinn Cook? I never heard that, but he went to Arizona because he felt it was a national program that could win national championships, so he shouldn't be complaining too much about which regions of this nation have more talent. I agree that at this point in time he is kind of having his cake and eating it too, because he has his team ranked in the top 10 in a year where the expectations were not quite that high, but that will all be different very soon. By next year, Miller will be expected to be running a top program and nobody will take any excuses seriously. Personally, I think he's up for the task.

[gladdenguy]

Just another bitch like Mick Cronin. Shut up fat raccoon!!!!

[Masterofreality]

Cry me a river...

......And shut the "F" up.

For all of the "slights" they still convinced a bunch of bubbleheaded clowns to vote them 10th in the polls despite hardly beating anybody.

Yeah, that is some indication that no body gives them respect.

[xu drew]

I imagine he's also upset about not being included in that new ESPN commercial with the coaches dancing. I would have that those making the commercial could've had some fun with the coughing or maybe the elbow play, head tapping, etc.

[Xman95]

Can't wait to see AZ lose the first weekend of the tourney. And it's not even because of the Miller factor. I just hate seeing teams get so overrated. AZ has a weak schedule and there's no way they should be Top 10 in the country. Not a chance. Well, I guess time - and the tournament - will tell.

[Blue Blooded-05]

B... Bu...But... wait a minute!... I thought the reason one upgrades from a "Buick" type program to a "Lexus" type program is to get that national exposure and therefore put yourself in a realistic position to win National Championship?...

...Wait... What?... Really? Arizona only has 1 National Championship? And it was when they got rediculously hot as a 4 seed?... Wow, I didn't know that... And in their last 6 NCAA Tournament appearances, they have half the amount of victories as Xavier?... I bet their graduation rate is much higher than Xavier's though... Really? 4th worst in the NCAA?... I'll be darned...

...Really? Winning the Pac-10 carries as much esteem as an award for being the hottest stripper in Alaska? Maybe that's why they're the only BCS conference without a major TV affiliation; since no one wants to watch sloppy basketball!...

...Yea, I remember Damon Staudamire. He was the main reason the media re-named his team Portland "Jail-Blazers" right?... He's quite a villian in Portland these days, you know... Really, he came from Arizona? Wow... Didn't the Jailblazers get coined after that one guy left and the team slipped into complete chaos? Who was that guy? I remember he was both hard working and he is still adored by the Portland community... Oh yea! Brian Grant, that's right!...

...Yea, I agree... Damon Staudamire is a pot head dumbass... But not as big a dumbass as as that guy who brought a gun into his NBA lockerroom last year. What's his name? Oh yea! Gilbert Arenas!... He went to Arizona, too!... Wow!...

... Hearing all this really makes me wonder whether all that Sean Miller "Lexus/Buick" talk was just a fancy cover up for the fact that Arizona came up with $12million overnight in their hack search for their next head coach...

[muskiefan82]

My son sent this article to me. I think it could be indicative of some of the recruiting barriers that west coast teams have generally and specifically AZ has experienced recently.


http://azstarnet.com/sports/basketball/college/wildcats/article_fe005b07-aa01-5b65-9170-d4de859dedd7.html

I am sure that Sean's lack of experience in the west doesn't help. That gap will probably lessen over time, but in the meantime, things could be subject to fits-and-starts in recruiting.

Wait......wait......wait.......Nope. I thought I would care, but I don't.

[xubrew]

"And in my mind, it was one of the great games in this college basketball season," said Miller, adding every conference gets more attention than the Pac-10. "If you paid attention to Cal, they're as hot and playing as well as any team in the Pac-10. It was just a really big weekend."

ummm...if you pay attention to cal, you'll take note that they are a very underwhelming team. they came into that game with four straight wins, but three were against oregon state, oregon and arizona state, all of which have piss poor rpis. winning those games is hardly impressive.

they followed that up with four straight losses, btw.

the mountain west, for the second year in a row, appears to be heads and tails better than the pac ten. there are still good teams in the west. san diego state and byu have an outside shot at getting a #1 seed, unlv is solid, and colorado state can play their way into the ncaas as well. if the pac ten were as good as that, no one would be saying that the west coast was down. since those teams aren't in the pac ten, though, people are saying that it is.

the west isn't down. there are still good teams. just that they're not all in the pac ten anymore. not to mention, utah state and saint mary's, who are also good.

[PMI]

...Really? Winning the Pac-10 carries as much esteem as an award for being the hottest stripper in Alaska?

This chick is an Alaskan stripper. Just sayin...

http://www.alaskastripclub.com/images/Hot-Stripper.jpg

[Perma Fro]

This chick is an Alaskan stripper. Just sayin...

http://www.alaskastripclub.com/images/Hot-Stripper.jpg

Reps

[Masterofreality]

B... Bu...But... wait a minute!... I thought the reason one upgrades from a "Buick" type program to a "Lexus" type program is to get that national exposure and therefore put yourself in a realistic position to win National Championship?...

...Wait... What?... Really? Arizona only has 1 National Championship? And it was when they got rediculously hot as a 4 seed?... Wow, I didn't know that... And in their last 6 NCAA Tournament appearances, they have half the amount of victories as Xavier?... I bet their graduation rate is much higher than Xavier's though... Really? 4th worst in the NCAA?... I'll be darned...

...Really? Winning the Pac-10 carries as much esteem as an award for being the hottest stripper in Alaska? Maybe that's why they're the only BCS conference without a major TV affiliation; since no one wants to watch sloppy basketball!...

...Yea, I remember Damon Staudamire. He was the main reason the media re-named his team Portland "Jail-Blazers" right?... He's quite a villian in Portland these days, you know... Really, he came from Arizona? Wow... Didn't the Jailblazers get coined after that one guy left and the team slipped into complete chaos? Who was that guy? I remember he was both hard working and he is still adored by the Portland community... Oh yea! Brian Grant, that's right!...

...Yea, I agree... Damon Staudamire is a pot head dumbass... But not as big a dumbass as as that guy who brought a gun into his NBA lockerroom last year. What's his name? Oh yea! Gilbert Arenas!... He went to Arizona, too!... Wow!...

... Hearing all this really makes me wonder whether all that Sean Miller "Lexus/Buick" talk was just a fancy cover up for the fact that Arizona came up with $12million overnight in their hack search for their next head coach...

Now this is a quality rant.

[Blue Blooded-05]

This chick is an Alaskan stripper. Just sayin...

http://www.alaskastripclub.com/images/Hot-Stripper.jpg

Touche... Thanks for correcting me... No seriously, Thank You!

[BandAid]

This chick is an Alaskan stripper. Just sayin...

http://www.alaskastripclub.com/images/Hot-Stripper.jpg

I dont doubt she's Alaskan. Thats clearly evident. But how am I to be completely sure she's a stripper? :D

[WestFan]

Yes I'm curious, I really am a fan from the West as well as a fan of your former player West.

Anyway, what is it with the coughing? Has Miller made too many trips to the proctologist? Gotta wonder about that.

Arizona cannot STAND the fact that the MWC is ranked as the 4th most powerful conference in the country. Just burns them up. The want another crack at BYU saying they're better now? Well BYU didn't just stand around staying the same. Brandon Davies is turning into a really good player as a Soph.

They cannot understand WHY after being ranked so high they are predicted as a 6 seed.
Here's a clue geniuses, NO wins against ranked teams, RPI is only high because of who BEAT YOU and your best win is against NC State.

Then they have the nerve to blast other players for being arrogant when they have the most cocky arrogant group of guys I've ever seen???

Jimmer Fredette is a great player, a humble person and a nice guy.
MoMo Jones is a ja##@ss.

Oh and on the recruiting front, Sidiki Johnson was kicked out of Oak Hill (he'll Brandon Jennings his way into college?) and Josiah Turner went to a different school to get his academics in order.

[ZONACAT]

I have not talked to one knowledgeable Arizona fan who thinks like that. We know the Pac 10 is down, we know our non-conference schedule was tame compared to what we are accustomed to.

I do think it is incredible that a journalist could talk to a coach and not realize who they last played. The lack of research is laughable. Even if I didn't know, I'd at least look it up and read the recap before I called. It was one of the best games of the year.

But life is good at the moment, Sean Miller has been everything as advertised and more. Move has been great for both schools IMO.

You have replaced Tulsa as the cradle of coaches.

[BandAid]

You have replaced Tulsa as the cradle of coaches.

Excellent! I was really hoping for that accolade... :p

[ZONACAT]

Excellent! I was really hoping for that accolade... :p

Ha. Well the good news is that it's over. :)

[Pete Delkus]

This chick is an Alaskan stripper. Just sayin...

http://www.alaskastripclub.com/images/Hot-Stripper.jpg

WOW!

Juneau how hard i'd hit that...

She can show you a true "i-dit-a-rod"

[WestFan]

I have not talked to one knowledgeable Arizona fan who thinks like that. We know the Pac 10 is down, we know our non-conference schedule was tame compared to what we are accustomed to.

I do think it is incredible that a journalist could talk to a coach and not realize who they last played. The lack of research is laughable. Even if I didn't know, I'd at least look it up and read the recap before I called. It was one of the best games of the year.

But life is good at the moment, Sean Miller has been everything as advertised and more. Move has been great for both schools IMO.

You have replaced Tulsa as the cradle of coaches.

Well you don't read the board you post on? GoAZcats?
Read it, it's there for anyone curious enough to read it.

[AZWildcat]

Well you don't read the board you post on? GoAZcats?
Read it, it's there for anyone curious enough to read it.


I read goazcats and several other UA fan boards frequently, and I've yet to read any of that nonsense you posted. The BYU loss "burns" us up? We can't stand MWC being ranked ahead of the Pac 10? Where is this raging group of Arizona fans you're talking about? Links, or I say you're full of chit.

[vee4xu]

Wow, AZ fans talking among themselves about AZ basketball on a Xavier chatboard. Talk about losers with nothing better to do. Yikes.

[jco17]

Wow, AZ fans talking among themselves about AZ basketball on a Xavier chatboard. Talk about losers with nothing better to do. Yikes.

The West poster is an Arizona hater, not an Arizona fan. He's a troll. I've been a member of GoAzCats.com premium for 82 months and I've never seen any of the things he mentioned. I come on here because I follow Xavier as well as Arizona. I only post in the threads that pertain to Arizona, because it makes some of the X posters irritated if I post other places on this forum. This West guy is a troll and it's very obvious by reading a couple of the posts.

[rhyno2110]

The West poster is an Arizona hater, not an Arizona fan. He's a troll. I've been a member of GoAzCats.com premium for 82 months and I've never seen any of the things he mentioned. I come on here because I follow Xavier as well as Arizona. I only post in the threads that pertain to Arizona, because it makes some of the X posters irritated if I post other places on this forum. This West guy is a troll and it's very obvious by reading a couple of the posts.

Dude, I don't give a shit where you post. It's a message board, it doesn't really matter. Lame excuse.

[jco17]

Dude, I don't give a shit where you post. It's a message board, it doesn't really matter. Lame excuse.

What was it an excuse for? I try to be respectful to others. Did you read the post above that called us losers for being on the site. I was simply stating that I'm here fairly often because I follow Xavier as well, but I don't post much.

[MuskieCinci]

Dude, I don't give a shit where you post. It's a message board, it doesn't really matter. Lame excuse.

You are in the vocal minority. I guarantee if jco posted in another thread and someone disagreed with him you would immediately see a post about how much of a loser he is and how Sean went to Arizona almost 2 years ago and he should get over it and bla bla. I disagree with that because I like having as many intelligent posters as possible but it is what it is.

[WestFan]

The West poster is an Arizona hater, not an Arizona fan. He's a troll. I've been a member of GoAzCats.com premium for 82 months and I've never seen any of the things he mentioned. I come on here because I follow Xavier as well as Arizona. I only post in the threads that pertain to Arizona, because it makes some of the X posters irritated if I post other places on this forum. This West guy is a troll and it's very obvious by reading a couple of the posts.

AAACK WRONG! I've been a Xavier fan since Skip Prosser was the coach. I've been a big fan of the game of David West. I have colleagues who graduated from X.

You come on here to brag about Miller and rub the X fans noses in it, no matter how you word it. My friends didn't appreciate the way Miller handled the whole Buick situation and I agree.
Actually I thought highly of Lute Olson.
You want to read about what I'm talking about?
Not sure if this is okay with you Muskie dudes but let me know if not:
http://forum.goazcats.com/showthread.php?t=107877

The discussion about player behavior was on the Arch Rivals forum.

I can say this, I'd take Xavier over AZ any day of the week. My friends from X are class guys.
By the way, you call me a troll for being on this board, yet are offended being called a loser for being on it.

Seems like someone who is an X fan and not a fan of AZ has as much or more right to be on this board. I'm not cramming how great my team is down the throat of the X fans.........

[jco17]

AAACK WRONG! I've been a Xavier fan since Skip Prosser was the coach. I've been a big fan of the game of David West. I have colleagues who graduated from X.

You come on here to brag about Miller and rub the X fans noses in it, no matter how you word it. My friends didn't appreciate the way Miller handled the whole Buick situation and I agree.
Actually I thought highly of Lute Olson.
You want to read about what I'm talking about?
Not sure if this is okay with you Muskie dudes but let me know if not:
http://forum.goazcats.com/showthread.php?t=107877

The discussion about player behavior was on the Arch Rivals forum.

I can say this, I'd take Xavier over AZ any day of the week. My friends from X are class guys.
By the way, you call me a troll for being on this board, yet are offended being called a loser for being on it.

Seems like someone who is an X fan and not a fan of AZ has as much or more right to be on this board. I'm not cramming how great my team is down the throat of the X fans.........

You're reading comprehension is awful. I don't start threads on here nor do I rub anything in anybody's face on here. You're a troll because your sole intent is to get under the skin of others. You're just another internet tough guy. You don't scare anybody. If you've actually read anything on here I've written, you'd know I conduct myself with class. If you have a real problem with me, IM me and we can talk about it. Otherwise cut the tough guy routine. I'm not responding to your trolling any longer.

Congrats on posting a link to the free boards, that you frequent because you hate Arizona. That makes sense.

[GuyFawkes38]

I'm feeling serious love for Miller right now.

He gave us Mack. Thank you!!!!!!!!

[WestFan]

Actually I posted on here long before you showed up but that was a long time ago, I have a new ISP and email so signed up again recently.

I don't try to get under anyones skin. This is a Xavier board, not an Arizona board. Posting pro X comments isn't getting under the skin of the X people.
There is no 'tough guy approach'.

However, your pro-Arizona, indepth recruiting and in-game analysis is pretty obnoxious on a XAVIER board, IMO.
I'd say YOUR reading comprehension is the one that needs work. I didn't say you started threads, but you do come on here giving information that frankly, from what I've read, is just TMI and more appropriately suited to the Arizona board.
The X fans who have gone onto the AZ board haven't been treated with great kindness unless they are bragging on you or Sean. Information being put on there when he first left X was insight on how he coaches etc. Continued analysis of your season by an AZ fan isn't necessary, IMO.

I don't 'frequent' their boards. I read once in a while, usually when a colleague who went to AZ tells me to read up on something he found interesting.
Even HE thinks AZ fans on there are not representative of AZ fans as a whole.

[jco17]

Actually I posted on here long before you showed up but that was a long time ago, I have a new ISP and email so signed up again recently.

I don't try to get under anyones skin. This is a Xavier board, not an Arizona board. Posting pro X comments isn't getting under the skin of the X people.
There is no 'tough guy approach'.

However, your pro-Arizona, indepth recruiting and in-game analysis is pretty obnoxious on a XAVIER board, IMO.
I'd say YOUR reading comprehension is the one that needs work. I didn't say you started threads, but you do come on here giving information that frankly, from what I've read, is just TMI and more appropriately suited to the Arizona board.
The X fans who have gone onto the AZ board haven't been treated with great kindness unless they are bragging on you or Sean. Information being put on there when he first left X was insight on how he coaches etc. Continued analysis of your season by an AZ fan isn't necessary, IMO.

I don't 'frequent' their boards. I read once in a while, usually when a colleague who went to AZ tells me to read up on something he found interesting.
Even HE thinks AZ fans on there are not representative of AZ fans as a whole.

The information is in Arizona threads. The free boards are for anybody that feels like posting. If anybody can post what they think, you're not going to be getting level headed posters most of the times. If you don't like reading about Arizona, don't read a thread about Arizona. I don't go into other threads and mention Arizona. Also, there's debate on here about certain things which gives reason to go more in depth with information. If you have a further problem, keep it off here and just im me. Bickering on here isn't the proper avenue.

[jco17]

I'm feeling serious love for Miller right now.

He gave us Mack. Thank you!!!!!!!!

He's a very good coach. Definately doing a great job right now. Hopefully the constant success on the court will continue to translate on the recruiting trail. It's got to be exciting knowing you're playing well right now and have a chance to get revenge on Charlotte. If that game stays within 20 pts it will be surprising.

[WestFan]

One last comment then I'll let you go for the last word, like your type always does.

Read back on the comments. YOU turned this personal and into what it is, NOT me.

My friend from UA is right, a lot of the more recent fans aren't especially pleasant.

[Masterofreality]

I'm feeling serious love for Miller right now.

He gave us Mack. Thank you!!!!!!!!

No. Chris Mack came back to Xavier on his own volition- twice. Once as a player/student and once as a coach.

I'll give the raccoon this, he did accept him back. But he needed him back. I'm sure that Chris applied to come back in 2004 and Skip gave him a high recommendation to the raccoon who badly needed a basketball mind on his staff. Chris and his family badly wanted back to the area. None of the other guys on that staff were great schematic minds- Book? No. Whitford- uh, no. Travis "Steal" didn't come until 2008.

The best you can say is that the latest departed coach made a no-brainer decision. Limited props.

[wkrq59]

West Fan and JCol,
This whole back-and-forth BS is reminiscent of routine pissing matches that raise their ugly heads on this and another Xavier message board in town, meaning here.
So much bull, so little time to bother. Sean Miller is what he is and will be. I doubt he'll find many welcome mats among Xavier alums for the "can win National Championships there,' in a press conference that never should have been allowed. The Buick remark clinched the true character of the man when it was made to a recruit he had back out of a signed letter of intent to Xavier.
And considering the play of Jeff Robinson, we don't miss that recruit.
Envy like a dirty flame still blackens all it can not reach. Sean will be forever be known in some quarters here as a feckless raccoon and like his predecessor, a liar.
Finally, there has been too much good basketball Xavier since Sean Miller left and likely to be even more in the near future. So, Go Muskies and Sean who?:p:(:D

[WestFan]

West Fan and JCol,
This whole back-and-forth BS is reminiscent of routine pissing matches that raise their ugly heads on this and another Xavier message board in town, meaning here.
So much bull, so little time to bother. Sean Miller is what he is and will be. I doubt he'll find many welcome mats among Xavier alums for the "can win National Championships there,' in a press conference that never should have been allowed. The Buick remark clinched the true character of the man when it was made to a recruit he had back out of a signed letter of intent to Xavier.
And considering the play of Jeff Robinson, we don't miss that recruit.
Envy like a dirty flame still blackens all it can not reach. Sean will be forever be known in some quarters here as a feckless raccoon and like his predecessor, a liar.
Finally, there has been too much good basketball Xavier since Sean Miller left and likely to be even more in the near future. So, Go Muskies and Sean who?:p:(:D

Agree completely. Your comments are very similar to what I stated.

No offense intended to the great fans and team of Xavier! You guys are having a great A-10 season and think you've got your Mojo working at the right time! Good luck.

ps loved that you beat Dayton and it may be convoluted but you guys beat a team that beat (in double overtime)only one of two teams to defeat #3 BYU!!!! So to me you should be ranked much higher than a team that got blown out by the other team that beat BYU

[jco17]

West Fan and JCol,
This whole back-and-forth BS is reminiscent of routine pissing matches that raise their ugly heads on this and another Xavier message board in town, meaning here.
So much bull, so little time to bother. Sean Miller is what he is and will be. I doubt he'll find many welcome mats among Xavier alums for the "can win National Championships there,' in a press conference that never should have been allowed. The Buick remark clinched the true character of the man when it was made to a recruit he had back out of a signed letter of intent to Xavier.
And considering the play of Jeff Robinson, we don't miss that recruit.
Envy like a dirty flame still blackens all it can not reach. Sean will be forever be known in some quarters here as a feckless raccoon and like his predecessor, a liar.
Finally, there has been too much good basketball Xavier since Sean Miller left and likely to be even more in the near future. So, Go Muskies and Sean who?:p:(:D

There's always going to be opinions on both sides of the fence and some in the middle. World would be boring if everybody had the same opinion. Sometimes people say things they wish they can take back. I can tell you that Sean always speaks very highly of Xavier FWIW. I honestly don't know as much about Matta as Prosser or obviously Miller. I think Sean really enjoyed his time at Xavier, but it's Mack's time to shine, no doubt about that, and he's doing a great job.

[Perma Fro]

Uh oh. Is Miller turning into Cronin...?

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/24525/arizona-limits-media-access-to-refocus

"The thinking is that while Arizona has dealt with the attention of having put together a season that will send them back to the NCAA tournament, it remains a young team unaccustomed to handling failure in front of the media. The idea is that limiting their media responsibilities will allow them to focus on basketball.

On the other hand, is it the right message to send to the players? Win, and you can soak up the spotlight to promote the program. Lose, and you don't necessarily have to explain yourself."

[Masterofreality]

Hey, Fro. OT, but.....

I really liked the Bob Staak "fro" avatar much better.

A legacy in the program.

[blobfan]

Uh oh. Is Miller turning into Cronin...?
...

Based on those quotes I'd say no. Wait until he regularly starts blaiming players for being lazy during losses and points to the success of other programs in his conference as a reason his team should be held in high esteem. Based on the quotes alone it actually sounds as though he's trying to encourage his players to help them grow.