Arizona Basketball: Top 5 Sean Miller press conference moments

Over his 10 year tenure as head coach for Arizona Basketball, Sean Miller has had many memorable press conference moments. Here are the Top 5.

Since Sean Miller became the head coach for Arizona Basketball, he’s had a lot of interaction with the media. Some moments have been good, some bad and even some that will not be forgotten. Being the head coach of Arizona comes with high expectations and having to continue the legacy that the great Lute Olson built. Not an easy task by any standards, especially when it comes to dealing with the media.

During the game, Miller’s coaching style is one that shows a lot of emotion. From a player and fan standpoint, you gotta love that seeing that. Sometimes his emotions get the best of him, but in the end, he is expressing his passion for the game and for this program.

As a result, sometimes he has to explain to the media during the press conferences why he said or did something during a game. Whether it’s during non-conference or Pac-12 play or even postseason, Miller has the responsibility to defend his actions and speak on behalf of his team.

He is one that isn’t shy in expressing himself behind the podium. That is one of the qualities of Miller that makes him an all-around great coach. Agree or disagree with his actions, that’s fair. At the end of the day though his overall coaching record and players that he has recruited and developed to become NBA stars speak for itself.

Here are our Top 5 press conference moments that have transformed Miller into the coach Wildcats fans have gone on to love and support.

No. 5 – 2015 Elite 8

This one was tough for all Arizona Basketball fans to endure. Sean Miller’s opening statement said it all: “I’m not going to apologize for being 34-4. I’m not going to apologize for not making the Final Four.”

After losing to Wisconsin for the second year in a row in the Elite 85-78, Miller spoke from the heart. One of the hardest things for a coach to do is to talk to the media, knowing the season is over, but how close his team came to advancing to the Final four.

He goes on to defend his players on stage and talk about how well they performed for two straight years, T.J. McConnell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but also lost in two hard-fought battles to Wisconsin, “If that’s a problem, I think you know what you can do.” Love it!

Miller also praises McConnell and Jefferson on how they were the greatest kids he has coached. Four years later, that statement is still true. What they accomplished during the time at Arizona and the success they had as a Wildcat was real special.

Throughout the duration of the press conference, Miller talks about how incredible Wisconsin played and how they just couldn’t miss. This one was a hard one for him to handle, considering how close he was with the players on his team that was leaving, mainly McConnell, but was able to handle it was such class.

No. 4. – 2018 National Letters of Intent

“Hold on, I got it.” Sean Miller’s words of choice when asked on Nov 27, 2018 by a member of the media the status of four recruits that signed during the early signing period. What he did next was simply the best! I mean he didn’t even think twice.

What did he do next? He happened to have the actual letters of intent at his side and started counting them out! Love when a coach just does the unexpected. Early in the press conference, he mentioned he was already going to talk about the recruits that signed, but a certain member of the media couldn’t resist asking the question anyway.

Those four recruits happened to be Nico Mannion, Josh Green, Terry Armstrong (who went on to play professionally) and Christian Koloko. Later on Zeke Nnaji went onto to sign as well.

After dealing with the FBI investigation that year, Miller was a little on edge, which probably contributed to how he reacted. It is a fine line in which it is the media’s job to ask the questions, but sometimes even when those certain questions are asked they are criticized for it. In the end, Miller handled the whole situation perfectly.

No. 3 – 2013 Pac-12 Tournament

In the 2013 Pac-12 Tournament, Arizona Basketball went onto lose to UCLA in the semifinals 66-64. It was a game in which UCLA outscored the Wildcats in the second half. At the end of the game, Mark Lyons was called for a double dribble, which Sean Miller disagreed with and received a technical foul.

“He touched the ball.” Miller repeatedly said that during the post-game press conference. After watching the replay, which I have many times since then, it is quite apparent he did touch the ball! Pac-12 refs with a bad call, nope that never happens.

It’s unfortunate to see a game, especially in the postseason, to be determined by a misjudgment by the referee. Can’t blame Miller at all for reacting the way he did. It was a terrible call by the referees and he simply voiced his opinion.

No. 2. – 2019 press conference

“You can go back to Phoenix.” That was Sean Miller’s response after an ABC reporter from Phoenix traveled to Tucson to ask him reports of him possibly facing a federal subpoena. What’s even better, the reporter asked him the same question twice, wow.

Like a boss. How Miller handled that reporter was simply boss like. He saw it coming from a mile away and put that reporter back in his place, back to Phoenix that. What in the world that the reporter was thinking? Yes, he is just doing his job but still what did he really expect Miller to say.

This press conference was one of many in which he was asked about the ongoing investigation. Sooner or later one is going to be tired with being asked the same repetitive question before they just have enough. That’s what happened here. What made this occasion even sweeter was it was a reporter from Phoenix.

No.1 – 2018 Official statement

It will be a day that many won’t forget. On March 1st, 2018 Sean Miller, made his official statement in regards to the accusations reported by ESPN. Once the story had broke, many Arizona Wildcat fans didn’t know what to think.

Later would we all learn there was no actual proof Miller did anything wrong in regards to any sort of payment to any player to come to play at Arizona (and we are still waiting for that proof).

There are moments in a coach’s career that define their legacy at that school. This was one of those moments. He didn’t take any questions, he simply read his statement and made it clear he was innocent.

Ever since that day, the support Miller has received from his players, fans, and the university has been incredible. All the negativity and hardships this program has faced these last couple of seasons has taken its toll.

A new season is upon us. The past is the past, time for Arizona Basketball to get back to it’s winning ways. At Zona Zealots, let us known your thoughts about this Top 5 list. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!