Miller meets with Livengood, decision expected by Monday
Xavier coach Sean Miller met with UA athletic director Jim Livengood this morning in Albuquerque to discuss contract terms and other aspects associated with the Wildcats’ head coaching vacancy.
The meeting was intended to be without public knowledge, sources said, away from Miller’s home in Cincinnati, Tucson, and Detroit, site of the Final Four. Livengood wanted to avoid a similar situation to what happened with USC coach Tim Floyd in which he was spotted in Tucson although he never went to the UA campus.
However, itinerary information about the private jet, owned by prominent UA booster Paul Weitman (Lute Olson’s best friend), provided to Miller is available on flightaware.com.
Miller, after talking to his wife and some of his peers, called Livengood last night and agreed to take the next step in the process. Miller did inform Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski last night as well about the first official meeting between him and Livengood.
Similar to the Floyd situation, Livengood will ask Miller to make a decision in a 24-hour window. According to sources, Miller took the trip with the mindset that he is staying at Xavier and it was up to Arizona to change his mind. He has indicated he has a special bond with his returning players. Xavier will likely be ranked in the Top 10 heading into next season.
Bruce Pascoe of The Arizona Daily Star is reporting that Livengood is offering a package worth $13 million over five years, which a source confirmed is a reasonable estimation. Livengood generally signs a coach in a five-year window and he is offering close to $2 million a year. The Arizona Board of Regents still must approve what ever package is offered to Miller, but nobody in the UA athletic department believes that will be an issue.
If Miller agrees to those terms by tomorrow, he will become the highest paid coach in UA history. Olson’s base salary was in the neighborhood of $1.1 million.
Miller, 40, will decide on the UA job without visiting Tucson and the Wildcats’ facilities. That is not out of the norm. John Calipari accepted the Kentucky job without visiting Lexington first in the interview process, for example.
If Miller accepts the UA’s offer, a press conference will be scheduled in Tucson either Monday or Tuesday, most likely Tuesday, according to sources.
The first day of the April signing period is April 15. Xavier, which has most of its players returning next year, does not have any recruits who are unsigned for next season. Miller does have two high school juniors who have verbally committed to the Xavier program for the 2010-11 season, both power forwards: Jordan Latham of Baltimore and J.D. Weatherspoon of Columbus, Ohio.
Tags: contract offer, Livengood, Miller
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April 5th, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Same ole same ole. Within the next 24 hours we should hear how Xavier extended Millers conract and gave him a raise. Looks like another coach using U of A to get an extension.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:57 AM
At least this means we don’t have to spend our Sunday wondering what’s going on. Day of rest, indeed.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I think those people who wanted Miller to be the Arizona coach (me) because of his high recruits at Xavier from 2004-2009, and is one of the youngest best coaches (40 yrs) in college basketball. But I think for those who wanted Miller (me) arent getting theyre hopes up or celebrating because of what happend with Floyd. I and others wont celebrate till we see the press confrence live.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:13 AM
In terms of recruits Miller has on the board, only one for 2009, and he actually signed his letter of intent. 2010 is a little bit different, he already has 2 verbal commits in Power Forward (#17) Jordan Latham and Small Forward (#23) J.D. Weatherspoon.
So, assuming Miller accepts, there’s a potential two candidates for 2010, and if actually keeps RG on staff (which I think he’d have to be retarded not to), I know RG has a few excellent recruits on the radar and interested. So, at least 2010 may not be so bad. We would really only have to worry about next year. Which, who knows, perhaps Victor Rudd will like the hire and decide to choose Arizona. I’ve seen dozens of clips on this guy and he’s phenominal. If he had actually played somewhere his Junior year, he’d definitely be a top 100, or even top 50 recruit. My only concern with Rudd is his character.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:14 AM
I’m right there with you TarHeel, this whole Floyd fiasco has me jaded, and I’m definitely not going to get my hopes up until I see the press conference for myself.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:17 AM
This is just getting to be too much. If Miller says no, then just hire Pastner. We can all then take a breath and move on with our lives. Miller was one of the names that I would have originally been excited about, but everything I read indicated that he was not ready to leave Xavier. But as with Calipari, the idea of doubling your money and coaching at a school with big-time exposure and tradition is hard to decline.
Well, maybe not that hard, apparently.
If we had to go through all the angst and anxiety and drama to land Sean Miller in the end, I’ll be happy. I’ll tell you what, if we were able to take a percentage of the raises various coaches negotiated using Arizona basketball as a bargaining chip, we could fund about 12 women’s sports at the UA. A lot of people got rich during this process, while Livengood is running around with his hat in hand.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:17 AM
I wonder who, if Miller comes to Arizona, again thats a big if (remember Livengood) who his assistants will be. He will need assistants who can recruit, because assistants in ncaam and ncaaf do most of the recruting. I hire Patner so if Miller wants to leaver for UConn or PItt in the future Pastner would be ready to take over Arizona, again if Arizona hires Miller and if Miller leafes for UConn or Pitt in the future.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:21 AM
I think you have to offer the associates coaching job to Pastner for just that very reason. Especially with his connections in Texas, and that with the connections RG has in California, and Miller’s on the East Coast, I think we’d have a pretty good chance at landing some high profile recruits.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:33 AM
Miller won’t change the minds of any recriuts this year. So if he does come, then it’s a year for the remaining players to learn the new systems and how to play hard nose defense. I like the hire, if it happens, but I will wait until Tuesday to see if a press conference is at Xavier or in Tucson. He willprobably bring some of his coaches with him, maybe he makes an opening for Geary, but Pastner will stay at Kentucky. The experience there will be invaluable and help him land a mid major coaching position in a few years.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:37 AM
I have a friend in the UA athletics department who heard from his boss that there WILL be an announcement on monday. This leads me to believe that there’s a backup plan (Pastner?) if Miller declines, which I hope is true, as we cannot wait any longer to begin recruiting.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:38 AM
1) Pastner won’t come here for a asst coaches job. “Hey, its Kentucky”
2) Coaches name their own staff. I can’t imagine Miller taking a gig here or anywhere else and being force-fed his staff. (Not gonna happen, even at $2M per year)
3) Next time Pastner is here it will be either a) with Kentucky or b) as the Head Coach.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:39 AM
+2 J T Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Miller won’t change the minds of any recriuts this year. So if he does come, then it’s a year for the remaining players to learn the new systems and how to play hard nose defense. I like the hire, if it happens, but I will wait until Tuesday to see if a press conference is at Xavier or in Tucson. He willprobably bring some of his coaches with him, maybe he makes an opening for Geary, but Pastner will stay at Kentucky. The experience there will be invaluable and help him land a mid major coaching position in a few years.
———————————–
Right! I’m guessing Miller retains two of his top-notch assistants, or even all three staff members, and MAY BE retain Geary. Or go after Pastner with a bloody vengeance. LOL
Also, Miller’s numero uno assistant could be hired to replace him at Xavier, Ohio, which make the possiblity of retaining Geary and or hiring Pastner an abso-LUTE reality.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:39 AM
My best friends sisters boyfriends uncle saw Ferris at 31 flavors last night…
Sounds pretty serious.
April 5th, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Amen RD. I want the best coach in the position, but every date a hire is prolonged, is another day lost on the recruiting trail.
I honestly think an announcement Monday makes the most sense. As mentioned in another post, could you imagine the FREE media and press we’d get at the Championship game? Could help the program out tremendously
April 5th, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Just a few insights on Miller-
He seems to recruit well, but has not had one player get drafted to the NBA in his tenure. (last Xavier player drafted played for Matta when Miller was associate head coach)….
Will NBA prospects want to play for him? I have my concerns…not that that is the most important thing, but “players win games”…
I know that Izzo does it with very few NBA prospects, but he is about the only one that I can readilly think of.
I am now at the point where I say no to Miller and get Pastner, retain Geary and bring in another heavy hitting assistant.
I might even take Theus over Miller….just starting to feel a little unsettled about him….
I could be way off…
With hindsight, we should have hired Dunlap or Pastner in October 08 and kept our continuity. (I was actually wanting that to happen last year, but got sucked in to the whole top tier thing and was praying for Pitino…)
I don’t see Miller here long term in most circumstances…
How long can Dixon stay at Pitt before he wants to step up?
Let it go and let’s get Josh…he’s a Wildcat and knows what that is all about. He will win, and appears to be a better recruiter than Miller is.
Okay, let me have it all of you who disagree…
April 5th, 2009 at 10:56 AM
With Miller I can envision consistent good basketball, but not great or excellent…
Look at what Ohio State is doing now, or ASU…even with this last year being their dream season, they were a six seed and everybody is jumping up and down for joy….
I remember that not too long ago a six seed was a disappointing year…
Livengood is going after him because he is panicking…he should have been more reserved in his description of who they were courting…he set himself up…either that or have been more open with us, instead of teasing us and then now this…
Bring on Pastner….
April 5th, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Let it go and let’s get Josh…he’s a Wildcat and knows what that is all about. He will win, and appears to be a better recruiter than Miller is.
Okay, let me have it all of you who disagree…
azCAT
———————————-
Haven’t you heard. There’s no disagreeing with a DELUSIONAL PSYCHOTIC.
Because to voice what you just voiced speaks of abso-LUTE lunacy!! LMFAO
So, keep coming up with all those wild-eyed meadering rationalizations to justify your idiocy. LOL
April 5th, 2009 at 11:02 AM
They are concerned in Cincy….
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090405/SPT0102/304050038/1062/SPT
April 5th, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Anyone else think of Floyd when they read the article Barry posted? If Xavier is ready to counter offer the Wildcats’ offer, then he could very well stay, and Livengood indeed got played again. I know some will argue Xavier doesn’t have the financial fire power in order to go toe-to-toe with Arizona in a bidding war, but the fact Xavier is going to put up as much fight as it can, may just be enought ot convince Miller to stay.
Again, I’m not gettng excited until a press conference is announced – in Tucson
April 5th, 2009 at 11:10 AM
-1 Chris Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Anyone else think of Floyd when they read the article Barry posted? If Xavier is ready to counter offer the Wildcats’ offer, then he could very well stay, and Livengood indeed got played again. I know some will argue Xavier doesn’t have the financial fire power in order to go toe-to-toe with Arizona in a bidding war, but the fact Xavier is going to put up as much fight as it can, may just be enought ot convince Miller to stay.
Again, I’m not gettng excited until a press conference is announced – in Tucson
———————————–
Enough with this Cat pompom waver’s abso-LUTE FATALISM!
It’s time for loyal, Wildcat fandom to think POSITIVE VIBES instead of sharing the mentality of this AUTOMATON Cat cheerleader! LMFAO
April 5th, 2009 at 11:11 AM
err…
What I meant, was,
Let me know what you all think (except for Buddha)
April 5th, 2009 at 11:16 AM
A new addition to the Katz article:
However, Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday that the Musketeers were prepared to make a counteroffer — if necessary.
A source said Miller was scheduled to board a private plane Sunday morning en route to Albuquerque, where he was expected to meet with Livengood about the Wildcats’ opening.
On Saturday, Bobinski told ESPN.com he wasn’t sure Miller would talk to Arizona and he had not heard from Arizona as of Saturday. On Sunday, Bobinski told the Enquirer that Miller had kept him up to date as the situation developed.
“People’s feelings and thoughts changed,” Bobinski told the Enquirer. “You would not be incorrect in assuming that’s what happened here. Searches are fluid processes and things change, but Sean has been great in letting me know what’s going on.
“We have done and will continue to do whatever is humanely possible to keep Sean.”
April 5th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
I think you mean AUTOMATED cat cheerleader you dumb—. Before you make fun of someone and make everyone who actually received a University of Arizona education look stupid, learn something called grammer.
And Chris learn to proof read before you post, you both make us all look bad.
April 5th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
POSITIVITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Why Albakirky?
April 5th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
wildcat hopeful…..you are wrong. although, I must say, I delight in people incorrectly attacking the grammar of others. you are truly a shining star in the world of wildcat alumni.
April 5th, 2009 at 11:21 AM
I know, thanks Andrew
April 5th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
I believe Albuquerque because Livengood was hoping to keep this interview more on the down low, but I could be wrong.
April 5th, 2009 at 11:23 AM
WildcatHopeful – college of education? not. grammar…
April 5th, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Still no departure from ABQ yet:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N800WW
Maybe negotiations are ongoing? Perhaps no one is leaving ABQ until its a clear thumbs up or down and SM is waiting for an XU counteroffer.
April 5th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Albuquerque because that’s where they film Breaking Bad. Coincidence? I think not….
April 5th, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Yeah, new strategy. Hold him hostage! We’ll give you 24 hours to decide, but you aren’t leaving before then. Oh, by the way, if your decision is no, you’re walking back to Cincy. In fact, give us your shoes!
April 5th, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Hey Barry,
I say screw it! Let’s start negotiations with the OooAhh-Man!
April 5th, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Augie,
I am thinking of putting in an application. The OooAhh-Man could the director of basketball operations. What position do you want?
April 5th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Looks like the plane is on its way back to Cincy.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N800WW
April 5th, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Well, he stayed 90 mins longer than originally expected. Who knows what it means. I guess its just time to do a little waiting.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:05 PM
So, is Livengood on the plane with Miller? If not why is it scheduled to go to Detroit after?
April 5th, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Probably to pick up whoever it took to Detroit on Friday?
April 5th, 2009 at 12:08 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxy3rAAdXbQ
it brought emotional tears to my eyes.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:08 PM
That makes sense. I think Geary is in Detroit representing Arizona.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:11 PM
We are tracking the plane from ABQ to Cincy, tracking its flight plans, etc… We snap photos of Tim Floyd in a rental car driving around Tucson.
And you wonder why the meeting was in ABQ?
April 5th, 2009 at 12:14 PM
A friend just emailed this link to me. Can’t stop laughing. Adolf Hitler talks Arizona Basketball and Livengood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTSP4q14dQc&feature=email
April 5th, 2009 at 12:21 PM
You have Obama’s stimulus and you have Livengood’s stimulus. Obama’s waters down our economy while Livengood’s gets coaches extensions with a lot of money. Xavier already spent some good cash into the program, I doubt Livengood will be able to close the deal.
Again, coffee is for closers! Miller won’t come to the UofA (hope I am wrong)
April 5th, 2009 at 12:22 PM
POSITIVITY!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 12:25 PM
http://arizona.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=932315
IS THE DEAL DONE?
It’s well known by now that UA athletic director Jim Livengood, president Robert Shelton and Xavier head coach Sean Miller met in Santa Fe (N.M.) today to discuss the Wildcats’ head coaching position.
Associated Press
Sean Miller met with Arizona on Sunday.
However, until now, no one with direct knowledge of what’s going on between Arizona and Miller has been willing to talk.
A source with knowledge of the discussions agreed to talk to GOAZCATS.com as long as he remained anonymous, and filled us in on exactly what’s happening between the two parties.
Around the time that USC head coach Tim Floyd was headed to Tucson to speak with Livengood and Shelton, Arizona found out that Miller was legitimately interested in the job.
Even with Floyd in limbo, Arizona did begin to seriously target Miller as its main target in the coaching search.
Before thinking too much about it, on Thursday night, Miller had made the decision not to take the job. However, he woke up on Friday morning thinking differently.
“Sean slept on it Friday and had a change of heart in the morning,” the source said. “Then they started talking on Friday and had their first conversation then.”
To find out more about the UA, Miller reached out to a number of people he trusts.
“Sean has done his due diligence over the past few days and reached out to a small circle of people he confides in and I think he realized what a unique opportunity it is to even talk to the folks at Arizona about the job,” the source said.
From there, Arizona was able to set up a meeting with Miller in Santa Fe on Sunday. However, Miller couldn’t make up his mind whether or not he was going to actually show up.
“Sean has gone back and forth because he loves Xavier, he just loves the program there. He’s at home there,” the source said. “It’s a difficult decision for him to even get on the plane and talk to Livengood, even though he knows what a great program Arizona is.”
The question from there was whether or not he would actually board the plane to Tucson. If he did, Miller had it in his mind what he would do next.
“Sean said, ‘If I get on the plane I’m taking it but I don’t think I’m getting on the plane,’” the source said.
Finally, Miller was convinced that he didn’t need to accept if he got on the plane, and around midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning he decided he would meet with Livengood.
So what does Miller meeting with Arizona actually mean? According to the source, it’s definitely a positive sign for UA.
“The fact that he got on the plane doesn’t mean it’s done, but it does mean that he’s very serious about it,” the source said.
How close did the source think the deal is to getting done?
“I think it’s close,” he said. “I think from Sean’s perspective, just getting on the plane and deciding to go there and meet with them makes it very close to being done. The fact that he’s there makes it very, very serious. I think it is close.”
GOAZCATS.com will have much more on Sean Miller’s decision shortly.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Auggie, great GlennGary GlennRoss reference… thats all i have to say
April 5th, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Great article. I just hope this deal is done. Does anyone think that we will actually be able to pull any of these undecided recruits? I mean what is one weeks worth of recruiting going to do when these guys have been recruited by other programs for months or even years. Most of them are undecided but are leaning towards a select group of schools. Does anyone think it to be possible that we can pull them away from their top 5 schools and come play at Arizona?
I hope Javier keeps this site going after the coach is hired because I will be very curious as to how the time period leading up to April 15th transpires.
One more question. Cant we still get JuCo transfers after this April 15th deadline?
April 5th, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Javier
You have done a FANTASTIC JOB with this site. Why did you leave the Tucson Newspaper Scene anyway, you are a very talented writer and investigative journalist and I miss your stuff.
Also, what will you be doing with this site once the coach is hired, will you continue to use it to post insight on Arizona basketball in general? I hope so because it is been a real blessing to read your stuff everyday on here.
bret
April 5th, 2009 at 12:43 PM
april 15th is when the signing period begins, i believe it runs through the 30th. feel free to correct me, those who might know.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:47 PM
4-15-19 thru 5-20-09 signing period
April 5th, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Until a press conference has been announced and there is something to discuss.. Lets not get our hopes up. (Folks, this is Livengood we are talking about here)
Repeat after me.
Josh Pastner.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Yes you can still sign JuCo’s transfers after the deadine, which most coaches who are going to a new destination go after (juco’s0 if theyre rosters arent full. But i think if you didnt sign before loi deadline you can still sign aftewards, i believe tyreke evans signed after the loi deadline. This year Bryce Brown (ncaaf) signed a couple of monts after LOI day , and commited to Tenn. So I think recruits can sign after the LOI deadline this year (4/15) because Tyreke Evans did it last year in baskeball and Bryce Brown football (ncaaf) commited and signed LOI a couple of months after the LOI deadline.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:55 PM
4/15 not the deadline, just the begining of spring signing
April 5th, 2009 at 12:55 PM
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090405/SPT0102/304050038/1065#pluckcomments
you know what is kinda funny in this article about miller meeting with UA, they “Track Sean Miller’s flight back to Cincinnati” thing and its the same website that was posted in this site. Maybe they read this article and got the website to track Miller back to Cincy.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:03 PM
I don’t think Miller is going to accept the Livingood’s offer. I hope I am wrong, but I think Xavier will up the ante and he will stay. The furthest West he has lived is Wisconsin. He and his wife are Ohio/Pa. natives.
If he accepts the job, he has to get Pastner or keep Geary. Nobody on his Xavier staff has West Coast ties. Let me say this: They don’t know much, if anything, about Xavier at Mater Dei or in San Diego. Miller will have his work cut out for him.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:04 PM
I’d love to see Miller come here, but when he gets off that plane in Cinci he’s going to get a hero’s returning welcome. I’ll truly be shocked if he accepts, but I’m hoping it happens.
I just hope JL has Pastner ready and waiting.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Thought this was amusing, from a comment to the article on: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090405/SPT0102/304050038/1065#pluckcomments
“I would go there in a second… Better weather, hotter ladies, more tradition, more money…”
April 5th, 2009 at 1:10 PM
why are we giving him 24 hours,hasnt livendousch learned his lesson yet.
Sign him before xavier offers him 1.5 mil to stay,morons.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:10 PM
(And perhaps Livengood should be promoting it that way!)
April 5th, 2009 at 1:11 PM
-1 Sean in Georgia Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I don’t think Miller is going to accept the Livingood’s offer. I hope I am wrong, but I think Xavier will up the ante and he will stay. The furthest West he has lived is Wisconsin. He and his wife are Ohio/Pa. natives.
___________________________________________________________________
SO what Olson coached at Iowa and was from N. Dakota, and im sure there are a lot of coaches who did the same thing, Dawkins from Duke, he went to Stanford, Sendek from NC State, and MIami (oh). And IM sure there are much more who I cant think of, but you cant say that because they been on the east coast their whoe life is the reason they wont come.
Miller is ready for the big time, he maybe coming to prove programs like PItt and UConn that he can coach in the bigtime program. I think Miller will get this team to a high level again, he did it with Xavier, took ‘em to the Elite Eight, and Sweet Sixteens, and thats Xavier for Gods sake. Imagine what he could do at UA. ANd if he leaves in 10+yrs more or less to Pitt or UConn so what Im sure Pastner would take the job at any time (he said so himself) and in the future he will be ready. ANd most experts which none of us are think Pastner will be the next big coach in NCAAM baskeball.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Lets face it, if Miller turns the job down the only person left that has ANY chance of getting us back to playing the kind of basketball Arizona fans have become accustomed to is JOSH PASTNER. If we have to go any further down the list past Sean Miller we might as well just give the keys to the program to Pastner and let him do his thing. I dont particularly think he is altogether ready but everyone else beyond Miller are going to need 5 years to get the program back on track and by then the next generation of HS talent is not even going to remember what Arizona basketball once stood for, at least with Pastner we know we have a chance to get some elite level talent in here in the next year or so and get back in to the tourney so that the name ARIZONA remains in the national conversation.
If JL cant get this done and I am not optimistic at this point because Miller is now back in Cincy getting calls from his players, friends and family telling him not to leave, then JL just needs to forget the search and call Pastner and tell him to catch the next flight back to Tucson and get out there recruting us some players for next year because if we dont get out there recruting we are going to be holding tryouts at the campus rec center for players for next years team.
bret
April 5th, 2009 at 1:16 PM
POSITIVITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Just some funnnyyyyy comments on the cincinnati enquier story about miller meeting arizona
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090405/SPT0102/304050038&s=d&page=1#pluckcomments
burbble wrote:
Cincinnati fans gotta understand that it is the city as a whole that is seen as bush league…Get on other sites…No one give Cincy even a pinch of respect…The junkyard in the desert that Tuscon is is held in higher reguard than Cincy…Cincinnati will eventually have to make a stand and win a battle for once..Keeping Miller might be a good place to start…Cincinnati is currently the city where all the idiots and wierdos come from in movies..The bitterness in the way you Cincinnatians bite at each other gives us in the rest of the country some insight into why your city flounders so much potential. And the only reason UC is Cincinnatis team is because cincinnati is in the name. Nationally Xavier’s is spoken by more people..The city is just to slow to build on that success just like your banks project.
85wasright wrote:
Sean is tired of playing second fiddle to UC. Who wants to coach a team that is doing well, but the media only want to talk about a UC program and its handful of wins. First sniff of UC making the tourney this year and Xavier was almost non existant for a few weeks in the papers.
At the end of the day it is a UC town win or lose. Xavier will always be in the back seat so it will never keep any coach with any bit of an ego. Hopefully, he stays but can you blame him for leaving
ranger6 wrote:
I would go there in a second… Better weather, hotter ladies, more tradition, more money… Nobody complains when blue collar person “makes it” but when any other person moves forward in their life and has new experiences they are vilified by people living in the past… It’s quite sad and pathetic…
BengalsNut wrote:
Xavier fans….this just in….your mid-major program can’t compete with one of the top 10 jobs in the country…..you’ll end up with a good coach for another 2-3 years before he bolts, just like Sean Miller is going to
sssrn wrote:
You’re right that Tucson isn’t Phoenix then you go and describe Phoenix? Phoenix is Los Angeles (gangs, shootings, crime, traffic jams) with more heat. After living in both I’ll take a summer in Tucson over a summer in Cincinnati any day!
4/5/2009 4:06:29 PM
KJMack wrote:
$2,000,000 plus a year living in a sunny college town is hard to beat. Good luck at Arizona Sean.
X please hire Cronin away from UC.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:22 PM
-2 Bret Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Miller is now back in Cincy getting calls from his players, friends and family telling him not to leave
_____________________________________________________
Miller isnt even in Cincy yet hes in Arkansas righ now
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N800WW
April 5th, 2009 at 1:23 PM
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/sports/113675.php
April 05, 2009, 2:07 p.m.
ANTHONY GIMINO
Tucson Citizen
Sean Miller could save the day.
The latest leg in Arizona’s coaching search has taken athletic director Jim Livengood and university president Robert Shelton to New Mexico, where they met Sunday with Miller, according to reports on FoxSports.com, CBSSports.com and ESPN.com.
Miller, Xavier’s 40-year-old head coach, is considered to be one of the top young coaches in college basketball. He is 120-47 in five seasons at Xavier, advancing four times to the NCAA Tournament and winning the Atlantic 10 regular season championship three times.
The Musketeers advanced to the Sweet 16 this season before losing 60-55 to top-seeded Pittsburgh. They reached the Elite Eight last season before falling to UCLA.
Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski is still in Detroit for the Final Four, and said he expected to speak with Miller Sunday night, but did not know what time. He was also trying determine if he can return to Cincinnati, if necessary. Bobinksi is a member of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball committee. The national championship game is Monday night.
Bobinski said if necessary, Xavier would be prepared with a counter offer.
“We have done and will continue to do whatever is humanly possible to keep Sean,” he said.
Arizona previous has, at the least, gauged the interest of many top coaches – such as John Calipari, Rick Pitino and Jamie Dixon – since Lute Olson retired in late October, but hasn’t been able to find a replacement. USC coach Tim Floyd rejected Arizona’s offer last week after meeting with school officials in Tucson
Miller would be UA’s answer. He is a quality coach who would be well received.To use Livengood’s words, Miller almost assuredly would “win the press conference” and be hailed as a great hire.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, a Duke alum, is quoted in the Xavier media guide as saying: “Sean is the kind of coach I would love to play for.”
The Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcy said in the same publication: “. . . It’s easy to be a fan of Sean. I can’t think of anyone in the profession who is more honest and more loyal. Sean is as good a person as there is in college basketball.”
A few things about Miller:
• He is a protégé of Arizona State coach Herb Sendek, who hired Miller as an assistant at Miami of Ohio and North Carolina State. This is a good thing.
Sendek has one of the best coaching trees in college basketball, helping to mentor several head coaches, including Ohio State’s Thad Matta, Miami of Ohio’s Charlie Coles and TCU’s Jim Christian.
Sean’s younger brother, Archie Miller, was an assistant to Sendek at Arizona State.
“Nobody respects him more than me,” Sean Miller said of Sendek in the Arizona Republic in December 2007. “He goes to great lengths to run an entire program.”
A year earlier, Miller told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “I owe Herb Sendek as much as anybody in my life other than my parents. . . . Herb is the guy I grew up under.”
Miller was with Sendek at Miami of Ohio in 1995 when the RedHawks upset Arizona in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
• His calling card is defense. Opponents shot only 38.6 percent against Xavier this season, the second time in five seasons that the Musketeers limited foes to less than 40 percent shooting.
Miller’s teams at Xavier have played at a moderate pace, relying defensively on a half-court man-to-man scheme with principles borrowed from former Washington State head coach Dick Bennett.
Miller’s teams are intense on the ball, but the other defenders otherwise sag into the lane in help position. Miller’s goal is to prevent dribble penetration and second shots.
The Musketeers have been a good rebounding team under Miller.
• Miller was a standout point guard at Pittsburgh, which lost to Arizona in McKale Center when he was a senior in 1992. The Panthers led by 10 points in the first half, but the Wildcats stormed back to win 96-76.
Has Miller ever been to Tucson other than that visit?
Miller, a Pennsylvania native, has spent his entire coaching east of the Mississippi. None of his recruits at Xavier were from the West. Miller has not coached at a program that played at Arizona.
If Miller accepts the UA job, his lack of West Coast ties bodes well for Arizona assistant Reggie Geary, who continued to recruit last season even with the coaching staff’s interim status. Geary’s knowledge of the western recruiting landscape presumably would help Miller hit the ground running.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Javier
IS there any TRUTH to the rumor that SENDEK is very UNHAPPY in Tempe. I have heard from numerous sources that he doesnt being there at all, no so much ASU itself, just doesnt like the Phoenix Metro area much and has indicated to his inner circle that he would like to get back east again and find another job.
IF this is true it cant be good for us, I am CERTAIN that Sean Miller, who is a former SENDEK assistant, will be calling Sendek TODAY while he takes the 24 hours to decide whether to come here or not and Sendek may tell him that he is unhappy here in the southwest, Miller, being an east coast guy himself, as well as his wife, who is also from Pittsburgh, may then have second thoughts about pulling up roots and coming out here.
Do we have any real evidence that Sendek is in fact UNHAPPY at ASU?
April 5th, 2009 at 1:27 PM
If Miller accepts the job and can get Geary and Pastner (it has been rumored he would come back to become Miller’s Associate Head Coach) that would be a VERY good staff at Arizona and we would be back in the national spotlight in no time and could very well become the trendy pick for the next generation of HS talent.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Bret, we have no evidence, althought there were rumors late in the season that he was uncertain how the Phoenix metro area accepts college basketball. Personally, I don’t think he’s going anywhere. He has a decent recruiting class coming, nothing Earth shattering, but still good. Losing Harden and Pendergraph will be devastating, which probably enhanced those rumors that Sendek is unhappy.
And I don’t believe you should worry what Sendek tells Miller. Sendek is an upstanding guy and will be truthful to Miller. He will let his pupil know that Tucson is a great college basketball city with a developing tradition and excellent fan base. Sendek is not the type to pull wool over Miller’s eyes. Anything to do with Sendek should be the least of your worries.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:32 PM
Javier in your opinion do you think Miller will be the Arizona Head Coach in ’09-’10?
April 5th, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Allow me to speculate and look ahead. If Miller comes to Arizona, I will be very happy. If he keeps Geary, I will be even happier. Reggie took the initiative to keep recruiting and working here at Arizona. I think Reggie is an asset to the Wildcats and Miller should keep him. His LA roots and contacts can help a coach who has spent his whole career east of the Mississippi. Reggie has been a professinonal player, a coach of professional players and a recruiter of college players. I hope for two things: 1. Miller says yes and 2. Miller keeps Geary on the staff.
I remember Geary saying in an article that he is going to continue to do his job regardless of the coaching turmoil. His dedication and professionalism should be rewarded.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Sean in Georgia: Until The Wizard of Westwood, otherwise known as John L. Wooden, came out to L.A. the furhtest west he had been was Lafayette, Indiana.
And the rest, hopefully like your negativity, is history.
I hate to even bring this guy up, but the furthest west ASWhatajoke!’s Herbert had ever been before taking over that hot bed of basketball known as cold, dank, hollow, echoey Fargo was Miami, Ohio.
His remedy: If all else fails, which it was about to and still might, hire Harden’s high school coach and have him, not Herbert himself (figures, if you ask me; just look at what Herbert has affected directly – the pre-conference schedule for Abnormal – and you’ll see what I mean), close the deal.
And I don’t think Coach “Rob,” known in some circles as the President’s son-in-law, could be mistaken for Lewis or Clark before he ventured out to Corvalis, Oregon from Brown University.
But now?
The way the Beaver Head Man is hunkering down and signing Top 100 recruits like they’re going out of style, you wouldn’t know any different.
My point: It can be done.
And in Miller’s case, it WILL BE DONE!
April 5th, 2009 at 1:38 PM
If we don’t land Miller it’s our own fault. All this plane tracking crap, now the Xavier fans are gonna rally at the airport??? This “insider” information goes both ways now.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Tarheel, looks like they are flying over Arkansas, not stopping there (not sure if thats what you meant). I have never used that flightaware sight, but it look like they are taking a detour? Thy seem to be head more southeast than northeast towards Cincy. Maybe they are stopping in Memphis to bring both Miller and new assistant head coach Pastner back for a press conference
Also, can someone explain this…wasn’t Livengood in Detroit for the Final Four? If so, why did they meet in ABQ? I understand the neutral site thing, just seems they flew way out of their way for a neutral site if both were in the Midwest as of yesterday.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Sorry for the typo, they seem to be headed more southeast than northeast.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Sorry, that’s brother-in-law, not son-in-law for Coach “Rob” in relationship to President Obama.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:43 PM
From all that I heard Miller went to Albuquerque with the mindset that he’s staying at Xavier and it will be up to Livengood and Co. to convince him otherwise. He has let it be known since Xavier’s last game that he is happy coaching the Musketeers. He views that program like Mark Few views Gonzaga: Why go anywhere else? Will it guarantee more NCAA tournament success? I would feel a lot more confident if Miller did not have such a good team returning next year.
The thing is any coach must listen to an opportunity, just like you should listen to somebody who wants to offer you a job. You’d be foolish not to listen. Livengood and his staff had their work cut out for them today. The money they will offer Miller is in their favor. What Livengood had to assure Miller is that the department will do everything they can to help him get Arizona back to national rankings, Pac-10 titles and higher NCAA seedings. Let’s hope the presentation was a convincing one.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Fellow Arizona fans I would not get excited about this whole Sean Miller thing he is most likely using Arizona to get better pay from Xavier like Tim Floyd used the University. If I where all over you I would expect Reggie Theus to be named because we cant trust any coach from the eastern part of the country that talks with Jim Livengood because they are playing him like a drum to get better pay from there current employers I doubt Sean Miller is coming to Arizona, I’ll believe it when his is in McKale Center doing the press conference until then we have to suspect he’s using Arizona to get a pay raise.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:44 PM
no livengood wasnt in detroit for the final 4.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Justin-
I’ll start a rumor for you…. They met in ABQ because they drove Lute out in a super secret car to try to persuade Miller in person– According to cartracker.com.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
You don’t file a flight-plan for Cincy lets say, and then just take a detour to some other city without notice.
If you look at the radar, there is weather that they are flying around to get to Cincy.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
+1 Justin Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Tarheel, looks like they are flying over Arkansas, not stopping there (not sure if thats what you meant). I have never used that flightaware sight, but it look like they are taking a detour? Thy seem to be head more southeast than northeast towards Cincy. Maybe they are stopping in Memphis to bring both Miller and new assistant head coach Pastner back for a press conference
______________________________________________________________
I didnt mean they were landing in Ark. but i meant that they were flying over ARk.
ANd they arent taking a detour they are going to CIncy, if you ever flew you know that planes dont always go directy to their destination. They make turns to destination. If you scroll down in the site it is highlighted in yellow it shows the destination (cincy). And after they arrive in Cincy it looks like they will go to the Detroit, which everyone is gonna go.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Wasn’t attacking you Tarheel, misunderstood you when you said “Miller isnt even in Cincy yet hes in Arkansas right now”.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:52 PM
If it comes down to money, Xavier loses. It’s a small (6,000 students) Jesuit school with no heavy hitter alums. They’re in the middle of a huge campus expansion and have been hitting their alums up for money for that for several years. Everything I read on their forums tells me they’re already stretching just to meet Miller’s current salary. I also don’t get the sense that their administration is willing to bankrupt the school to keep a coach. I definitely don’t read their AD’s quotes to mean they’ll match our offer.
However, it may not come down to money. Miller seems happy there and that may mean more than money.
April 5th, 2009 at 1:52 PM
+3 junior Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Until a press conference has been announced and there is something to discuss.. Lets not get our hopes up. (Folks, this is Livengood we are talking about here)
Repeat after me.
Josh Pastner.
————————–
Negative thinking of the FATALISTIC degree strikes again in the guise of a Wildcat pompom waver. LMFAO
Try some POSITIVE VIBES for awhile baby. LOL Because Arizona abso-LUTE-ly needs Sean Miller more than Miller needs the Wildcats. Capice!!
Chit, it’s like 50 PERCENT of Arizona fans have some sort of collective SELF-FULLFILLING prophecy for Livengood to fail. Just so they can collectively say….see, that Jimmy Boy failed US again. LMFAO
April 5th, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Amen, regarding Reginald A. Geary, Barry.
Good call, buddy.
PG U deserves no less than Reggie and Sean, two of the best guards anywhere, anyitme working together on behalf of the program.
Now what about the “bigs”?
I say Miller be allowed to bring in who he wants, but if I may make a suggestion: Sean “Wookie” Rooks.
We do need some of that midwestern or eastern toughness, though, so I say let Sean have at it with the hires on his staff.
Jay, will there be anyhting left in the till to pay the assistants when all is said and done?
I say there should be, when one considers what THE U saved on the Coach O early, and well-deserved, retirement, wouldn’t you think?
And certainly Pennell and Dunlap weren’t making top dollar as Associate- or Co-Head Coaches, were they?
That’s money saved that can be utilized on top Assistant Coaches getting top dollar, and deservedly so, considering the task ahead.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:01 PM
There is no way Miller, if he decides to come to Arizona, has two assistants he’s never worked with in Geary and Rooks. He will likely keep Geary for recruiting purposes and Geary’s ties to the program and bring one assistant from Xavier. The assistants will likely earn between $100,000 to $200,000. If Arizona is not going to offer its head coaching position to Pastner, he will stay in Kentucky to learn more from Calipari and establish himself further as head-coaching material.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Hate to break everyones hearts but Miller is using Arizona to get a better deal from Xavier.. Can we say Tim Floyd all over again. Say it with me Miller is not coming to Tucson he wants to play us all for fools like Floyd did.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:06 PM
Also, can someone explain this…wasn’t Livengood in Detroit for the Final Four? If so, why did they meet in ABQ? I understand the neutral site thing, just seems they flew way out of their way for a neutral site if both were in the Midwest as of yesterday.
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The Land of ENTRAPment was the rendezvous point where Livengood, Miller et.al. could meet Coach Olson in a secluded locale. Arizona is coming with the Perfect Storm in the person of Lute Olson to help seal the deal. LMFAO
If not Olson to come to the rescue of Arizona basketball, then who. Because it’s abso-LUTE-ly “do or die” time for Livengood. Verstehen.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Zonacat_Vols – If we use your logic then what is the point of even looking for a new coach. Every coach that is having current success is going to be difficult to sway in our direction but they arent all just out for a raise. From what I have read about Sean Miller I dont think that he would play us like that. Tim Floyd didnt even get a raise just an extension and has been getting beat up in the media for doing it. All in all I dont think Tim Floyd exactly came out ahead by doing what he did.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:09 PM
CJM
I like reading your comments, are you also Carlos that comments on Hansens stuff at the Daily Red Star?
What is your connection to Zona hoops, you seem to have some good stuff.
Also, I sent you an email about Scotty Drew, hit me back.
bret
April 5th, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Buddha
Take your pompous, egotistical arse and go find somewhere else to spew your stupidity. LMFAO.
I hope Livengood succeeds and shoots for the stars and gets the best coach here possible. Problem with ole’ JIMBO, is he abso-LUTE-ly does not have history on his side when it comes to making hires. PLUS, it makes no sense to get your hopes up right now that Miller will come in because all they did was meet, there is no press conference scheduled for tomorrow or today, etc.
Just like you do not have history on your side when it comes to making an intelligent post/comment.
ROFLMAO.. You are the epitome of a “wanna be”. You think you know more than you do my boy, but that is OK, everyone has to have a talent or a “special purpose” – you should get in touch with yours more often… LOL.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:13 PM
ZonaCat
I seriously doubt Miller would play us like Floyd allegedly did. Miller is a pretty upstanding guy and if he really wanted more money out of Xavier I am sure all he would have to do is ask, they really like him there.
Also, keep that Xavier is a private Catholic school, I dont think they have deep pockets to compete with big BCS schools like Arizona.
Another thing to note, MILLER has graduated EVERY SINGLE PLAYER that has played at Xavier during his tenure, 100% graduation rate, that is impressive in this age of one and dones. It would be nearly impossible for him to do something like that at an elite program like Arizona where you are recruiting higher level talent but he has been able to win and recruit kids who stay in school and GRADUATE.
100% graduation rate. He just doesnt seem like the kind of guy who would play us, he knows what we have been through and I am sure he respects Olson too much to just be using us for a raise. I think he is interested but gun shy because of the thin roster next year.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Agreed.
Sean doesn’t need direction from us who want to hire his staff for him, for sure.
I say let him bring in who he wants, should the time to do so come.
Absolutely.
My take on Pastner is that he more than anything needs to be running his own program – a low, mid or high mid-major – to have any chance at a HC position like Arizona’s.
A gig where he’s running practices, drawing up plays, making critical TO, in-game strategy, player replacement decisions.
And working the boosters at all hours of the day and night like he does film, notes, team-player breakdowns.
He ain’t gonna get this invaluable experience at the right-hand of Calpari.
I don’t care if it’s at Kentucky or with the Cleveland Cavliers.
It ain’t gonna happen.
No, he needs to fly out on his own – and now.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:17 PM
For everyone’s information, my sources have told me that the reason they met in ABQ today was TWOFOLD, they wanted Sean to see the southwest and a city similar to Tucson in many ways, which ABQ very much is, and they wanted to avoid the media in Tucson so ABQ was the next best place to meet, ALSO, I have been told that SHELTON had a big conference to attend in ABQ tomorrow and he was dropped off there and remained there after the meeting to attend his conference. Basically killed 3 birds with one stone by making the trip there to meet.
Keep in mind that Miller will be taking the job without seeing Tucson or the UA campus, however, he DID PLAY at Mckale center as a senior at PITT (we beat them) so he did get to see the great atmosphere of Arizona basketball in its peak years under Olson.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:17 PM
I love how Miller was out west in Albuqueque in the beautiful weather that we are having today in the west. If you look at the flightaware website he is just about to land in some crap a$$ Ohio weather (Rain, clouds, etc.). I dont think that could have worked out any better for us since we are analyzing and disecting everything.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:18 PM
javier any truth to the rumor that olson was at the meeting in abq
April 5th, 2009 at 2:19 PM
http://www.pointguardu.com/images/assclown3.jpg
April 5th, 2009 at 2:19 PM
+1 junior Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Buddha
Take your pompous, egotistical arse and go find somewhere else to spew your stupidity. LMFAO.
I hope Livengood succeeds and shoots for the stars and gets the best coach here possible. Problem with ole’ JIMBO, is he abso-LUTE-ly does not have history on his side when it comes to making hires. PLUS, it makes no sense to get your hopes up right now that Miller will come in because all they did was meet, there is no press conference scheduled for tomorrow or today, etc.
Just like you do not have history on your side when it comes to making an intelligent post/comment.
ROFLMAO.. You are the epitome of a “wanna be”. You think you know more than you do my boy, but that is OK, everyone has to have a talent or a “special purpose” – you should get in touch with yours more often… LOL.
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TRUTH HURTS, doesn’t it NEGATIVE NELLIE.
Buddha, Jr. CALLED U OUT for your FATALISM of the narrow-minded degree, and all this NEGATIVE NELLIE can do is play the CLOWN. LMFAO
Like Buddha, Jr. said…try a little POSTIVE pompom waving for once in your crude, primitive, simpleton existence. Verstehen, Bubba!! LMFAO
Because for the past three and or four days, all this NEGATIVE NELLIE has been doing is posting relatively, NEGATIVE posts. LOL
By the way, NEGATIVE NELLIE. Why U gotta be so bloody DARK!! LMFAO
April 5th, 2009 at 2:19 PM
CJM
Pastner needs to HC jon somewhere where they have easy Family Studies programs so all his elite level illiterate recruits can take easy street classes and stay elgible to play.
Also, it would be good if the school he goes to has a philosophy dept that he can use to rig clases for guys liek Chris Rodgers…
April 5th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
A conference? What conference would Livengood be attending right now? Unless its a career fair I just dont see how a conference could be on the top of his list of activities right now. Especially if they are planning a press conference tomorrow. Something sounds off here.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
I don’t think Livengood has any other choice but to bring back Gerry. It’s April 5th and as signing day approaches, if we didn’t bring back Gerry, we’d have no continuity.Especially with Miller not having any recruiting ties to the west, it would be foolish not to have him on board to lock up the couple of possibles we have out there in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Then again, Livengood isn’t that bright. It wouldn’t surprise me to make a great hire and have our best talent in 09-10….Kyle Fogg.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Javier
This report worries me, it sayd CALHOUN is now considering his future amid allegations of ncaa infractions.
If Calhoun were to step down within the next few days and reports are that he may, that really throws a wrench in to our search, i think Miller would be a candidate for the UCONN job.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:23 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney09/news/story?id=4043021
Link to above UCONN story here
April 5th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
OCWILDACT
JL wasnt attending a conference SHELTON was attending a conference in ABQ and flew with JL and MILLER to ABQ since he had to go there anyway they just set that area up for the meeting with MILLER so that he would get a taste of the southwest outside the eyes and ears of the Tucson media frenzy.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Bret, good stuff about the graduation rates. I know Xavier has had good grad rates in the past, but in the latest numbers released it was not listed among those with 100% grades.
The only schools with 100% graduation rates: Binghamton, Florida State, Marquette, Robert Morris, Utah State, Wake Forest and Western Kentucky.
Arizona, at 20 percent, was one of the five worst in this category. But how many players did Olson “graduate” to the NBA? The UA is among the tops in that category and let’s face it that’s why recruits have agreed to play at Arizona. That’s why recruits agree to play at most top-flight programs.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:26 PM
OC Wildcat,
you didn’t know what conference Livengood would attend on Sunday?
It’s called Church and Jesus Christ is the Lord!
April 5th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Javier
I admittedly didnt fact check that 100% graduation rate comment but I got that from my brother in law who is a professor at Xavier and he made it a point to stress (several times I may add) that Miller has graduated 100% of all his players since he has been there, I found that to be extraordinary but I didnt fact check it and I am glad you did, I will be sure to correct him!
April 5th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
+1 Bret Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Javier
This report worries me, it sayd CALHOUN is now considering his future amid allegations of ncaa infractions.
If Calhoun were to step down within the next few days and reports are that he may, that really throws a wrench in to our search, i think Miller would be a candidate for the UCONN job.
———————-
IF this UCONN scenario were to become absolute REALITY, then it’s sayanara for Arizona basketball for the foreseeable, near term future ( Think at least three seasons. ) Because UCONN has some BALLERS returning in contrast to Arizona’s relatively empty locker room. LOL
The alleged, 1st degree N.C.A.A. recruiting violations UCONN is being investigated for are relatively severe in contrast to Arizona’s third-degree violation. This would be the convenient rationalization for Calhoun to retire.
Of course, perhaps Miller wouldn’t want to mess with all the baggage of a UCONN program being penalized, i.e, lost of one/two scholarships or worst., if the N.C.A.A. finds the Huskie program guilty.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Sorry guys gotta sign off. The Womens Final Four is about to start. LOL
April 5th, 2009 at 2:33 PM
TRUTH HURTS, doesn’t it NEGATIVE NELLIE.
Buddha, Jr. CALLED U OUT for your FATALISM of the narrow-minded degree, and all this NEGATIVE NELLIE can do is play the CLOWN. LMFAO
Like Buddha, Jr. said…try a little POSTIVE pompom waving for once in your crude, primitive, simpleton existence. Verstehen, Bubba!! LMFAO
Because for the past three and or four days, all this NEGATIVE NELLIE has been doing is posting relatively, NEGATIVE posts. LOL
By the way, NEGATIVE NELLIE. Why U gotta be so bloody DARK!! LMFAO
===============================================
Do you realize how stupid you sound referring to yourself in the 3rd person?
Picturing you as a small, balding fat man laughing at his computer screen as he types. eh George Castanza? LMAO. Get a life – VERSTEHEN SIE?
April 5th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
I can’t verify the rumor about Lute Olson being there at this point, although it would make sense for Livengood to ask Olson to talk with Miller at some point regarding any questions he might have about what it’s like to be a head coach in Tucson (media, fan and booster support, living conditions, etc.). Olson has said he is at Livengood’s disposal if he needs assistance with this search.
As for Calhoun leaving UConn and how that might impact Miller coming to Arizona. Miller does have more of a presence in those parts (his last recruit signed this year is from Connecticut) but not very many coaches want to immediately replace a legend. The success rate just is not there. At least with Arizona, the Wildcats have used two interim staffs since Olson’s last game, and Miller will certainly find out fast that — good or bad –this is his program to run.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:38 PM
-1 junior Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
TRUTH HURTS, doesn’t it NEGATIVE NELLIE.
Buddha, Jr. CALLED U OUT for your FATALISM of the narrow-minded degree, and all this NEGATIVE NELLIE can do is play the CLOWN. LMFAO
Like Buddha, Jr. said…try a little POSTIVE pompom waving for once in your crude, primitive, simpleton existence. Verstehen, Bubba!! LMFAO
Because for the past three and or four days, all this NEGATIVE NELLIE has been doing is posting relatively, NEGATIVE posts. LOL
By the way, NEGATIVE NELLIE. Why U gotta be so bloody DARK!! LMFAO
===============================================
Do you realize how stupid you sound referring to yourself in the 3rd person?
Picturing you as a small, balding fat man laughing at his computer screen as he types. eh George Castanza? LMAO. Get a life – VERSTEHEN SIE?
————————————————–
NEGATIVE NELLIE is so bloody CLUELESS, that it’s comical.
Does this NEGATIVE NELLIE understand how CONTRADICTORIAN s-he be. LMFAO
This CLOWN tells Buddha, Jr. to get a life, yet NEGATIVE NELLIE is on this here forum FOUR-TIMES the tyme Buddha, Jr is. LOL Get outta here!!! LMFAO
Is NEGATIVE NELLIE that bloody, DENSE.
Bubba, your comebacks are LAME. Just like your take is on Wildcat hoop’s. Comprende CHICO!!
April 5th, 2009 at 2:41 PM
And Buddha is right: The looming NCAA penaltiies at UConn are a lot more serious than an innocent letter with Olson’s signature stamped on it to boosters asking for help funding a recruiting event on campus.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:43 PM
+1 Javier M. Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I can’t verify the rumor about Lute Olson being there at this point, although it would make sense for Livengood to ask Olson to talk with Miller at some point regarding any questions he might have about what it’s like to be a head coach in Tucson (media, fan and booster support, living conditions, etc.). Olson has said he is at Livengood’s disposal if he needs assistance with this search.
As for Calhoun leaving UConn and how that might impact Miller coming to Arizona. Miller does have more of a presence in those parts (his last recruit signed this year is from Connecticut) but not very many coaches want to immediately replace a legend. The success rate just is not there. At least with Arizona, the Wildcats have used two interim staffs since Olson’s last game, and Miller will certainly find out fast that — good or bad –this is his program to run.
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+1 voice of Buddha Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Also, can someone explain this…wasn’t Livengood in Detroit for the Final Four? If so, why did they meet in ABQ? I understand the neutral site thing, just seems they flew way out of their way for a neutral site if both were in the Midwest as of yesterday.
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The Land of ENTRAPment was the rendezvous point where Livengood, Miller et.al. could meet Coach Olson in a secluded locale. Arizona is coming with the Perfect Storm in the person of Lute Olson to help seal the deal. LMFAO
If not Olson to come to the rescue of Arizona basketball, then who. Because it’s abso-LUTE-ly “do or die” time for Livengood. Verstehen.
——————————————-
I REST MY CASE, NEGATIVE NELLIE aka junior Bubba. LOL
By the way DARK-MINDED NEGATIVE NELLIE aka junior BUBBA, it’s called POSITIVE PLAUSIBLE POSSIBILITY. Capice. LOL
April 5th, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Has anyone heard the rumor that the Xavier AD is publicly saying Xavier will match ANY offer to Miller? A friend told me it was on the crawler on ESPN News about 30 minutes ago. Can anyone confirm? I’d like to tell my friend he’s full of BS.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Bay Cat Nate: The Xavier AD has said he will do anything humanely possible to keep Miller. If that means matching Arizona’s offer, the AD did not say, although I doubt it will happen. The fact is Xavier will do something so Miller is in a win-win situation.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:50 PM
from http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090405/SPT0102/304050038
Bobinski said if necessary, Xavier would be prepared with a counter offer.
“We have done and will continue to do whatever is humanly possible to keep Sean,” he said.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Well. Miller is officially back in Cincy. Lets hope this all works out.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Again, it’s a coaching stimulus. Through out our harsh economic time, College Basketball coaches are getting paid (Pearl got his extension, Few will get one and you don’t think they’re drafting one up for Floyd). If we don’t get Miller, it’s because Xavier will exceed Livengood’s offer. JL better have a blank check.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:56 PM
BTW, a tornado warning is in effect near Cincinnati. The weather there is awful right now. If there was a fan rally at the Cincy airport, there is a lot of drenched Musketeer fans. Paul Weitman’s private jet is delayed for almost three hours for its return to Detroit. And if Bobinski wants to fly back to Cincinnati tonight to talk with Miller it will be difficult for him to do so in a timely manner.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I’ve been watching ESPN News for a little while today and the only thing on their crawler about Miller and Arizona is “Xavier head basketball coach Sean Miller expected to meet with Arizona.” The references by Javier and BB are the only statements I have heard about any Xavier counter offer.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Javier
I used to be a very optimistic kind of guy, it is my natural disposition. However, many years ago I decided it was no way to live my life because I was let down more often than not. I decided it was better to be pessimistic about everything and let me tell you why:
When you are pessimistic you are either ALWAYS PROVEN RIGHT or you are PLEASANTLY SURPIRSED.
That said, I really dont think Miller is going to take the job, although it will be hard to turn down such a nice PAY RAISE, he has worked very hard to get Xavier where it is now and NEXT YEAR he has a real shot to make a serious run at the FINAL FOUR.
So, with that in mind I think it comes down to THEUS, GREENBERG or PASTNER.
JL told HANSEN yesterday that THEUS has NO CHANCE and my sources have told me that this is because THEUS has an ONLINE DEGREE from CALIFORNIA COSTAL (he didnt get his degree at UNLV and later decided he needed one to get in to coaching and get an online degree from CC) and that SHELTON will not sign off on a coach with an ONLINE DEGREE.
So it now comes down to GREENBERG who will definitely take the job from what I am hearing, OR Pastner.
Some questions for you:
Can Greenberg keep the seats at Mckale filled, his name is not real well known and he doesnt seem to generate the kind of excitement that Miller and the others would have.
I think we both know that Greenberg COULD get it done but it will take 5 years or so, he is a PROGRAM BUILDER but at the end of the day ARIZONA BASEKETBALL is about ONE THING and that is REVENUE, if he cant keep the seats filled then Arizona has no chance of becoming an elite program again because the money simply wont be there to support the program and keep up with the joneses.
Pastner, on the other hand WILL DEFINITELY FILL THE SEATS every game at Mckale center, he is what I would refer to as a FANBASE HIRE, the fans would come out every game and support him BUT we dont know if Pastner can actually run a program at this point, it is a lot easier said than done. Pastner can recruit BUT can he EVALUATE TALENT, it is one thing for LUTE and CALIPARI to evaluate talent, something they are BOTH very good at, and THEN TELL Josh WHO TO GO GET, than it is for PASTNER himself to find the talent, evaluate it and recruit it WITHOUT THE NAMES OLSON and CALIPARI backing him up. The question is, can Pastner recruit for PASTNER as opposed to Pastner recruting for the names OLSON AND CALIPARI.
I think the reality of it is that it IS going to come down to THESE TWO guys and it is time we accept this and really start talking about it.
WHAT SAY YOU, JAVIER:
Who gets it done at Arizona the fastest and who keeps the seats full and the season tickets sold:
PASTNER or GREENBERG?
April 5th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
OK count Miller out who’s next on the list to reject Levinjoke and Arizona that leaves Pastner, Lon, Reggie. Reggie said he wants the job give it him he’s the only guy in the country that wants the job.
p.s. sorry for being so pessimistic but the a-hole Floyd ruined it for me.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Javier
GRET NEWS about the TORNADO LOL!
The more time that passes within the next 24 hours without MILLER being in contact with friends, family and players, the better for us!
April 5th, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Da plane! Da plane!
En route to DTW.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:03 PM
ZONACAT read my above comments about THEUS.
Several TOP RECRUITS including RUDD and COUNSINS have indicated they will go where THEUS GOES, however, JL has already said to HANSEN that THEUS has NO CHANCE AT ALL.
I have been told that this is because THEUS has one of those DEGREE MILL online DEGREES from CALIFORNIA COSTAL INTERNET UNIVERSITY and that SHELTON will not sign off on a coach with a internet degree.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:05 PM
So Miller doesn’t get 5 star recruits, his players don’t make it to the NBA, he makes them play defense, they stay all four years and graduate, they play together as a team and win. I like it, but is it a good fit for the U of A? Can Tucson and the boosters get onboard a program that doesn’t feature flashy players and wide open offense?
It actually reminds me of Lute’s first several years at the U of A. Remember how close those teams were? Especially the first one that made it to the Final Four? It wasn’t until after that year the the flashy, punch my ticket to the NBA recruits started coming to the U of A. Personally I’d rather have a coach that doesn’t necessarily recruit the prima donnas but gets them to play together and play hard, but is Tucson ready for that?
April 5th, 2009 at 3:10 PM
If we can go back to late 80′s / early ’90′s Cats basketball – I am TOTALLY OK with that!!! Good points CFinUtah…
April 5th, 2009 at 3:11 PM
+1 Zonacat_vols Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
OK count Miller out who’s next on the list to reject Levinjoke and Arizona that leaves Pastner, Lon, Reggie. Reggie said he wants the job give it him he’s the only guy in the country that wants the job.
p.s. sorry for being so pessimistic but the a-hole Floyd ruined it for me.
—————————————–
At least you MAN UP’ed and made amends. Unlike that NEGATIVE NELLIE aka junior bubba. LOL
I’m still going to “keep hope alive,” and anticipate the begining Era of Miller at Arizona.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:20 PM
The web site that tracks the plane indicated 15 minutes ago that there would be an almost 3 hour delay. … things do change fast in Cincinnati …
Of all the coaches, why Greenberg? What has he done? Pastner is a longshot; he believes he would have received some kind of communication from the UA by now, but he’s heard nothing. That’s a great point about Theus’ degree, plus Livengood is leery that Theus left NMSU after two seasons for the NBA. Who’s to say Theus won’t bolt for UNLV when Kruger departs?
I would take Kruger over Greenberg, if it comes to that. At least Kruger is a proven winner, taking Florida to the Final Four. Heck, I’d take Purnell ahead of Greenberg as well. Purnell is a class act and he wins over the parents of recruits. Now can he coach a team deep into the NCAA tournament? That remains to be seen.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Da plane! Da plane!
Looks like the flight was routed ahead of the storm front, adding +/- 10 min. flight time.
To your point, Javier, if the X AD hasn’t already departed DTW, he’ll have wait out that really nasty-looking storm.
Just say no to Greenberg.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Looks like Xavier looses their coach every few years and in spite of that they keep hiring good coaches and have built a pretty incredible program there at such a small school.
Maybe we should hire their AD as well?
Make it a 2 for 1 special and they can both get out of that weather!
April 5th, 2009 at 3:35 PM
It’s 257 miles and 4 hours to drive from Detroit to Cincy. If their AD really wants to get home it’s very easy.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:39 PM
# +5 Vote -1 Vote +1CatsFaninUtah Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
So Miller doesn’t get 5 star recruits, his players don’t make it to the NBA, he makes them play defense, they stay all four years and graduate, they play together as a team and win. I like it, but is it a good fit for the U of A? Can Tucson and the boosters get onboard a program that doesn’t feature flashy players and wide open offense?
It actually reminds me of Lute’s first several years at the U of A. Remember how close those teams were? Especially the first one that made it to the Final Four? It wasn’t until after that year the the flashy, punch my ticket to the NBA recruits started coming to the U of A. Personally I’d rather have a coach that doesn’t necessarily recruit the prima donnas but gets them to play together and play hard, but is Tucson ready for that?
#
+2 Vote -1 Vote +1DC Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
If we can go back to late 80’s / early ’90’s Cats basketball – I am TOTALLY OK with that!!! Good points CFinUtah…
________________________________________________
I am totally down with that too. You just described the era when I started watching and rooting for the Cats. Elliott, McMillan, Tolbert, Kerr, the Gumbies, etc. Man, those were the days! All of them four year players that would leave it all on the court every night.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Or perhaps he could have remained aboard the DTW-bound plane and met with his AD there?
Which makes me think he’s staying put.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Buddha
Hit home with the small, fat, bald guy laughing at his screen referring to himself in the 3rd person, didn’t I? ROFLMAO..
You’re an idiot.
Let me guess, you’re a fan of the Dhammapada, thus the name right? LOL.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Actually the Arizona progam started to SLIP when Pastner started recruiting all the prima donna type players, LUTES early years and up through 97 when the program was at its peak, we didnt get that many prima donna players and had starting 5 and a bench full of blue collar ROLE PLAYERS, once Pastner started taking over recruiting and getting Lute in to all that AAU sleezeball stuff, we got all the top talent but the program and teams werent as good as they were when we were simply getting the blue collar players that other programs overlooked. So Yes I would take a coach that recruits those kinds of ROLE PLAYERS over the prima donnas ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, I would much rather have a team full of GONZAGA type players who mostly stay in school 4 years and graduate than a team full of prima donna one and dones who are only here to showcase their talent for the NBA.
Javier PURNELL is indeed a class act BUT HOW DO YOU COACH a PRETTY DAMNED GOOD TEAM in the ACC for 20 years and NEVER WIN ONE SINGLE NCAA TOURNEY GAME?!?!
April 5th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Yeah, 2001 was a tough year for UA with all those “prima donna” type players along with 2005. Straight downfall due to Pastner.
April 5th, 2009 at 3:58 PM
I hope its true.
Herb Sendek will say positive things about UA, why would’nt he?
If anything Sendek being at ASU will help pursuade him…
Sean knows there is some rebuilding to do..
I just hope he does not pull a Floyd..
April 5th, 2009 at 4:06 PM
old school nostalgia is great and all, but this outcry for 4-yr, role playing, non-flashy, hit-the-books players is insane. no one wins that way anymore. anyone calling for a trip in the way-back machine is dillusional. it would take another 25 years to rebuild the program that way…
suppose you want the boys to wear the daisy-duke shorts, too?
April 5th, 2009 at 4:06 PM
The funny thing about the Cincinnati article is the poll about which spot is the better coaching job. Arizona is behind by a margin of about 5 to 3. But it’s their paper! You know hardly anyone from Tucson is voting on that thing. If the AZStar ran a poll like that it would be 20 to 1 in our favor.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090405/SPT0102/304050038/1065
April 5th, 2009 at 4:20 PM
KATZ
I never said the program was horrible because of Pastner, I said there was some slippage when we started getting the cream of the crop players and if you go back and look you will see I am right, we stopped playing good defense, Lute basically stopped coaching and there was little actual PLAYER DEVEOPMENT year to year, prior to Pastner taking over the recruiting duties Lute would go out and find the diamond in the rough type players that other teams overlooked, players that knew the importance of PLAYING A ROLE within the framework of the team and this was UA basketball in its peak years and when it was at its BEST.
Pastner is a great kid and I love that he took us to elite level and got us all that talent but I dont know if that was a good thing or a bad thing when you look at it from all perspectives, before that Lute was forced to coach and develop players which was a strong point of his, after we started getting all those prima donnas it really started to seem that Lute was just rolling the ball out and letting them play and we never met expectations during those years, esp with all the talent we had.
April 5th, 2009 at 4:23 PM
SPOONS
I understand the nature of the game has changed and if it takes prima donna one and done type players to compete for national championships then so be it but Gonzaga is winning without selling its soul to those creepy AAU shmucks, Few wont have anything to do with it, they may not be winning national championships but they are winning consistently and getting deep in to the tourney and if they can win one national championship doing it that way that will be ONE MORE than John Calipari has won doing it the OTHER WAY by prositituting his programs to the highest bidders.
April 5th, 2009 at 4:28 PM
bret is right!
April 5th, 2009 at 4:35 PM
-1 Sean in Georgia Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I don’t think Miller is going to accept the Livingood’s offer. I hope I am wrong, but I think Xavier will up the ante and he will stay. The furthest West he has lived is Wisconsin. He and his wife are Ohio/Pa. natives.
___________________________________________________________________
SO what Olson coached at Iowa and was from N. Dakota, and im sure there are a lot of coaches who did the same thing, Dawkins from Duke, he went to Stanford, Sendek from NC State, and MIami (oh). And IM sure there are much more who I cant think of, but you cant say that because they been on the east coast their whoe life is the reason they wont come.
Miller is ready for the big time, he maybe coming to prove programs like PItt and UConn that he can coach in the bigtime program. I think Miller will get this team to a high level again, he did it with Xavier, took ‘em to the Elite Eight, and Sweet Sixteens, and thats Xavier for Gods sake. Imagine what he could do at UA. ANd if he leaves in 10+yrs more or less to Pitt or UConn so what Im sure Pastner would take the job at any time (he said so himself) and in the future he will be ready. ANd most experts which none of us are think Pastner will be the next big coach in NCAAM baskeball.
April 5th, 2009 at 4:37 PM
bret
so mediocrity is what you’re shooting for? yeah, gonzaga’s a nice program, but a sweet 16 every couple years is not going to satisfy the UA fanbase and you know it. if you want a disciplined, role-playing, no-frills team with all “diamond in the rough” players, that’s cool. i just disagree and think that the program needs to evolve with the rest of the sport or it will be left behind by the schools who will land all the elite talent. calipari hasn’t won a championship yet, but he’s been damn close…do you really think he’s gonna get beat to the net cutting ladder by few and the zags?
April 5th, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Hey Arizona is a Nike school, with all that money Nike gave to Arizona and Lute, and being one of the first 4 to wear the new Nike jersey’s (OU, ‘Cuse, Ohio St. and Arizona). Does anyone what athlethic wear adidas nike, etc does Xavier and Sean Mille have?
April 5th, 2009 at 4:47 PM
We have Nike. And supposedly, we are getting those elite jerseys next year as well. I just don’t know why he’d leave for AZ. Expectations for next year are through the roof for us. On paper, it’s our best team ever and I just can’t imagine Sean would leave just before the culmination of his first 5 years in charge. Just thinking about it sickens me.
April 5th, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Well X-Man speaking from one devoted fan to another – I truly hope your health takes a turn for the worst (metaphorically speaking) and you conitinue to get more sick
April 5th, 2009 at 4:59 PM
X-man,
I understand your concerns. I had been reading the Cincy papers and up until today, I have never even considered Sean Miller. Not because I didn’t think he would be and outstanding choice, even better than Few or Calipari, I just took what was quoted in the papers at face value. According to the AD and Miller, all parties seemed completely content with the situation at XU. I guess things have changed, money became a factor, and now Miller is an option. I can promise you that Miller and his family would be received well here in Tucson. We love Arizona basketball and will give support to the next coach. We also know that it is going to take some time to get back to where we are, but I can assure you that Miller will have 14000 people at every home game supporting him, and Arizona will continue to play on national t.v. giving the recruits nation-wide a glimpse at what Arizona has to offer.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Don’t expect to see Pastner being brought in to coach with Miller. Would be unusual for a couple of reasons. One, Josh is ready for a head-coaching job with a mid-major. Not a lot of openings this year, but sooner or later. Coming here would not advance his cause for that first head-coaching role.
Second, Miller would be grooming his potential replacement but, since Miller’s not well established, it would set up a conflict of interest. Might be in Josh’s interest to see Miller do poorly. I don’t think Josh would give anything less than 100% and I can’t imagine him not supporting his coach, but still, could create tension and distrust. Not a good thing for team chemistry.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:03 PM
X man not to bumm you out but “Elite” jerseys are for schools that have been to at least one Final 4.. All the schools with the “elite” logo on their jerseys indicate they have been to a Final 4. I worked for Nike marketing for 4 years..
Google “Nike Elite college basketball qualifications” and see for yourself..
Fox sports news up here in Phx just reported that if Miller “declines” they will offer Dixon of Pitt a mega deal.. Jude Lacava just reported it on the news..
April 5th, 2009 at 5:06 PM
I would take Dixon over Miller just because of his west coast ties.. Pitt is not a true hoops school, lets face it..
I like the swagger of the admin finally pushing hard to land a top coach.. they have played by the rules and waited until the season ended.. Other coaches respect that..
Things will shape up fans..
Patience..
April 5th, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Just found out that Miller is close with Pastner. Hmmmm . . .
Dixon up next. Wow! Would be very happy with either Miller or Dixon. Either could bring this team back to elite status within a few years and either could coach here for years to come. Dixon seems more likely to want to stay put rather than go back east. But one never knows with any coach.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Paralax
I think ultimately Miller wants a big east HC job so IF he comes here and Pastner takes a seat next to him it would really be ideal for all parties involved, Miller could coach here for 5 or 6 years until DIXON moves on from PITT to maybe take over for Howland at UCLA someday then Miller takes over at Pitt and Pastner by then is ready to be the HC at ZONA.
HOWEVER, I personally think Pastner would be an IDIOT to leave Kentcuky for any job at Arizona, he can win several national championships at UK over the next decade and be the hottest assistant coach in basketball and pretty much get any gig he wants over the next five years PLUS get to experience basketball the way it shouls be because it is a religion in Lexington and anyone who loves basketball whether player, fan or coach, NEEDS to experience UK basketball as much as the golfer needs to experience AUGUSTA NATIONAL.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:14 PM
PASTNER and MILLER know eachother?? Where did you get this from??
ALSO, WHERE did you hear DIXON is back in the Arizona coaching hunt???
April 5th, 2009 at 5:15 PM
I think if Miller takes the job Pastner will come be his associate head coach, in fact Hansen has indicated that there is talk of this already in official circles, however Javier has indicated that Pastner has gotten NO phone calls at all from JL, so who knows.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:18 PM
-2 X-Man Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
We have Nike. And supposedly, we are getting those elite jerseys next year as well. I just don’t know why he’d leave for AZ. Expectations for next year are through the roof for us. On paper, it’s our best team ever and I just can’t imagine Sean would leave just before the culmination of his first 5 years in charge. Just thinking about it sickens me.
_____________________________________________________________________
Miller maybe will never get a chance that he likes (he must like the UA job because he took went through the problem of flying to meet UA AD and others) until Pitt opens. Because I dont think he if UConn opens would take it because he would have to deal with pending NCAA violations and following a legend, at least UA has had 2 interims before the next head coach.
Its like Calipari leaving Memphis for Kentucky. XU isnt Memphis and Arizona isnt Kentucky but other then that its the same scenario, and Im sure Calipari had a Final Four team next year and top 10 team with all those recruits. Buy why did he leave he wanted in the big time. He was tired of getting disrespected. I mean come on do you think Miller would stay in Cincy. forever, no.
I am sure if Miller takes the ‘Zona gig, its because he wants in a power confrence, Miller now may be in the A-10 the best mid major confrence, but thats exactly what it is a mid major confrence. No coach who has been great has stayed in a mid major or major confrence. Eventually all of them leave for a power confrence team.
And if he takes the job Im sure it would be to succeed and prove he can win in a BCS confrence. But he wont be a permanent hire I doubt it, maybe 10+/- yrs, Dixon would eventualy want the coach in a Elite program if one opens and if offered to him. And then if Miller takes the UofA job, he would take the Pitt job if offered to him, or he may fall in love with UA that he wont leave. Xavier will never have the money or fanbase that UA has, UA has one of the loudest, I remember when my team UNC went to play at UA at the McKale it was loud. And Xavier can not compete with UA money, Xavier has an enrollment of 6,000 and UA 37,000+, that says it all.
Plus the Mckale Center has had the best attendance in the Pac-10 for 24 straigh years with a huge crowd. NO matter what S. Arizona will always be a basketball town and you will get a lot of support, and if you win a lot, ask Lute Olson he is a treated like a God in Ol’ Pueblo.
Miller is ready for the big time, he maybe coming to prove programs like PItt and UConn that he can coach in the bigtime program. I think Miller will get this team to a high level again, he did it with Xavier, took ‘em to the Elite Eight, and Sweet Sixteens, and thats Xavier for Gods sake. Imagine what he could do at UA.
P.S: I got a message for the UA, I know that McKale will evetually be replaced by a better bigger arena with 40+yrs. in exsistance. But I got a problem with UA court having Lute and Bobbi Olson Court in mid court. UA cant live off Olsons name forever, put that the huge A Arizona logo on mid court, and I mean huge like Kansas has its logo big in midcourt.
http://sports.espn.go.com/i/mag/blog/ZooropaTop.jpg
this is what mckale looks like
http://kcinvestmentproperty.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/85042.jpg
this is what mckale should look like
April 5th, 2009 at 5:19 PM
There are REPORTS that if Miller turns us down we are going to make one final MEGA OFFER to DIXON!?!?!?!
This is going to get interesting this week folks, EVERYONE CALL IN SICK TOMORROW we all need to be here for this LOL
Maybe ARTE MORENO, Arizona Booster and owner of the baseball ANGELS has told JL to go ahead and offer to make DIXON the highest paid coach in basketball at 3.5 a year.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:20 PM
What is this love affair with Pastner? How many games has he coached? Why did Olson discard him? First some folks here are ready to take anybody at this point but yet when a big time name comes up you start fantasizing about Pastner coming along or being part of the package.
The guy is gone let him go pay his dues and work his way up through some other program, just the thought of his name coming up to be head coach is completely idiotic and ignorant.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:21 PM
“While Miller was spotted departing a UA-booster owned airplane in Cincinnati, where Xavier is located, Livengood arrived in Tucson unaccompanied at 5 p.m. off a Southwest Airlines flight.”
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/287507.php
Didn’t go back to Detroit huh? Does he have his man?
April 5th, 2009 at 5:24 PM
You would think that if he had any reservations about MILLER he would be back in detriot TONIGHT schmoozing the crowds.
I NEED MORE INFO ON DIXON who heard that we are offering DIXON a mega deal if Miller says no thanks??
April 5th, 2009 at 5:25 PM
except that 3.5 wouldn’t make him the highest paid coach…calipari just got 3.9+ from kentucky, not including incentives
April 5th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Guys go to Fox sports Channel 10 which is in Phx. It should be on their website. Jude Lacava repsects the UA and is the best sports caster here in Phoenix bar none.
He usually dead on..
He said that if Miller declines then they would make a a push at mega deal/offer to Dixon.. They did not give the amounts.. I would say throw him 3 mil a year?
I do see one problem in Dixon in that Pitt is an Adidas school with contracts involved..
I’m just telling everyone what I watched on the 5:30 news here in phx…
I’m not getting my hopes up yet..
April 5th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
dcast: Livengood never went to Detroit despite previous reports. Paul Weitman is an avid basketball fan and with his pull, he gets Final Four tickets every year. It’s conceivable he used his own jet to go to the games there and provided it to Livengood today to transport Miller.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Why didn’t livengood go after dixon first?? i think the mega deal to dixon is a “rumor” (aka lie).
April 5th, 2009 at 5:28 PM
AHHH thanks for clearing it up Javier.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Think Dixon folks!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Livingood is so far over his head it is scary. Xavier’s AD already said they will give a counteroffer (reported on espn). The only shot Az had was to give Miller a deal that he couldn’t get at XU. They had to blow the competition out of the water, like Kentucky did with Cal. Obviously, they didn’t need to offer $4M/yr like Kentucky did, but they needed to offer a much more attractive package than XU. Now, XU will come back and offer $2M/yr and Miller will stay and Livingood and UA look even dumber. I think at this point there is a 5% chance that Miller goes to Tucson. Perhaps only then will Livingood realize that he doesn’t get to give a counter-counteroffer.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:37 PM
+2 paul z Says
I do see one problem in Dixon in that Pitt is an Adidas school with contracts involved..
______________________________________________________________
Everyone who thinks adidas and nike contracts arent important they are thats why i am glad if UA gets Miller he is a NIke guy.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:42 PM
judging by XU’s AD comments Miller is staying put once again Arizona has been used. Hire Theus and just get it over with.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Zonacat_vols Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
judging by XU’s AD comments Miller is staying put once again Arizona has been used. Hire Theus and just get it over with.
_________________________________________________________________
That is what Memphis AD said about Calipari but in the end he couldnt afford him
Xavier with 6000 enrollment can not match ARizona with 37000+ enrollment not to mention some major earning boosters like Moreno (owner of LA Angels) Arizona native UA grad and most importantly a BILLIONAIRE, along with Sarver another billionaire and tons of other major earning boosters.
Believe me if Miller declines to take the ARizona job it would because of he doesnt want to move, not because the AD would make a counter offer UA couldnt counter offer.
burbble wrote:
Hey all you brainiacs ripping on Dustin and Shannon, all the info is developing from Arizona. These guys work out of Cincinnati for the Enquirer. Have you read the enquirer? When was the last time you saw a deep cover story that had some serious coin behind it comming from this paper. If you read their blogs throuout the year, they do a good job of keeping Xfans up to date on the team
MuskiBluBob said:
If Miller went onto to another program which I think most Xavier fans realize is a very good possibilty and Xu fans wouldn’t fault him for it; it would be for the top teir program not because of $$; but typically top tier programs pay good coin.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Monday we March on to 1 Championship Drive and force Levinjoke out drag his butt in the streets and beat him like a pinata!!!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 5:51 PM
paul z,
Were sources mentioned? I just wonder where some of this info comes from. Sometimes you wonder if it is made up or somebody just expressing an opinion and it gets picked up fact.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Wait what, if Miller turns us down then were offering Dixon a “mega deal”??
Why didn’t Livengood just offer Dixon this “mega deal” in the first place? and pursue him and try to negotiate with him instead of going after Miller?
April 5th, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Dixon wont come either if he does talk with us will pull a Tim Floyd! We just need to settle with Theus.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I heard that too Jude LaCava saying that if MIller declines they would throw major money at Pitts dixon, now when you hear Jude LaCava say something its like baseball fans listening to Vin Scully, you listen and pay attention and you know there is truth with. They are offering Miller about 2.2+ that would mean Pitt would be in the high $2millions or in the $3million dollar range.
April 5th, 2009 at 5:56 PM
This is a great comment this is from the enquirer.com story on miller back in cincinnati
JayinFlorence wrote:
Replying to PMThor:
Xavier fans are quick to brag that they are the 17th most valuable program in college basketball. If that is the case, why can’t they afford Miller?
I’m actually happy to respond to this one.
Xavier’s coaching salary is an expense that has to fit within the overall mission of the university.
You may know that Xavier is in the midst of a major expansion project, investing in the university, its students, and its future.
The inescapable truth is that if you merely at the numbers, Xavier dos not have the resource to pool from, especially when compare to a UC, a UK, an OSU or an AZ.
Xavier basketball is an important part of Xavier University, not vice versa.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Sleep well Wildcat fans: This maybe the only night rest we’ll get this week. Miller dont pull a Floyd!
April 5th, 2009 at 6:01 PM
I think it is STUPID to have MILLER on the fence and WHILE HE IS TRYING TO DECIDE info is leaked that if he says NO we will offer MORE MONEY to DIXON, that doesnt make Mr Miller feel very wanted. For God’s sake what are these people THINKING?
Sounds like ASU sabotage to me.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:06 PM
from PASCOE just now:
Once Jim Livengood stepped out of the baggage-claim restroom at Tucson International Airport, I apologized for going paparazzi on him.
Then I asked him if Sean Miller said yes or no.
“No comment, Bruce,” Livengood said, after deplaning a Southwest Airlines flight from Albuquerque unaccompanied. “Nothing at all right now.”
I asked him if UA president Robert Shelton was present at the meeting today and he wouldn’t comment on that either. Nor whether anything might be known tonight or tomorrow.
“You never know,” Livengood said. “Never know.”
Wearing the kind of concerned expression I hadn’t seen on him since the day Lute Olson retired — his usual great-to-be-a-Wildcat smile was not present in any form — Livengood quickly walked away.
Then again, I’m not sure if you can read much into his body language or terse replies at this point. He’s got to be a pretty tired man.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:08 PM
KOLD just reported that Fascinations has sold out all of their Josh Pastner blow up dolls. Said store employee Bruce “we were just turned topsy turvy with the demand for this item I even sold mine tee hee”.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:15 PM
I just reported that I don’t know what to think of this situation.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Guess what? Regardless if the guy does or doesn’t take the job my take is that the sun will still rise over Tucson Monday morning, Citi Group and BofA will still be operating, GM will continue to be inching toward bankruptcy court, and my stock portfolio will still look lousy.
This Zona coaching search has been a nice diversion from the real problems which is why I guess I am as guilty as anyone posting on these threads knowing full well that no one really gives a damn what I think.
One positive thing that has come out of the process is that Bruce has broken out of the sports section and made the front page. He now knows the high that a paparazzi gets when one of his pictures makes the National Enquirer.
Just think, once this saga comes to a conclusion we can all tell the new coach who he needs to recruit. Won’ t that be exciting? Something else to keep us from facing the things that really matter.
Senseless post? Yes, but what the heck I can’t let Voice have all the fun.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Pastner as associate HC?
04/04/2009 11:08 PM
Bruce Pascoe
Sounds like Jim Livengood has been asking candidates if they would add Josh Pastner to his staff as an associate head coach, but there are two main obstacles.
For one thing, most new coaches want to bring in their own guys that they know well and can trust (although it should be noted that Pastner and Sean Miller are friendly).
For another, Pastner doesn’t need to leave Kentucky to go anywhere for an associate head coaching job. He made $247,000 as a Memphis assistant coach last season, according to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, and could become the John Calipari of assistant coaches at Kentucky if he goes there (then again, maybe that title goes to Mike Dunlap, who will pull down $400,000 plus a $300,000 bonus to help Ernie Kent at Oregon next season).
Here’s a Commercial-Appeal story on Calipari’s well-paid Memphis staff.
I also answered a few questions on the end of the previous thread. Sorry it took so long but I had a long Sunday story to do and another battery-killing day on the cellphone. I threw a complete guess out at Chi-Cat’s request but so far it’s tough to guess where Jim Livengood will go next if Sean Miller says no….
Back
April 5th, 2009 at 6:22 PM
It’s well known by now that UA athletic director Jim Livengood, president Robert Shelton and Xavier head coach Sean Miller met in Santa Fe (N.M.) today to discuss the Wildcats’ head coaching position.
Associated Press
Sean Miller met with Arizona on Sunday.
However, until now, no one with direct knowledge of what’s going on between Arizona and Miller has been willing to talk.
A source with knowledge of the discussions agreed to talk to GOAZCATS.com as long as he remained anonymous, and filled us in on exactly what’s happening between the two parties.
Around the time that USC head coach Tim Floyd was headed to Tucson to speak with Livengood and Shelton, Arizona found out that Miller was legitimately interested in the job.
Even with Floyd in limbo, Arizona did begin to seriously target Miller as its main target in the coaching search.
Before thinking too much about it, on Thursday night, Miller had made the decision not to take the job. However, he woke up on Friday morning thinking differently.
“Sean slept on it Friday and had a change of heart in the morning,” the source said. “Then they started talking on Friday and had their first conversation then.”
To find out more about the UA, Miller reached out to a number of people he trusts.
“Sean has done his due diligence over the past few days and reached out to a small circle of people he confides in and I think he realized what a unique opportunity it is to even talk to the folks at Arizona about the job,” the source said.
From there, Arizona was able to set up a meeting with Miller in Santa Fe on Sunday. However, Miller couldn’t make up his mind whether or not he was going to actually show up.
“Sean has gone back and forth because he loves Xavier, he just loves the program there. He’s at home there,” the source said. “It’s a difficult decision for him to even get on the plane and talk to Livengood, even though he knows what a great program Arizona is.”
The question from there was whether or not he would actually board the plane to Tucson. If he did, Miller had it in his mind what he would do next.
“Sean said, ‘If I get on the plane I’m taking it but I don’t think I’m getting on the plane,’” the source said.
Finally, Miller was convinced that he didn’t need to accept if he got on the plane, and around midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning he decided he would meet with Livengood.
After flying into Albuquerque (N.M.), the two rented a car and drove to Santa Fe to meet Shelton.
So what does Miller meeting with Arizona actually mean? According to the source, it’s definitely a positive sign for UA.
“The fact that he got on the plane doesn’t mean it’s done, but it does mean that he’s very serious about it,” the source said.
How close did the source think the deal is to getting done?
“I think it’s close,” he said. “I think from Sean’s perspective, just getting on the plane and deciding to go there and meet with them makes it very close to being done. The fact that he’s there makes it very, very serious. I think it is close.”
April 5th, 2009 at 6:24 PM
From the Cincy Enquirer just now:
Back from the airport…waiting….w/ Bobinski update (9 p.m.)
Posted by DustinDow at 4/5/2009 7:53 PM EDT
*Just heard from Shannon who spoke to Bobinski. As of 9 p.m. tonight, Miller is still Xavier’s coach according to Bobinski, who did not divulge details about the decision Miller still has to make, referring to it as “personal.” Bobinski did say, however, that he’s on his way back to Cincinnati from Detroit. Obviously plenty to sort out back home.
With Mario Mercurio whisking him away in a Toyota SUV and past a handful of XU fans at Lunken Airport, Sean Miller went off somewhere presumably to decide once and for all if he’s going to take the Arizona job. As of a half hour ago, Cintas Center was quiet and players contacted via phone either weren’t talking or in the case of Jordan Crawford said they hadn’t heard any news of a team meeting.
I would imagine that among the first people to know will be Amy and John Miller and then Bobinski. I do not know if he is still in Detroit or on his way back to Cincinnati.
Given that Miller must have had a good idea of where his feelings were before he got on the plane, it would make sense if he were able to make up his mind tonight. But if he truly is torn, he could always wait until tomorrow, although there is already a good deal of anxiety and perplexion within the XU booster community. For what it’s worth — and it may not be much if Miller really likes Arizona — XU has established a Basketball Excellence Fund, from what I’ve been told through booster channels, in order to generate money to counter-offer Miller. I do not know how much they’re able to offer. I’d be surprised if it equalled the $2 million-plus that Arizona is offering.
The timing of this, no doubt, has caught boosters off-guard, especially because information was presented to the XU executive committee of the board on Friday suggesting Miller had turned down Arizona. So coming up with a counteroffer now may be a bit of a scramble, but because Bobinski had worked to establish the BEF, something could be presented to Miller tonight.
Again, though, if he got on that plane and went through the motions of a meet-and-greet with the AZ president, a counteroffer from XU may not matter at this point.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Don’t read too much into Livengood’s response to Bruce. Pascoe is a hard-working reporter. Livengood set up this meeting in Albuquerque thinking nobody would know so he could save some face if Miller spurns the offer. But in this day of the Internet, Livengood should have known better. The jet’s path was there for all of us to see all day. He didn’t know that? …Anyway, Livengood was probably caught off guard by Pascoe’s presence at the airport. I applaud Pascoe for being there. UA fans, many of whom pay a lot of money for season tickets, want to know what’s going on. …I will say this: Miller did not agree to coach the UA immediately after their meeting, hence the “You never know’ comment by Livengood. If he had, Livengood would have told Bruce that he would probably have something for him tomorrow or Tuesday. I’d say Livengood is pretty nervous, anxious and tired right now. He’s got the pressure of making the hire, for one, and then appeasing the fans and boosters, and more importantly, his boss, the president of the UA. If I lived with Livengood right now, I’d keep a fair distance.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:34 PM
+2 Bret Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
From the Cincy Enquirer just now:
I do not know how much they’re able to offer. I’d be surprised if it equalled the $2 million-plus that Arizona is offering.
The timing of this, no doubt, has caught boosters off-guard, especially because information was presented to the XU executive committee of the board on Friday suggesting Miller had turned down Arizona. So coming up with a counteroffer now may be a bit of a scramble, but because Bobinski had worked to establish the BEF, something could be presented to Miller tonight.
Again, though, if he got on that plane and went through the motions of a meet-and-greet with the AZ president, a counteroffer from XU may not matter at this point.
____________________________________________________________________
Nice, at leat the cininnati writer know they cant beat the $2mill. offer
April 5th, 2009 at 6:37 PM
It aint all about the $$$. For me the tell tale sign is Livengood flying Southwest back to Tucson. If it was a done deal, he would have been booked on America West, first class.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:37 PM
From the Cincy Enquirer just now:
Back from the airport…waiting….w/ Bobinski update (9 p.m.)
Posted by DustinDow at 4/5/2009 7:53 PM EDT
*Just heard from Shannon who spoke to Bobinski. As of 9 p.m. tonight, Miller is still Xavier’s coach according to Bobinski, who did not divulge details about the decision Miller still has to make, referring to it as “personal.” Bobinski did say, however, that he’s on his way back to Cincinnati from Detroit. Obviously plenty to sort out back home.
With Mario Mercurio whisking him away in a Toyota SUV and past a handful of XU fans at Lunken Airport, Sean Miller went off somewhere presumably to decide once and for all if he’s going to take the Arizona job. As of a half hour ago, Cintas Center was quiet and players contacted via phone either weren’t talking or in the case of Jordan Crawford said they hadn’t heard any news of a team meeting.
I would imagine that among the first people to know will be Amy and John Miller and then Bobinski. I do not know if he is still in Detroit or on his way back to Cincinnati.
Given that Miller must have had a good idea of where his feelings were before he got on the plane, it would make sense if he were able to make up his mind tonight. But if he truly is torn, he could always wait until tomorrow, although there is already a good deal of anxiety and perplexion within the XU booster community. For what it’s worth — and it may not be much if Miller really likes Arizona — XU has established a Basketball Excellence Fund, from what I’ve been told through booster channels, in order to generate money to counter-offer Miller. I do not know how much they’re able to offer. I’d be surprised if it equalled the $2 million-plus that Arizona is offering.
The timing of this, no doubt, has caught boosters off-guard, especially because information was presented to the XU executive committee of the board on Friday suggesting Miller had turned down Arizona. So coming up with a counteroffer now may be a bit of a scramble, but because Bobinski had worked to establish the BEF, something could be presented to Miller tonight.
Again, though, if he got on that plane and went through the motions of a meet-and-greet with the AZ president, a counteroffer from XU may not matter at this point.
—————
Where is this article?
April 5th, 2009 at 6:42 PM
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=blog05&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3afdda4dab-ab39-43a7-8ba8-36da2f75a889Post%3a51e935a9-c0ba-41d2-a5dc-4693ba5d982f&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com
More of the same
Posted by ShannonRussell at 4/5/2009 9:54 PM EDT on Cincinnati.com
Thought it would be a good idea to take a week off after the season, that nothing would be going on and that Sean was set at XU for at least another year. Riiiight. I was among the people awaiting Miller at Lunken Airport around dinnertime. Like Dustin said, Miller didn’t say a word before being whisked away. His cell phone voice mail is full and he didn’t return calls made to his home a couple hours after he landed. I suppose that makes sense, though, that he’d be talking things over with his wife Amy and AD Mike Bobinski. Here’s hoping we hear from Miller tomorrow.
Bobinski was driving through a rainstorm to get home from Detroit when he returned my call tonight. He cut short his Final Four trip, which tells you something, but he didn’t have much to say on the Miller subject. His main quote:
“I don’t have any details to share and I wouldn’t share them if I had them. Where somebody is employed is a very personal matter. At this point in time, we continue to think and believe that Sean will be our head coach.”
He said he intended to talk to Miller but that their meeting time at this point was not firm.
Fans at Lunken weren’t surprised that other programs intended to court Miller pretty hard, but they were a little bewildered about Arizona being an apparent contender. “Why this school? Why now?” asked Jason McCormick, an XU senior. I had the same questions. This year was my first on the XU beat, and in that time the pervading sense of where Miller was and where he’d go led me to believe:
-If he were to leave, it would be after next season
-He wanted to return to the ACC
So I was surprised Miller boarded a plane to discuss the Arizona job. Arizona obviously has a need/want of a big-name coach, but I wonder if Miller would have put them on his short list anyway.
April 5th, 2009 at 6:44 PM
Here’s the half full look:
Do you think Livengood, after what Floyd just did, would in his right mind, on any day, tell anyone, that Miller said yes? I don’t think Livengood will confirm anything until his next coach is sitting with him at a table in McKale center with microphone stands keeping a signed 5-year contract from blowing away.
A hopeful take…..
April 5th, 2009 at 6:51 PM
news just in….Miller said yes
April 5th, 2009 at 6:51 PM
you all are so serious…just kidding
April 5th, 2009 at 6:54 PM
not funny
April 5th, 2009 at 6:55 PM
This whole thing is funny.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:06 PM
I’m not delusional enough to think Miller is going to spend his entire career at X but him leaving after this season just makes no sense. Next season really has all the makings of a special year for Xavier and Miller has said as much. Supposedly he was offered the Indiana job last year and he turned it down. I think most would say that’s a job with more prestige than AZ. As long as X continues this run of success “bcs” schools will always be interested in Miller.
And thanks for letting me know about the “elite” nike jerseys. Guess that was just message board fodder (shocking).
And if that’s true about them throwing a ton of money at Dixon should Sean turn AZ down that will only jump start the Miller to Pitt speculation (he played for and is an alum at Pitt, he also is from there).
We have a 10,2500 seat gym that is sold out almost all games. In my estimation, that’s the biggest gym we could have and still have consistent sell-outs. It’s a small but very passionate fan base. Sorry, but I’m just a delusional fan who loves spreading the gospel of Xavier basketball.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:07 PM
Boy, why you goin’ makin’ a fool out of yourself again!! You want your bottom paddled?
April 5th, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Why is it so hard to believe Miller would stay at Xavier his whole career? John Chaney was at Temple 25 years.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:16 PM
Xman, realize that the Indiana job may be more prestigious but remember that creen left marquette to go to indiana when his marquette team was an elite 8 contender(if james wouldnt have been injured). why wouldnt Miller leave for a powerhouse like arizona. Xavier is a good school, dont get me wrong, but could potentially be more succesful at at school like Arizona because they are the number one program in the state unlike Xavier which has to out recruit both Ohio state and Cincinatti.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:16 PM
X-Man,
I admire your love for your team, and I totally know where you’re coming from. Fans like you are what make your team great. As a diehard Wildcat, I have the same passion for my team and I want to see them succeed, no matter what. I know you too understand that.
Either way, it sounds like it’s all in Miller’s court now (no pun intended). We’ll see what happens. You and I both won’t get any sleep tonight!
April 5th, 2009 at 7:16 PM
John Chaney stayed at Temple because he was bringing in two salaries. One for head coach and the other, due to his unmistakable resembalence to an owl, for mascot.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:21 PM
One of the earlier articles said something that was interesting. The fact that Miller had said no and after taking to “friends, peers, and HIS WIFE” he had a change of heart. Don’t let her influence go unnoticed as silly as that sounds.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:23 PM
I will Tivo the 9:30 news on Channel 10 Fox News.. If anyone on here is from Phoenix please watch the news on Channel 10..
Jude Lacava will be back on with his “10:30 sports night” after the 10:00 news to talk about the Miller situation and the Dixon situation.. I’m not BS’n on this folks..
Al he had said was that UA made the offer to Miller but was not sure and showed a picture of Sean than he talked about 30 secs saying they would go after Dixon (showed a video clip of Dixon) with an offer IF Miller declined..
I think Livengood already has his henchman in place wih Dixon “courting” in case Miller declines..
I kind of have a feeling Miller will be swayed to stay..
If Dixon is back in the picture I would be thrilled.. He could do it and he would be a hit at UA..
Should be exciting..
April 5th, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Fox has a 9, 9:30, 10 news up here then the 10:30 sports night on Sunday nights..
I will let everyone know what Jude Lacava says..
April 5th, 2009 at 7:26 PM
PaulZ, I would just be thrilled if it could be confirmed that Livengood actually HAS henchmen! That would make me feel a whole lot better about this process.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:27 PM
+4 Jason Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
John Chaney stayed at Temple because he was bringing in two salaries. One for head coach and the other, due to his unmistakable resembalence to an owl, for mascot.
———————————————————————————————-
hahahaha! chaney does look like the owl! maybe we should be looking for someone who more closely resembles wilbur in our search
April 5th, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Funny thing is that when the Floyd fiasco was going down the first name that came up in LA for the LA jobs was Dixon. I watched all of the local news and before Floyd even said that he was staying or going the local new casters were calling for Dixon. They also mentioned that the Cal State Northridge coach should at least get an interview.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:28 PM
The only thing that will sway Miller to stay put (and the only reason other coaches are hesistant to take, let alone talk about the ‘Zona job) is the fact that he will have to rebuild in AZ compared to having a stellar team and success.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Latest by Jeff Goodman- Miller says no
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9421330/Sources:-Miller-turns-down-%27Zona-to-stay-at-Xavier
April 5th, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Cue the circus music
April 5th, 2009 at 7:33 PM
are you *@%!ing kidding me? How does he know? I would say he is just trying to stoke the fire or be like Katz but Goodman is an Arizona alum.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:34 PM
What did i tell you that scum bag Miller had no intent on coming to Arizona
April 5th, 2009 at 7:34 PM
The Floyd Effect:
Definition when a coach says he’ll talk to Arizona about the HC job but uses Arizona and Jim Levinjoke as a devious ploy to extort money and/or contract extension from his current employer with never having any intent to actually taking the job.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:35 PM
jesus christ, this is a new low.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Add that scumbag Miller to this list of Dick’s hope he burns in hell
ok now that i got that out of my system add the douche to the list of the floyd effect
April 5th, 2009 at 7:37 PM
over 200 comments and it comes back to the comment post at 9:55am.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:39 PM
no one with a better team ($ is not an issue apparently) will come to UA. simple as that.
time to give up. I’ve never said or believed this but give it to pastner and get some high priced assistants…
April 5th, 2009 at 7:39 PM
They went after Floyd in hoping he would bring recruits.. he was one step away from an ncaa violation..
Blessing in disquise..
Fox Sports “Goodman” says Miller is staying put..
The mega deal to Dixon is next.. Livengood is aiming high at least..
April 5th, 2009 at 7:40 PM
I feel like the fat girl at the bar trying to get somebody to buy me a drink.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Well I guess this explains Livengood’s demeanor when he deplaned. Miller probably told Livengood that he wasnt interested but wanted to think about it. So basically we have a small chance. “you never know”
April 5th, 2009 at 7:42 PM
When does football season start?
April 5th, 2009 at 7:42 PM
THIS IS GETTING RIDDICULOUS
April 5th, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Steve Miller is not coming to UA…Check out the link
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9421330/Sources:-Miller-turns-down-%27Zona-to-stay-at-Xavier#
April 5th, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Sean Miller is expected to be the latest to spurn Arizona.
According to sources close to the situation, the Xavier head coach met with Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood in New Mexico earlier today and has decided that – barring a last-minute change of heart – he will remain with the Musketeers.
Miller, 40, has spent the last five seasons as the head coach of the Musketeers and has made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances – including an Elite Eight last season and a Sweet 16 this past year.
Miller joins USC’s Tim Floyd to meet with Livengood in the past few days and turn down what was once considered an elite program.
Livengood was also unsuccessful luring big names such as Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.
Miller makes approximately $800,000 at Xavier and, according to sources, was offered more than $2 million a year in Tucson.
Now the Wildcats will need to find someone willing to take the job.
According to sources, Utah’s Jim Boylen might be next in line.
Boylen, 43, has worked for Michigan State’s Jud Heathcote and Tom Izzo and also spent 13 seasons in the NBA.
While he may not possess the high-profile name that Livengood was initially searching for to win the news conference, Boylen has done a terrific job rebuilding the program in Utah and is also a proven coach, recruiter and a guy who is known in the industry as someone who develops players.
Utah lost to Arizona in the first round of the NCAA tournament this season.
Add a comment
XAVIER’S MILLER SET TO MEET WITH ‘ZONA AD
Apr 05, 2009 | 7:44AM | report this Xavier coach Sean Miller will meet with Arizona today.
According to sources close to the situation, Miller was picked up on a private plane on Sunday morning and will meet Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood in Albuquerque, New Mexico at approximately 12 p.m. ET
A meeting certainly doesn’t guarantee that Miller will take the job. USC’s Tim Floyd recently went to Tucson and wound up turning down the job.
“By no means does this mean it’s done,” said a source close to the situation.
Miller, 40, has spent the last five seasons as the head coach of the Musketeers and has made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances – including an Elite Eight last season and a Sweet 16 this past year.
Miller makes approximately $800,000 at Xavier and, according to sources, would earn in excess of $2 million a year in Tucson.
Miller is not a West coast guy, but he’s a terrific recruiter and a proven coach – and would be a home run for Livengood.
However, he’d take over a program in a similar situation as Indiana. The Wildcats went to the Sweet 16 this year with interim coach Russ Pennell a t the helm, but will likely lose both Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill early to the NBA draft.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:44 PM
People quit the panicing… things will work out…
Dixon is a west coast guy..
They will offer Dixon 2.5 for 5 years…
Only thing I’m worried about is the Adidas contract he has with Pitt..
Chill out…
They are not going after some loser of a coach..
April 5th, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Are these they same guys who said Floyd said yes before actually hearing from the individual?
April 5th, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Who’s Steve Miller?
April 5th, 2009 at 7:45 PM
This is bull Fire Levinjoke now i say burn his a$$ on a stake. Well you guy with this news Arizona is officaly dead. Miller you go to hell you c**k sucking F**. Lets Face it Lute was Arizona we’ll never land a coach now this is bull Dixon will nerver come to Zona give that up NOW!
April 5th, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Can someone check on Dixon’s buyout? I think its high..
April 5th, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Hey, I’m just reporting what was on the news up here… I wish I could upload the clip..
April 5th, 2009 at 7:46 PM
did anyone read the new rivals article?
April 5th, 2009 at 7:48 PM
If Dixon really is next on the list I think it is very odd that the candidates seem to be getting better after each rejection. As far as anyone knows for sure Tim Floyd was the first to be offered the job. After he rejected we went for Sean Miller who is a far better coach than Floyd. Now that it looks like Miller is out we are going after Dixon? Whos next after Dixon rejects us? Williams? If so we are only a few more rejections away from offering the job to Phil Jackson himself.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:48 PM
LINK TO THE NEW RIVALS ARTICLE PLEASE
April 5th, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Here’s the keys to the Cadillac….oh yeah… you have to put it back together.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:50 PM
GIVE IT UP DIXON WILL NEVER COME TO TUCSON!!!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 7:50 PM
CBS sports reports the rejection. Not good.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11595705
April 5th, 2009 at 7:50 PM
I dont have access to GOAZCATS but it looks like they are reporting the same thing.
NEXT!
April 5th, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Get Josh on a damn plane now!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 7:51 PM
I can rationalize the heartbeaks and disappointments on the court, but this is a new low…
April 5th, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Ok i starting to believe Arizona will never find a coach now lets just can the basketball team and really go strong for football
April 5th, 2009 at 7:52 PM
KILL ME
April 5th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
This is ridiculous….Livenmoron cant even get a coach to leave a mid major program all while tripling his salary.
This is pathetic Arizona is turning into the laughing stock of college basketball over the past week.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
zona cat vols is right…..dixon will not come, even for 5 million a season…..
i’m more excited about the UA USC football finale than this coaching fishing trip, and it’s 8 months away
April 5th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Jim Boylen?? Talk about a kick in tha nuts to Pennell.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
If we hire Jim Boylen I am burning my degree.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Oh no…we suck again
April 5th, 2009 at 7:55 PM
And the hits keep on coming….
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9421330/Sources:-Miller-turns-down-‘Zona-to-stay-at-Xavier
April 5th, 2009 at 7:56 PM
If this little punk Miller wasn’t sure he was going to take the job, then why did he apply, other than leverage for more money? Here’s hoping for a losing season for Xavier next year and all coming years.
If we have to go to the bottom of the tank to get Boylen from Utah, then we are really desperate. Go after Gillespie! What do we have to lose? Our program is already on a one way street to oblivion.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:56 PM
maybe izzo will give us a look if the spartans win monday night…doubt it.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Doubt it, but not completely out of the realm of possibility.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Pastner is the answer. Fire Livengood.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Coaches are just like players these day. A feeling of entitlement. They all want to step into a program one step from the title. Nobody wants to build anything or earn it. They all feel like they deserve the shot right away.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:00 PM
If you’re Xavier AD Bobinski you drive 4 hrs from the Bigger, Badder D and The Final 4 and back to the ‘Nati to:
A) Keep your coach who’s already decided to do so from going west to Arizona, where 10,000 are seated most nights at least 1 hr before tip-off, and where with basically only 3 top-flight players (playing for their 2nd interim head coach in as many years, BTW) you can make it as far as X made it this year with a team loaded with talent
OR
B) To have a press conference of your own just to have your coach say:
I listened to what Arizona had to offer and I must say it’s a heckuva offer they made, but there’s something about coaching some place that’s got its own tradition that we’re working to expand and build on, like the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 we’ve been to in the last 2 years and the brand-new stadium we just constructed at Xavier.
And of course to then take your turn at the mic only to say:
Ya know, here at little ‘ol Xavier in Cincinnati we’re pleased as all get up to have an elite-level program like Arizona come calling on our basketball coach every time an opening comes up.
Shucks, I’ll be darned if it wasn’t but a year ago that Indiana did the exact same thing.
With what we’ve started here at Xavier in Sean’s short time as the head coach we’re pretty excited, and we’re tickled at what the future holds.
Every time we make it to the Sweet 16 or the Elite 8 – watch us, we’re gonna knock down that dang door to the Final 4 some day real soon, maybe next year! – we have to hold our collective breathe and hope that things end like they did today, with Sean still a Musketeer at heart and coaching these fine young men of Xavier on his mind.
Thank ya and y’all have a mighty nice day now…
Kinda sounds familiar doesn’t it?
Like a Coleman size 13 to no not my face, but my mid-major section.
And not once but twice.
Next…
April 5th, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Ok we cant get Floyd, Miller, Few,Calipari, on and on and on but Jamie Dixon come on enogh with the naiveté Dixon would not even touch arizona with a 20ft pole. Just hire Reggie Theus he wants the job save the University, the players and most of all the fan the disappointment and embarrassment of another coach turning us down.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:01 PM
I wonder what all the boosters think about this. Guys like Moreno and Sarver dont like being told no and they definitely dont like feeling rejected. These guys have money, power and can have whatever they want, whenever they want. I could imagine that they could up the ante in order to save face and win this.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Livengood has embarrassed the university with these rejections. The only way to save face now is to fire Livengood and have the president make a hire. He should hire Pastner and say that he should have been the prime candidate from the start and blame Livengood for not doing that. Any hire by Livengood now will be an embarrassment. He has to go. THis is a down right shame.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:06 PM
This is just depressing me. It’s an absolute doomsday scenario where major coaches are spurning us. What makes a Jim Boylen or Randy Bennett better than Pastner at this point? At least Tucson would be excited to support Pastner, giving him the benefit of the doubt and some patience. Does Livengood actually think the Arizona fans are going to embrace Jim Boylen? Who the hell is Jim Boylen? It doesn’t matter. The history of Arizona basketball doesn’t matter right now. We have no coach, no players, no recruits, and no options. Excuse me while I go drink myself to sleep and hopefully this nightmare ends when I wake up tomorrow and start tracking a single engine Cessna from Kentucky to Avra Valley Airport…..
April 5th, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Where do we go from here? This is like one giant, frickin’ nightmare!!
April 5th, 2009 at 8:08 PM
The only other thing I have to say is that CBS and MSNBC are quoting sources. Hopefully it’s the same sources that said Floyd was taking the job…..
April 5th, 2009 at 8:09 PM
Talked to a source inside the athletic dept.
Apparently the Director of Finances for the University has told Livengood something to the effect of “money is not an object at this point.”
The school can’t afford to bring in anything less than a semi-big name at this point. We need to spend money (3 million range) to make money (eg keep our program top 10 most profitable according to Forbes).
Hopefully we go after Dixon big time.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:12 PM
The Cincinnati Enquirer is also reporting it as well. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=blog05&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3afdda4dab-ab39-43a7-8ba8-36da2f75a889Post%3a81c43b16-032e-428a-99b8-0c4609155433&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com
April 5th, 2009 at 8:14 PM
I am sending my DEGREE back to the University if they hire Boylen, that guy is a lousy coach in every respect.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:14 PM
X man get the f outta here go back to that scum bag miller
April 5th, 2009 at 8:15 PM
we need to face it Arizona is dead we’ll never find a coach now.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:17 PM
Miller was playing Livengood all along. You shouldn’t have to BEG as much as livengood did, to get a coach. He doesn’t want it, his loss. The A-10 has more fertile grounds I suppose, I dont know…
I do know, that they have to hire Theus ASAP. I don’t care what Livengood has said. As a recruit, do you want to play for Jim Boylen (had to look up his name)? Or Theus, who has played and coached NBA…The kids love that, and they eat it all up. I can’t believe Zona has fallen to “Boylen” standards (might not even want the job haha). Sad day, truly
April 5th, 2009 at 8:18 PM
“Who the hell is Jim Boylen?” – exactly
We played him 3 weeks ago and i don’t even know who he is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………………!!!!!!!!!!.!
Boyen hired = someone in a bell tower
April 5th, 2009 at 8:19 PM
i just threw up in my mouth. This is completely embarrassing, Livengood is a complete clown and doesn’t know what he’s doing. Public rejection after public rejection. Arizona is becoming a joke. Give it to Pastner already, he’ll take the job and work his ass off. I can’t take any more of this.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:20 PM
How’s bout an ad/basketball coach package deal?
Seriously, how does this guy hang on to his job after first the Mackovic bullcrap and now this?
April 5th, 2009 at 8:20 PM
-3 Zonacat_vols Says:
April 5th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
X man get the f outta here go back to that scum bag miller
———————————————————————————————
not xman’s fault, nor miller’s. all this angst should be directed at livengood for not being able to sell the job. or maybe lute needs to share in that, since the cupboard is so painfully bare in the wake of the last 2 years of turmoil.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Oh there you go…Utah’s coach plays our ‘magic ad’ for another coach’s raise…
April 5th, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Tim Floyd = Strike 1… Sean Miller = Strike 2… One more Spurn Livenbad and you’re out….your job is on the line
April 5th, 2009 at 8:23 PM
With Boylen or Greenberg you don’t even freakin’ have the freakin’ press conference, darn it!
Nope.
Why the freakin’ heck for?!
Shelton I’m telling you has got to take the bull by the horns and put an end to this bull-crap that’s been going on now for about 4, 5 years too long.
Kerr gets immediately – i-meeeee-di-ate-lyyyyy! – hired as AD and HC.
Livengood gets shown the freakin’ door.
The freakin’ rest we’ll freakin’ figure out freakin’ later!
Just get that darn plane and get Kerr here NOW!!
What neverending crap and nonsense, and some, if you can believe it, want more of the freakin’ same by putting someone who’s never called a play, never called a time-out, never called a player out or made up a freakin’ line-up in freakin’ charge!
Un-freakin’-believable!!!!!
April 5th, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Arizona just needs to scrap the Basketball program and concentrate on football a mediocre football team is sounding better and better.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:27 PM
livengood couldn’t talk the panties off a hooker
April 5th, 2009 at 8:29 PM
We are a former basketball town not anymore. i cant believe no one wants the job.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:30 PM
I may get chastized for this but I almost feel bad for livengood. I mean if people say no to the job there isnt much you can do. I mean a salesman can only do so much and Livengood is only authorized to offer what he can offer. I am not defending Livengood and I would never say that he is a good AD but I mean there are a lot of things working against this job.
1 – follow in Lutes footsteps
2 – Possible recruiting violation
3 – possible firing of AD after coach is hired
4 – Jamelle Horne is your best player
5 – Recruiting deadline is very quickly approaching
6 – 25 straight NCAA tourny appearances
7 – Kentucky raised the bar on the going rate for a coach
8 – Most of the coaches we are going after are at winning programs with top recruiting classes.
9 – Our court says Lute Olson right on it.
These are just nine things that I can think of off the top of my head. I mean its not an easy sell.
This being said I wouldnt shed a tear if livengood was fired tomorrow just becuase of the Mackovic hire alone. Overall the momentum is going against us. We are being rejected left and right and we look like damaged goods. I dont know what the answer is but I definitely wouldnt want to be in Livengoods shoes.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Arizona not going to find a coach any time soon just forfeit the 2009/2010 season better yet just can the basketball program it will never be good heck it will never be at ASU’s lowest level now
April 5th, 2009 at 8:36 PM
I have asked this before but did not get an answer from anyone.
Has a team ever forfeited a season?
April 5th, 2009 at 8:37 PM
we should find out hell the program is dead anyway
April 5th, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Pastner is older than Jeff Capel when he was hired at VCU. He has been an assistant at Arizona and Memphis. He has been part of a national championship team, a coach on two final four teams. His team last year won 38 games. Who doesn’t think he can manage timeouts? He has NBA players on his speed dial and high school coaches on his twitter. He loves Arizona and would take the job for (I can’t believe I am saying this) for only a million dollars. Do any of you think that another coach deserves this job more than Pastner? There are lots of Mackovics out there, we know a lot more about Pastner.
Pastner loves Arizona. And he can recruit. And he has a pulse.
At this point, who would you rather have? Jim Boylen?
April 5th, 2009 at 8:42 PM
No, no no. No forfeiting, I want a chance to play. 6’3 Maybe a shooting guard? Open tryouts, yea!!
On a serious note, what needs to be done for Livengood to get his face out of his, butt, and just hire Theus or Pastner, OR Theus AND Pastner. Screw the boosters, screw the image. Seriously, what image? We are a joke in the eyes of the national media. Get Avery Johnson, get someone other than a crap coach at a crap school, with a crap name. Boylen? Are you serious??? Greenburg? I feel like the fat kid who gets picked last, geez.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:44 PM
I bet Mike Dunlap is laughing like crazy at all this!!
April 5th, 2009 at 8:47 PM
I’m sure that Livengood thought that meeting Miller in Albuquerque could be kept a secret and that if rejected, no one would ever know. That would be true if BOTH parties wanted to keep it a secret (and we didn’t know how to track the boosters plane). Is he really this naive? If I’m looking to cash in on the interest to get a better deal back home and get great publicity to attract recruits, it can’t be a secret.
Let’s face it, it never really made sense for Miller to come to Arizona. It didn’t make sense for Pitino either. For heaven’s sake, it doesn’t make any sense for Izzo to come here. I hope they aren’t wasting time and another rejection with him.
What does make sense? It would have to be someone who wants to be in Arizona or at least out west. Of all the top candidates the only one that ever made any sense to me was Dixon because his team won’t be that great next year and he would like to be closer to LA. He’s from the west coast and wants to be on the west coast. He won’t have a good team at Arizona for the first few years but at least he’ll have a good excuse for it. Whereas back at Pitt, he doesn’t have a good excuse for his team not being that great and he plays in a conference that’ll expose all weaknesses. I could see a decent team having a brutal conference record with all the good teams there. He’s worth making a run at if he really is interested.
Let’s face it, if he isn’t interested, we aren’t getting a big name coach. Period.
Our cupboard is bare and that’s why none of the elite coaches will come here. So what do we do? We need to hire a coach that can recruit and fill up the cupboard. We will be getting a new AD soon (hopefully sooner than later). If this new coach is successful all is well, if not then the new AD can recruit an elite coach with a full cupboard and it won’t be so hard as it is now.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:49 PM
What the hell is the difference between proving yourself at a mid-major or taking over a train wreck of a high major? I just don’t see how hiring someone who won at some small conference school makes him better than Pastner. That’s what we are reduced to right now. A guy who won at Podunk U or Josh Pastner. I’ll take Pastner. At least he understands what happens here. And I’ll gladly buy season tickets with Pastner at the helm. Joe Schmoe from Northwest Southeast Tech? I would still buy tickets. But still.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:52 PM
If we hire Jim Boylen, the coaching search will have been colossal failure. Arizona beat a Boylen-coached Utah team SOUNDLY in the first round of the NCAA tournament with INTERIM coaches–and now we might hire HIM?!?! PLEASE!!!!! He has had NO MORE head college head coaching experience than Reggie Theus and NO MORE NCAA coaching experience than Reggie Theus. And as far as where Theus got his degree–that’s a sloppy poor excuse for not hiring a basketball coach. We’re hiring a BASKETBALL COACH, not an adjuction political science professor!!
We’re at a point now where we might as well have kept the interim coaching staff and made them permanent. We’re no worse off than we are now. Who’s the next to reject Arizona? And if we were going after Miller and Dixon and Floyd, why isn’t Thad Matta on the short list? Or Cleveland State’s Gary Waters? Portland State’s Ken Bone was tearing up the Big Sky Conference with a 5’6″ point guard, for Pete’s sake!! Maybe it’s time to bring in Billy Gillespie for an interview!
Hire Reggie Theus!! At least he WANTS the Arizona coaching job!
April 5th, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Reggie Theus, Head Coach
Josh Pastner, Associate Head Coach
Reggie Geary, Assistant Coach
————————————————
Recruiting wouldn’t suffer for long. Pastner gets in line to be head coach down the line.
Just thinking how embarrassing this all is. UK gets three days of coverage, and Cal is splattered all over the front page… We’ll get a blip or note on the side…
“Oh, by the way, Arizona has hired Jim Boylen as next head coach.”
April 5th, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Hey Livengood, I want a raise too. Why don’t you go ahead and call my boss? You dimwit.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Boylen is a former IZZO assistant.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Theus is a former Pitino assistant.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Theus has an internet degree, Shelton wont sign off on a coach with an online degree. Aint happening.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:14 PM
Well I hold that degree in higher estimation than a BYU degree after following Livengood’s antics these past 5 months.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:28 PM
I said this back when Floyd used us like a two dollar “you know what” but I think we need to take a serious look at Gillispie. The guy is a good coach and can recruit. Those nuts at Kentucky should have given him more time. He will have something to prove and will make a splash.
April 5th, 2009 at 9:49 PM
All I know is that all of this makes me want to vomit.
Shame on Livengood!
Shame on Shelton!
Shame on Floyd!
Shame on Miller!
Shame on all of us for wasting our time hoping these clowns can do the right thing!
April 6th, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Well now we know why Lute wanted to keep Livengood around; it wasn’t just his ‘sunny’ disposition but rather because he, Lute could basically push him around, play him, just like all these other coaches have…
April 6th, 2009 at 9:16 AM
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=dw-miller040609&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
ok read this guys
April 6th, 2009 at 9:18 AM
I heard that Calipari called Miller and told him he should reconsider the job.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Sportscenter just said he’s coming.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:24 AM
I hope it’s true. Let’s wait for a news conference!
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 AM
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