Coach Miller (x2)

The father of Arizona coach Sean Miller, legendary Pennsylvania high school coach John Miller, accompanied the Wildcats on their trip to the Bay area.

He’s also spending most of January in Tucson with his son, family and basketball program.

“Gotta get out of the snow,” John Miller said.

But, of course, it’s mostly about family and basketball for the elder Miller. Even on this trip, he didn’t spend the weekend touring around the Bay as much as he did spending time with his son, watching film and talking hoops. He’s aware of the pressure-cooker Sean Miller resides in, hearing how his son complained after a loss at Colorado two weeks ago that he “can’t reach” his players.

“He’s not the type to blame the other guy, so he put it on him,” John Miller said.

No worries

When Rawle Alkins felt pain in his right foot after practice Monday, alarm bells could have gone off throughout his head — and his team. He had broken the foot in September, costing him nine games, and since he’s a projected NBA draft pick this spring, a relapse could have even affected his draft stock.

But Alkins said after UA’s win Saturday that he was never worried. He just sat out the Wildcats’ win at Cal on Wednesday and then returned to play 34 minutes on Saturday against Stanford.

“I was kind of sore after practice before we went to the Bay, so coach (Sean Miller) told me to rest it up,” Alkins said. “Then after the Cal game he asked me how it’s feeling. I told him it was good.”

Ok, then.

Eye on Pac-12

Saturday’s game was a rare chance for the Pac-12 to enjoy the spotlight of national free TV.

CBS takes only two Pac-12 games a year out of the conference’s basketball inventory, this year choosing UCLA’s home loss to Cincinnati on Dec. 16 and Saturday’s Arizona-Stanford showdown, which it packaged as the last game in a tripleheader.

Stanford had not hosted a CBS game at Maples Pavilion since March 4, 2006, when the Cardinal was crushed by UCLA 75-54.

Stanford Steve

He’s a Cardinal, but he’s #APlayersProgram favorite Stanford alum. Congrats on honorary captainship @StanfordSteve82. #EMOY pic.twitter.com/0aXxTSXP4D

— Matt Ensor (@Ensor) January 20, 2018

A producer and commentator for ESPN’s SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt, “Stanford” Steve Coughlin isn’t always about the Cardinal.

Coughlin, a former Stanford tight end who was honored during a first-half timeout Saturday, has worn gear sent to him by UA equipment manager Brian Brigger, and the two have kept in contact.

“He’s a good dude,” Brigger said.

When UA beat Saint Mary’s in the NCAA Tournament to reach the Sweet 16 last season, Coughlin even tweeted a shout out.

“Arizona to the 16. #EMOY” Coughlin tweeted to his 64,000 followers.

EMOY — Equipment Manager of the Year — is how UA staffers and sneakerheads have playfully referred to Brigger.

Red … out?

Every seat at Maples has a free red shirt on it ... another color 'out' pic.twitter.com/j9NvbTlji4

— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) January 20, 2018

Stanford tried its best to pull off a “red out” on Saturday by draping bright red “Home of Champions” T-shirts on every seat before the game.

The problem was, a lot of folks just didn’t want to put them on.

Many Cardinal fans kept wearing gear in the school’s real color — which is, well, cardinal — and there was also that usual “problem” of about 1,500 or so fans who were actually there to root on Arizona.

There were also about another 1,000 empty seats. But those were, at least, red.

Express dining

The Wildcats had a rare meal out Thursday night during its extended road trip, but they were hardly your everyday dining patrons.

Because he’s also somehow in charge of dining, UA athletic trainer Justin Kokoskie contacted the restaurant and narrowed the menu down to three entrees. Then he asked each player to pick one in advance, and called it in to have the food ready upon arrival.

Then the Wildcats ate it, enjoyed themselves for a while, and went back to their hotel.

Kokoskie says the procedure was best explained once to a restaurant host in the early 2000s by Ryan Hansen, the UA broadcaster who then was an operations manager for Lute Olson.

According to Kokoskie, Hansen said: “We are not here for the dining experience.”

The big number

5

Shots Deandre Ayton blocked in the first half Saturday, the most by a UA player in a half since Jordan Hill had six blocks in the first half against San Diego State on Dec. 10, 2008.

Quotable

“If he continues to play like that, we’re gonna be special.” — Alkins on Deandre Ayton and his six total blocks. Ayton has 17 blocks in seven Pac-12 games so far, an average of 2.4.