Watch: 9 best things Sean Miller and Parker Jackson-Cartwright said in Arizona's press conference
The Wildcats are coming off a split road trip with a win at Utah and a loss to Colorado. This week, No. 17 Arizona returns home to play Oregon State and Oregon. Watch what Sean Miller and Parker Jackson-Cartwright had to say in Monday's press conference.
Questionable identity
Updated
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller looks for a foul call from official Kevin Brill to end the first half.
By Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
Who would've thought in January that arguably the most talented Arizona team — on paper — in history would struggle to find an identity? With a preseason All-American guard in Allonzo Trier and a potential No. 1 NBA Draft pick in Deandre Ayton, how is it possible that the Wildcats are struggling?
According to head coach Sean Miller: effort.
Miller criticized his team after the Wildcats fell to Colorado 80-77 on Saturday and the biggest focus for him was the team's effort, particularly on defense.
"You always want your team to play for you as the coach. Our guys, they really struggle playing for me, they really do," Miller said after losing to Colorado. "I can't get them to play hard, I really can't. ... For our guys, it's really hard to get them to run as hard as they possibly can. And that's not them, that's me."
Arizona will have the same schedule as last week, playing a Thursday night game against Oregon State and then a noon game Saturday against Oregon. Fortunately for the Wildcats, they return home and won't have to battle with travel and altitude levels like they did last week.
Miller and Parker Jackson-Cartwright held a press conference on Monday to reflect on last week's road trip and determine where the team goes from here.
Miller stands by his comments
UpdatedSean Miller on his postgame criticism of players not giving effort after Arizona fell to Colorado on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/phF3VOjOBm
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
PJC's interpretation of Miller's comments
UpdatedParker Jackson-Cartwright on Sean Miller’s postgame comments after losing to Colorado. pic.twitter.com/j6ggKmhb8e
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
What did the team learn that's different from the Bahamas trip?
UpdatedPJC on what Arizona learned from the loss to Colorado. pic.twitter.com/Y4NrcSUKUX
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
Outside noise
UpdatedPJC continues to add that he doesn’t pay attention to outside criticism and talks about what he’s learned from being Arizona’s point guard. pic.twitter.com/NiIsB7aB2L
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
This year's team compared to the 2014-15 Elite Eight Wildcats
UpdatedSean Miller compares Arizona to the 2014-15 team (T.J. McConnell, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, etc.) when the Wildcats lost to three non-NCAA Tournament teams. pic.twitter.com/GYOTURvQqs
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
Allonzo Trier's progression as a point guard
UpdatedParker Jackson-Cartwright on the growth of @ISO_ZO as Arizona’s secondary point guard. pic.twitter.com/TrRuPgieeR
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
Miller's comments just meant that "he cares"
UpdatedParker Jackson-Cartwright says the players don’t take Sean Miller’s harsh postgame comments to heart: “He cares.” pic.twitter.com/pLxbooEnai
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
Miller is determined to make Arizona a better defensive team
UpdatedSean Miller says intensity level falls on the starters and that he “aspires” Arizona to be a Top 50 defensive team. pic.twitter.com/D3NfSfkm7j
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
What's the state of college basketball?
UpdatedSean Miller on 14 teams in the AP Top 25 losing this past weekend. pic.twitter.com/Lv3GxdEy3G
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) January 8, 2018
