Miller, Team USA one win away from gold
Attendance at the ongoing 19U World Basketball Championships was so small in pre-weekend rounds, perhaps no more than 250 people, that you could clearly hear U.S. coach Sean Miller's coaching instructions during YouTube streaming broadcasts.
It was neither X-rated nor a laugh riot, but until Saturday’s 82-76 semifinal victory over Greece, it was reason to continue watching Team USA blow out a series of out-manned opponents. If nothing else, it exhibited Miller’s intensity.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! That’s a travel?" Miller shouted during Wednesday’s 93-45 victory over Argentina.
Many times he shouted "No fear! No fear!" Another time during the Argentina game he became exasperated when Oklahoma State-bound guard Jawun Evans sloppily threw a pass out of bounds.
"What are you doing?" Miller barked. "Come on, it’s crazy. Nuts. You’ve got five turnovers. Pass to the guys in white."
Once, a referee stopped in front of the USA bench and said something to Miller, who responded "I don’t know what you mean."
No wonder. The referees in that game were from Greece, France and Slovenia.
Miller was sometimes so relaxed in the early games — team USA went 5-0 to reach Saturday’s semifinals winning by an average of 32 per game — that he allowed assistant coach Ed Cooley of Providence College to commandeer a time-out session. That never happens during an Arizona game.
Cooley could often be heard riding the officials. "This guy should get an Academy Award for getting to the foul line," he yelled.
The crowd at Greece’s Heraklion Arena grew for Friday’s quarterfinals (and appeared to be at capacity in Saturday’s victory over Greece) and Miller’s voice was no longer audible on an ESPNU broadcast. But, oddly, he was whistled for a technical foul in the blowout. He did not get a technical foul during the 2013-14 or 2014-15 seasons at Arizona.
After watching UA freshman Allonzo Trier play three games – he is averaging 15 minutes and nine points – my thought is that he isn’t likely to leave for the NBA after one Arizona season, and may struggle to start.
Miller didn’t use Trier in the fourth quarter Saturday. It’s likely Trier is going to need significant work and improvement on ball-handling, defense and shot selection, among other things. He is no longer able to bully smaller high school opponents.
"Zo, be solid!" Miller shouted in Wednesdays’ game. "Be solid! Slow it down, Zo."
Better now than during October practices at McKale Center.
