When Maryland came after Sean Miller to become its new head coach after UAβs surprising run to the 2011 Elite Eight, Greg Byrne was among the obstacles standing in the way.
While Miller and Maryland AD Kevin Anderson didnβt appear to hit it off well, there was no doubt Byrne was aggressively working on his end to make sure Miller didnβt leave after the Wildcatsβ surprising Elite Eight run of 2011.
Not only did Miller receive a contract extension, but also a more generous budget to fly charter for recruiting and raises for his assistant coaches.
Asked if Byrne played a role in his decision to stay at UA, Miller said:
βThat was a part of it. That seems like 20 years ago now, so long ago, but every coach you have a sense of comfort and Dr. (Ann Weaver) Hart is a big sense of comfort as well. The time here at Arizona is unique in that sheβll be leaving us as well and sheβs been incredibly supportive of our basketball program, of athletics in general and things that are behind the scenes on a daily basis and sheβs always been there in a very positive light.
βI respect her and so with her leaving and also Greg leaving obviously there are gonna be two new people who are going to have a big impact on the future of Arizona Athletics. And Iβm excited to see it. We have tremendous people making those decisions. Like we did when Jim Livengood left and Greg became the next athletic director, Dr. Hart followed Robert Shelton. Obviously, itβs a critical time, but Iβm confident weβll get two really good people.β
Miller began his news conference today speaking highly of Byrne.
βI have a hard time believing that an athletic director anywhere did a better job for his university than he did here for us at Arizona,β Miller said. βIn the seven years he was here a lot of great things have happened. In terms of his support, relationship, direction of the menβs basketball program, which Iβm in charge of, I couldnβt imagine a better relationship, better leadership.
βOn a personal level, a friend is leaving. His wife and Greg are great friends with my wife and myself. That usually doesnβt happen in a relationship between an athletic director and a coach but in this case it did happen. We didnβt really know each other when Greg came from Mississippi State.
βObviously itβs kind of an empty feeling with him leaving only because of how meaningful he was to our program, our university and the friendship in addition to that. I know that heβll go on and do great things at Alabama. Theyβre lucky to have him. I know that weβll move on in a positive direction and most important get somebody here as our new athletic director who approaches things in the same way, does a great job. So Iβm anxious to see that happen.β
Later, Miller said: βHeβs someone whoβs incredibly candid and honest with a coach, and very transparent. Heβs an incredible communicator. He has a great pulse and feel for the goings on in your program.
βItβs not always smooth. There are crisis moments, there are tough moments in an athletic program of this stature and he never wavers. He problem solves. Heβs with you and he loves to win. All of us benefited by his overall passion to improve, whether it be facilities, whether to give us the biggest advantage we could have in any recruiting situation.
βAnd is really part of his every day. He woke up every day with tremendous passion and energy to make Arizona the best place it could possibly be. His energy and effort are unmatched. In an athletic director itβs almost like hiring a coach today. You have to burn the candle at both ends, fundraising and being comprehensive. Itβs a difficult job for sure and to get a great person in that position, itβs amazing what it does for everybody.β
When asked for an example of how Byrne helped the basketball program, Miller talked of the renovations to McKale Center:
"His ability to change McKale at a very critical time. You walk in to McKale right now ... it looks like a brand new arena, and it shines and the impact is for everybody. Television, fan base, our team, the guys who play here, and from a recruiting perspective, that is a big, big deal on why young people choose the place that they go to school. ... If it impacted our ability to be better, then he was going to find a way to get that done for our program."
Miller was also asked if he might have any say in a new athletic director hire. While thereβs no doubt UA will look for an AD who will mesh with him, Miller first answered that question lightheartedly:
βIβm the basketball coach. Iβm getting ready for USC and UCLA,β he said, smiling. βThatβs No. 1. Thatβs my job. If asked, certainly I would love to have a sense or a feel for who they are and Iβm confident that that will happen.β
Miller appeared again to back off the Pac-12 Networksβ report that he believes Allonzo Trier will be back at some point this season. He told the College Hoops Today podcast that βhe canβt even say heβs optimistic right nowβ about what he termed a βonce in a generation type deal.β
Asked if thatβs how he now feels at todayβs presser, Miller said:
βIβm ambivalent,β he said. βI donβt have control of the situation. So when youβre dealing with a crisis or adversity and weβve had plenty here over the least nine months, you finally settle into what can you really control.
βFor me, the purpose every day is we have to coach Rawle (Alkins), Kobi (Simmons), and all of those guys. We are coaching Allonzo. Academically heβs in a great place. He does what heβs supposed to. He practices hard every day. Heβs in great physical condition but heβs not allowed to play and itβs not my choice. And itβs just one of those situations that I wish was different but itβs not.β
While the Wildcats practiced both Saturday and Sunday, then took today off, Miller said he gave Parker Jackson-Cartwright both weekend practices off while he continues to recover from his high ankle sprain.
Miller also said he didnβt plan to change his starting lineup for now.
βWe could moving forward,β Miller said. βWhatever is best for our team, thatβs what weβre gonna do. Whatβs good about Parker is we've given him the right minutes. You havenβt seen him really struggle because weβve never asked him to play 34 minutes in a game.
βItβs been the right amount, which has allowed him to help us and maybe not put him in a bad way. Sometimes if you start favoring your ankle thatβs when other injuries will occur, not necessarily the injury that he had but a different type so I think weβre beyond that point and we can just go from there. But all eight players are important whether they start or not.β
Miller said he enjoyed watching the ESPN-televised game between signees DeAndre Ayton and Brandon Randolph at the Hoophall Classic on Saturday, when Randolph was named the gameβs MVP after scoring 28 points to help Westtown beat Aytonβs Hillcrest Prep 66-54.
While UA assistant coach Book Richardson said Randolph wasn't eligible for the McDonald's All-American Game because he's a fifth-year senior, keeping him out of the prestigious event that Ayton was named to Sunday, Miller said Randolph was "late on the scene" to the basketball spotlight.Β
βIf you would have judged him a year or so ago, he wouldnβt be as highly thought of as he is now," Miller said. "But a lot of times those are the guys who continue to improve. If you think of how far heβs come in the last two years, I think heβll stay on that same track.β
Biggest non-Byrne-related βnewsβ of the day might have been that New Yorker Rawle Alkins was using his day off to go to the Arizona DMV to see if he could pass tests and get a driverβs license.
βRight after this interview,β said Alkins, who was the designated player to be interviewed today. βMy cousinβs waiting for me outside.β
Having grown up taking the subway at home, Alkins said heβs taken a lot of Uber rides since arriving in Tucson but finally decided to take the plunge on driving. He said he has often practiced late at night while driving with a cousin who came out to Tucson with him this year.
βHavenβt done the highway yet, so I donβt know what to expect on the test,β Alkins said. βI know the rules and stuff. I did the written part. Practiced. So hopefully I do well. Pray for me, guys.β
Arizona jumped two spots to No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. UCLA moved to No. 3 and Gonzaga to No. 4, while USC dropped out after losing to Utah. Oregon is No. 11.
My ballot had the Wildcats at No. 15.
UCLA's Bryce Alford beat out UA's Lauri Markkanen and others for the Pac-12 Player of the Week award.
