Two days after UA assistant coach Book Richardson was arrested as part of the FBI’s sweeping investigation into college basketball, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas firmly threw support behind UA coach Sean Miller.

β€œI know Sean Miller to be a man of great honesty and integrity,” Bilas wrote on Twitter back in September. β€œI don’t believe for a second he knew of any improper behavior.”

That changed last week, after ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Miller allegedly discussed a $100,000 payment to ensure Deandre Ayton played for the Wildcats.

Miller called the report β€” and its subsequent corrections β€” β€œinaccurate and completely false.” Ayton has denied taking any money or benefits that influenced his decision to attend Arizona.

But Bilas, a lawyer who is also a frequent critic of the NCAA, says he’s changed his opinion of Miller. In an interview with the Star on Thursday, after Miller denied ESPN’s report, Bilas explained why:

What did you make of (Miller’s statement Thursday)?

A: β€œI watched the press event where Sean made his prepared statement and I was very interested to see it. My first reactions was: Why was that statement not made on Saturday? But I trust the reporting of Mark Schlabach.”

As a lawyer, did you think there were negotiations going on all week behind the scenes or did five days (since ESPN’s report) seem too long?

A: β€œIf you mean, as a lawyer, does it make any sense to remain silent for that amount of time? The answer is no. It makes no sense at all.”

What made you change your opinion of Miller? You had said he had integrity. Was it the report or something else?

A: β€œIt is the report. And, look, it is concerning that a member of Sean’s staff was arrested and charged with federal crimes, as if that’s not enough. But knowing Sean as I do, I did not believe at that time that he had any knowledge of that. I have no information that he did have knowledge of the activities of Book Richardson but I trust the reporting of Mark Schlabach.”

Do you think Miller’s statement suggests he’ll try a defamation lawsuit, when he’d have to prove malice (on ESPN’s part)?

A: β€œI don’t know. I can’t read anyone’s mind but … often times β€” and let’s take this out of Sean Miller’s situation β€” it is very easy to threaten something like that and use those terms. But people who threaten it often times have not thought about that once a lawsuit of that nature is filed, discovery follows. And with discovery becomes document production, phone records, and depositions where you get to ask a lot of questions.

β€œAnd the standard is (to allow) any question that is designed to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence β€” which means anything you want β€” so I think that’s an important thing to keep in mind. You mention malice, and when the term defamation is thrown out, in the case of a public figure, there has to be actual malice. And I can promise you there’s never been that here.

β€œThink about this for a second: No media outlet arrested anyone, or started a federal investigation. We’re reporting on it, as are you.”

There’s been a lot of talk about ESPN’s correction of the timeline of the reported discussion, and others have raised questions about what player was involved (SI.com reported that it was not Ayton). Is it possible because the information is sealed that maybe there was a misinterpretation or something?

A: β€œI trust the reporting of Mark Schlabach on this.”

You’re well documented talking about the NCAA. In a way, do you feel like the way things are structured that it’s going to lead to this sort of thing? And that maybe this federal investigation results in massive changes?

A: β€œI think if you’re taking it away from Arizona and just talking in general about the policies of the NCAA, I think the NCAA could go either way on this. (NCAA president) Mark Emmert has established a commission that’s being chaired by Condoleezza Rice. The recommendations made by that commission, Emmert says, will be acted upon. That remains to be seen.

β€œBut the NCAA will go one of two ways here: They can double-down on their current policies, which have been hardly an impediment to corruption in the game, or they can use this as a turning point to reexamine those policies and refashion them, to reflect the fact that we’re a multi-billion dollar professional enterprise, that this is professional sports.

β€œAnd there’s no reason why players shouldn’t be able to have agents. There’s no reason why players shouldn’t be allowed to receive compensation.”

Does it surprise you that a player like Ayton allegedly could command that kind of money, and that a head coach could actually be on the phone talking about it?

A: β€œDoes it surprise me that a player of that level would command that kind of money? No. Does it surprise me that a coach would be implicated in such an issue? No. Does it surprise me it’s Sean Miller? Yes... because of what I have always believed and known about him, yes.”

How do you think this affects Arizona going forward? Will it be something to rally around or a huge distraction?

A: β€œI don’t know. I’ve never encountered a case where a member of the staff was arrested and charged with federal crimes. I’ve never encountered a case where a coach was reported to have been on on a wiretap discussing a payment to a player. This is a first for me.”

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.