Pac-12 Media Day: Sean Miller and Dusan Ristic talk to Zona Zealots

Pac-12 Media Day in San Fransisco, Ca. took place on Thursday, October 12th, and the media was ready to pounce on Sean Miller about the FBI Probe.

With the Pac-12 Media Day for 2017 in the books, we look forward to Arizona Basketball and pray this season can be played without any impact from the FBI Probe, NCAA Commission findings, or Pac-12 Commission Findings.

Since the media room was packed with reporters trying to get reaction about the recent FBI Probe indictments, SID’s were thanking me for asking basketball questions instead of scandal questions. Needless to say, I left the scandalous material to the experts and had a lot more fun with all coaches and players.

I asked USC Coach Andy Enfield, also in hot water, about the Drew League (Los Angeles Pro-Am league) and chemistry on his team. I asked Utah Coach Larry Krystkowiak about the Lakers Kyle Kuzma. And I asked ASU coach Bobby Hurley nothing, nada. Haha.

As far as chemistry on the Arizona Basketball team you already know the team has started off strong. If you are connected with any of the Arizona Basketball team through social media, you have been enjoying being a part of this seasons team and shared in the fun together so far. Whether it’s in the locker room after practice, on a bus in Spain, playing NBA 2K, going out to eat, hanging in their apartments, they already get along.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

Sean Miller made some opening comments, and then the media swarmed the podium. But I had waited three seasons to talk to Arizona Wildcats Allonzo Trier and Dusan Ristic.

The format of Pac-12 Media day for Men’s basketball teams changed this year. This year they worked it like the Football Media day where media gathers at the table or podium in the front of the room for the coaches and back of the room for the players.

Since I knew that most of the questions Miller was going to get were about the FBI Probe. And because I knew there was nothing he could say, I captured his opening remarks and headed to the back of the room. I have been writing about Dus and Zo for the last three seasons, and I was finally going to get to meet them.

We wanted to hear more from the players first hand on the team and how this season’s team compares to the last two teams. Since Dusan Ristic and Allonzo Trier have played together for the previous two seasons, what better players to ask?

Ristic explained to me how the Spain trip brought the team together. “I think chemistry is great because we had a chance to go to Spain in the pre-season, so we had a chance to spend like about ten days together, that’s in a different country,” said Dusan, “So that’s something we usually don’t have a chance to do. So I think that helped us a lot as far as team chemistry.”

What experience on the trip brought the team together the most? The tragedy in Spain where a truck ran over people in the streets was the catalyst to bringing the team together. “Unfortunately, the attack,” said Ristic, “It happened on Thursday, and we were leaving back home to Tucson on a Saturday. Those last two or three days, we all stuck together we stayed in the hotel — we kind of hung out together and that helped us with team chemistry.” He appreciated the fans prayers for the team.

Ristic thinks that team chemistry needs to be high by the tournament because the season is long, “I think it’s still early to tell, we just started practicing officially together — The season is long, so when we get to the tournament I think that’s when our team chemistry has to be at it’s best. I think that’s our team goal is to keep building our game and our team chemistry.”

Every summer Ristic adds something to his game. Last summer he took up boxing. This summer he spent several weeks in Serbia with family and his friends who just happen to be professional basketball players. Ristic worked out with his professional friends and back in Tucson with Ryan Anderson as well.

On his way out, Ristic was stopped by Bill Walton, and the two had a great reunion which resulted in pictures with the two of them and Corey Williams (Former Arizona Wildcat and Pac-12 broadcaster). But it was the last picture they posed for that brought smiles all around, a flex competition (we think Dus won, what do you think?).

We didn’t get too much time with Zo, and the schedule was all messed up because of the fires in Northern California. So as luck would have it, there was no extra time that media usually gets. I kept passing the two Wildcats in the halls of the Pac-12 headquarters, but that was all I got. I don’t even know if they got a chance to eat lunch or play ping pong like the other players were able to do.

That said, I was fortunate to get some alone time with Sean Miller at lunch to get his thoughts on his team thus far and how much they are getting along. “We have a great group of kids. A great group of newcomers. They have talent, they really have their head on straight, great teammates,” said Miller, “They have really embraced learning and listening. They have some upperclassmen that they really can listen and learn from. These guys have been through the worst, so they know. I think it’s the blend that we have that allows us to be successful.”

The team’s been having fun and bonding mostly so far but without Miller, “We haven’t started really yet, we are really in the beginning stages, but it’s really a great group of kids.”

We asked about coach about how Rawle Alkins is doing since we had heard he broke his foot, we wanted to make sure he was in good spirits. “He’s doing well,” said Miller, “He’s a couple of weeks into it now, so sometime in early December he’ll return. We’re excited for him to be able to do that.”

Early December, NICE!

Here is the full video with Miller’s opening remarks and the interview with Dusan:

Must Read: More on Arizona Basketball from ZZ..

I was happy to get a little time with my Cats and their head coach up in San Fransisco. And although it looked like they were being rushed all over the facility for the interviews and activities it looked like they really enjoyed themselves. Funny thing was I spent more time with the Trojans. They will be the team to beat this season.