Facing another barrage of questions about investigation-related issues Tuesday, Arizona coach Sean Miller stayed consistent.
That is, he didnβt comment. And he also told a Phoenix TV reporter to hit the road.
After Miller initially responded to Mike Pelton of Phoenix's ABC 15 by saying he wouldnβt comment about potentially being subpoenaed in April, he was asked how much he was looking forward to less turmoil and adversity.
Miller responded to that question by saying he had a 4-year-old nephew who had open-heart surgery two days ago and he was concerned about that. He said he was concerned that grad transfers Ryan Luther and Justin Coleman would finish up their careers with the best experience possible, that things go well with Brandon Williams and his family with his ongoing knee issue, and that he wanted to finish the season well.
βThat's all I'm going to say,β Miller said. βBut you know that's something that I think deserves my attention and really deserves and my concern.β
WATCH: Sean Miller focused on family, recruiting class; Ryan Luther on staying aggressive
Pelton then followed up on his initial question, leading to the following conversation:
Pelton: βWell, coach, with all the scrutiny that has surrounded this programming and the university that youβve facedβ¦β
Miller: βNo comment. You can drive back to Phoenix.β
Pelton: βYouβre not going to answer the questions?β
Miller was silent. Then the moderator asked if anyone had basketball-related questions, and Miller was asked if heβd accept an NIT bid (he said the Wildcats βwerenβt there yet.β)
One day after reports surfaced that Arizona Men's Basketball Coach Sean Miller will be subpoenaed for a federal trial related to college basketball, I tried to ask him about it 2x today. At one point he told me "No comment. You can drive back to Phoenix." @abc15 @YahooSports pic.twitter.com/gdezPSae89
β Mike Pelton (@MikePeltonABC15) February 26, 2019
Later in the news conference, Miller was asked how much he talks to his team about a negative press situation, and if he tells them it doesnβt concern them.
βTheyβre used to it,β Miller said. βWe donβt. We just move on.β
Miller was then asked if what he was saying meant a potential subpoena has no effect on how he coaches on the sideline.
βNo comment,β Miller said.
Miller said Williams has had βzero painβ since playing 18 minutes against Stanford, though the Wildcats had not practiced yet since that game Sunday. Miller said there wonβt be a minutes limit on Williams this weekend but that he will likely play more.
βI do think that there's probably a middle ground from maybe what he did against Stanford β and, again, assuming the next three or four days go by with him terms of no added pain or discomfort β that weβll be able to count on him a little bit more," Miller said. "That's our hope.β
Williams was averaging 30.9 minutes in Pac-12 games before his knee flared up after the Wildcatsβ trip to Los Angeles last month, so it seems likely heβll end up playing 23-27 minutes or so at Oregon State on Thursday.
Miller said acting assistant coach Austin Carroll wonβt return to the team until at least next week, being in Massachusetts with his parents after his father, John, was hospitalized.
βHe's still in Boston with his mom and his dad and his dadβs recovery is moving in a positive direction,β Miller said. βYou know, it's not up to me to get into what he's dealing with. Itβs a private matter with this family. I'll let them address that whenever the time is right but it certainly serious enough where he's been hospitalized and, you know, Austin's priority right now is his dad and his mom.
βI think he'll rejoin us, maybe at the earliest, next week after the Oregon trip. But he will remain there in Boston through the remainder of this week.β
