If not Miller, then who?

[ichi]

the late great Dick Tomey

oh wait, since he doesn't have the pulse people thing is the only necessary qualification, Coach Tomey can't be a replacement candidate

but he can serve as cautionary tale

Tomey took us to our best ever but then had a bad year and resigned (interesting story about that)

we've struggled up and down inconsistent still no Rose Bowl or PAC title

same thing with Miller

we're a program with three years of allegations and investigations, we're frequently mentioned as a target of upcoming sanctions (which won't happen IMO, but still hangs over us)

CSM has a nearly .750 w/l record, we will not be able to attract anyone with better

anyone we hire to replace Miller will face the same recruiting struggles, but he consistenly brought in talent despite the forces working against him

any new coach would face those same forces, and maybe, just maybe we'll hit miracle-level paydirt and get a hotshot who can instantly, without missing as beat, recruit that right kids and then quickly turn them into a steamroller

more likely we'll struggle with mediocrity, find a budget replacement on his way up then melt his ass under the pressure of a fanbase that is so spoiled and entitled

this is not to say that we need to settle, I expect Miller's desire to win to drive him, he'll learn from his mistakes and improve as a coach

I think he'll win a National title and enter the HoF, I hope he does both as a Wildcat.

so drop the pitchforks boys and girls, unless you want to jump on the carousel to mediocrity

[Deb]

I never said a negative thing about miller for the first seven yrs of his tenure here. Always gave him the benefit of the doubt knowing that it's difficult to replace someone with Lute's legacy. But it is precisely because of that winning legacy that Lute built at Arizona that it is time to raise concerns where this program is heading. And I am not a bandwagon or fairweather fan for doing so.

Yes, Lute had first round exits - 9 of them - in his 23 trips to the ncaa's. And they were painful, each one of em. But the difference is he proved he could beat the best. He got us a FF in his 5th yr here - then another six yrs later - three yrs later our title - and finally four yrs after that AZ is in the title game. Us fans knew Lute had the ability to win and put banners in the rafters. And that lessons the pain of early bounces. And banners is what a top program should expect. Not just conference banners, but Final Four and championship banners. How long do we give miller to get there? Another decade? Or do most fans no longer care if we do?

I'm ready for someone who can develop players and not just recruit over them when a bright, shiny 5* comes along. I'm ready for someone who will not micro-manage his team with negative re-inforcement, but who leads with encouragement and inspires. I'm ready to watch a team that has fun playing. I'm ready for a coach who is flexible and can adjust, who doesn't just 'do what we do' when what you're doing hasn't been working. I'm ready for a change. I was a Cats fan before miller, and I will be a Cats fan after miller.

[Wildcat4life]

I'm ready for a coach that's not such a control freak. I have been attending UofA basketball games for over 30 years and I have never been less excited to utilize my season tickets. The games over the past three years are not even remotely fun to watch. The style of play in painful to watch, the actions of the HC is not remotely professional and lastly the players don't appear to be having any fun. I would rather watch a team with the same record, but are having fun and a joy to watch. Miller is like the supervisor that walks in the room and ever single person present get stressed out. I'm ready for a change and as sooner the better!

[WILD]

Miller has done a hell of a job post FBI scandal. He dealt with recovering from an a scandal that would've killed almost any other program. He has the program back on the right track with 3 freshman as the core of our team. Let that sink in for a second. Three freshman. Yes, we're losing close games on the road and they're making mistakes, but this team on the verge of breaking through the that wall.

Miller is still considered one of the best coaches in college basketball. No I don't like or agree with a lot of Miller's decisions on subs and timeouts, but that's easy to do after every loss.

If Miller is gone after this year or next then who knows who we end up with. I see all the names being mentioned in his thread, but what happens if none of those coaches want to come to Arizona and we have to settle? It almost happened after Lute was gone. With possible NCAA sanctions coming it could happen.

If you want Miller gone that's fine and I understand why. Just realize that there are a lot of once proud programs like UCONN, Indiana, UCLA, and a whole lot more who have completely fallen off. If Miller stays I don't see that happening at Arizona even with ESPN and the whole world against him the last couple of years.

Just giving my 2 cents on this topic.

[Jdmarti]

I agree wild  I support Sean miller  an want him to do well an Arizona  desperately  needs a deep ncaa run this year I think about that all the time when people want Miller gone it's like who do you think can do better  an who will wanna come here  of course Miller makes mistakes all coaches do  but i wanna see if this team can make a run in ncaa tournament.

[MDcAtZ]

Saying Miller has done a hell of a job post FBI is a stretch. Auburn, Kansas, USC, Louisville have all recovered and seem to be producing at a much higher level. Using the FBI at this point is just a crutch to explain away mediocrity.

Many of us defended Miller through the FBI scandal. We don't dislike Miller. We just don't think he's a very good coach anymore. We've given up a decade hoping he will "turn the corner" and find a winning formula. He hasn't, and likely won't. We seriously want him to succeed because it means Arizona is succeeding. But he's not.

He kept his head above water because of his ability to use the Arizona brand to recruit, but then he wastes the talent when it hits the floor. Honestly, just about any coach would have a similar record to Miller with as much talent as Miller has had to work with. So when you say, "If not Miller, then who?"... anyone that has a winning record at a high mid-major (who doesn't have the benefit of the Arizona brand on the recruiting trail)  could probably step in and do more with the talent that ARIZONA attracts.

We all know how this season is going to play out. We may squeeze into the tournament and get bounced in the first weekend. We may have to settle for the NIT. In any case other than an Elite 8, it'll be time to move on or watch Arizona whither away into irrelevance.

[CatInFL]

the late great Dick Tomey

oh wait, since he doesn't have the pulse people thing is the only necessary qualification, Coach Tomey can't be a replacement candidate

but he can serve as cautionary tale

Tomey took us to our best ever but then had a bad year and resigned (interesting story about that)

we've struggled up and down inconsistent still no Rose Bowl or PAC title

Ichi, I was one of the the harshest critics of those that drove out Tomey, he was a great football coach for us and all that you say about him is true.  I think, though, it's important to remember that our expectations in football and basketball are completely different.  We'd all be pretty happy with a football coach that has had Millers results, but this isn't football and we rightly expect more.

[KansasCityCats]

The issue is that we all expect more from basketball. Arizona only has one national title, and is still young as a competitive program.

If we drive away a coach that wins conference titles and has a top-10 winning percentage, it's hard to tell whether we will trend up or down.

We could hire a Billy Donovan, who earns two titles and takes a bigger job in the league. We could hire a Mark Few, who sustained success for a long time. We could hire a Shaka Smart, who kept Texas irrelevant. Or we could treat Miller like Tomey, and the program could downward spiral into an abyss (like UCLA).

My point is that there are tons of mixed emotions within the fanbase. It's hard to tell what will happen, but firing Miller will be a risk.

[TJ74]

Replacing Miller at best is a crap shoot.  Especially with Heeke and Robbins at the helm.  I would much rather see Miller be forced to hire better assistant coaches.  Ones that will bring us a better understanding of playing against a zone defense among other things.  Miller is very stubborn but can definitely recruit and get players.  What he needs is help on in game coaching.  Someone he will listen to.  I don't see anyone on the bench right now that he will listen do and adjust.

[Wildcat4life]

Miller actually listen to someone other then his brother or father, please stop kidding yourself. His ego is almost as big as his appetite for nachos.