McKale Center fans stand with, cheer for Sean Miller in his UA return

Sean Miller took the floor before No. 19 Arizona squared off against Stanford on Thursday, and it like was a scene out of a movie.

Every cardinal-and-navy clad fan inside McKale Center stood and cheered.

One fan stood behind the scorer’s table was in a black suit, holding up a “Vindicated” sign.

Students in Section 122 hoisted at sign that stated “We stand with Coach Miller.”

Arizona fans had two reasons to be relieved. Miller was back, fighting against an ESPN report that says he discussed a payment to current UA freshman Deandre Ayton. So was Allonzo Trier, who was cleared by the NCAA after missing the last two games because of a failed drug test.

UA fans have been walking on eggshells for the last seven days. In a span of six hours Thursday, everything turned their way.

“It was scary,” Kameron Korth, a UA fan said.

Kameron’s father, Randy, grew up in Tucson and has been a Wildcats fan for 44 years. Randy said he’s never been more uncomfortable than he was before Thursday.

“This is probably the most stressful week as a fan,” he said.

Randy’s emotions changed completely Thursday, especially after Miller held a press conference where he said he ran a clean program and had never paid players or instructed his assistants to do so.

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UA student Ryan Carlson said Miller handled the statement “perfectly.”

“To me, he seemed very emotional about it and pretty (ticked)off — like almost livid,” Carlson said. “He was mad about how everything was rushed to conclusions so I thought he handled it pretty well and was spot on in his statement.

Fellow ZonaZoo member Adam Lorimer encouraged Miller to sue ESPN.

ESPN’s unnamed source “could’ve been made up for all we know,” he said. “They’re just scheming against us.”

Fans are also concerned that the negative spotlight placed on Arizona over the last week will affect recruiting. Four-star power forward Shareef O’Neal decommitted from the UA on Saturday, and has since committed to UCLA. O’Neal tweeted that he left Arizona because of the allegations against Miller and Arizona.

Arizona currently has one player, point guard Brandon Williams, committed in 2018.

“When recruits are picking schools, they’re not gonna want to go to a school with FBI allegations against them,” UA student Peter Tsipis said. “True or not, it’s still not a good look.”

If Thursday night was any indication, the 49-year-old Miller remains one of the most popular sports figures in Tucson. The electric atmosphere at McKale Center could vault the Wildcats through next week’s Pac-12 Tournament and into March Madness.

“We completely stand behind Coach Miller and we appreciate everything he’s done for this program,” Randy Korth said.

“I think the biggest thing was the community stepping up and supporting Sean Miller and Deandre Ayton. I’m hoping this brings an us-versus-the-world mentality going into March Madness. This is only fuel for the tournament.”