Miller once again does it again!

[Russ Smith]

So Rivals asked a lot of the players which schools were runners up or their second choice. Little said he was always going to UNC and the FBI situation did the eliminating for him so he didn’t have to consider any other schools...interesting.

His problem is he posted on twitter that he had reopened his recruitment, when he had never actually verbally committed to Arizona. It sort of proved the rumors were true that he was a silent commit to Zona and decommitted because the FBI story alleged the bidding war.

As far as we know he never got any money because the AAU coach admitted to the feds he kept the money, but that still doesn't support the idea he was always going to UNC.

 

[overseascardfan]

Fair, but I don't buy that he was always going to UNC. He was days away from an Arizona visit and then the FBI complaint dropped.

His problem is he posted on twitter that he had reopened his recruitment, when he had never actually verbally committed to Arizona. It sort of proved the rumors were true that he was a silent commit to Zona and decommitted because the FBI story alleged the bidding war.

As far as we know he never got any money because the AAU coach admitted to the feds he kept the money, but that still doesn't support the idea he was always going to UNC.

I agree with you both. I said interesting because I think he is lying through his teeth.

 

[TJ]

I posted that story on the regular college board over a week ago and I'm amazed not one single national source picked it up.

Renardo Sidney missed more than a season at MSU because the NCAA decided his dad took 20k as a consultant from Reebok just because he was Sidney's dad, and they didn't believe the family's income explained how they lived so they assumed he took more. Bazz was suspended and was not going to ever clear until the NCAA investigator screwed up and told her boyfriend and he blabbed about it on a plane. In a VERY similar situation Bagley didn't get suspended and per the story the claim is the NCAA never even looked. Why do I think if he'd gone to USC, he'd have never cleared to play?

And how convenient that the story came out a week or so before Bagley's college career ended.

 

[Russ Smith]

And how convenient that the story came out a week or so before Bagley's college career ended.

Bagley missed 4 games later in the year with a knee injury. He allegedly hurt the knee against UNC, in a game I think he played 40 minutes(think it went OT). There were rumors on Duke boards that he wasn't actually hurt but that Duke held him out after the Yahoo story broke about the spreadsheets and stuff because Duke was trying to decide if Bagley was going to be ineligible or not.

I think the current system stinks and is unfair to the kids, but I think part of what frustrates so many of us fans is the lack of consistency in enforcement.

Look at Sidney, look at Bazz, look at Diallo at Kansas who missed I think 5 games and all the nCAA ever said was he took 165 bucks which is less than the minimum amount for the NCAA to do anything beyond require it to be paid back.

In all 3 cases they assumed they were ineligible based entirely on the appearance that they couldn't afford the way they lived. So how in the world did Bagley's case not trigger the same red flags?

 

[overseascardfan]

The messed up part is maybe Miller ends up being guilty but if it weren’t for the FBI probe this scandal would have been swept under the rug and UA would be good. But because of the FBI probe media outlets will continue to put out reports because it will take years for this case to end. Say FBI ends up not finding anything or revealing what was reported was way off base, the media will blame FBI sources who are leaking this to the media.

 

[Russ Smith]

Allegedly Jordan Brown is down to Oregon or Gonzaga, he apparently dropped Arizona. It's widely believed oregon is the leader which would give them a pretty impressive class if true since it sounds like it's them or Arizona for Brandon Williams.

 

[Russ Smith]

Jon Wilner piles on.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04...-cats-and-divergent-ncaa-tournament-fortunes/

He makes some interesting points. The biggest one is that Nova recruits to a system and the players fit that system. Arizona(and UCLA) recruit high rated kids and try to get them to fit into the system. As Millers type of recruits changed, they fit the system less and less and the results have shown it.

Nova has several NBA prospects on the current roster so some of these numbers will change.

 

[GatorAZ]

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals...ay-villanova-james-akinjo-virginia-ohio-state

According to Rivals Arizona is the team to beat for Akinjo. Would be a nice consolation prize. Add in a grad transfer and they could be 8-9 deep.

 

[TJ]

Jon Wilner piles on.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04...-cats-and-divergent-ncaa-tournament-fortunes/

He makes some interesting points. The biggest one is that Nova recruits to a system and the players fit that system. Arizona(and UCLA) recruit high rated kids and try to get them to fit into the system. As Millers type of recruits changed, they fit the system less and less and the results have shown it.

Nova has several NBA prospects on the current roster so some of these numbers will change.

I hate Wilner, but he's not wrong. Miller needs to stop acting like Coach Cal and stop getting nothing but OADs year in and year out. Sure, you don't pass on the Aytons of the world, but Rawle and Trier are not your quintessential Miller guys. They don't play defense and have no desire to lock anyone up.

In many respects, not being able to recruit top-tier guys for the time being will be a blessing in disguise for Miller. He can develop players and have them ready to play by their junior season.

 

[Russ Smith]

I hate Wilner, but he's not wrong. Miller needs to stop acting like Coach Cal and stop getting nothing but OADs year in and year out. Sure, you don't pass on the Aytons of the world, but Rawle and Trier are not your quintessential Miller guys. They don't play defense and have no desire to lock anyone up.

In many respects, not being able to recruit top-tier guys for the time being will be a blessing in disguise for Miller. He can develop players and have them ready to play by their junior season.

I disagree on Alkins, in fact he was considered one of the better defensive players in that class, along with Josh Jackson. he was a good defender for a freshman, he wasn't this year IMO largely because he wasn't nearly as quick after the foot injury.

Remember when Alkins did the NBA workouts one of the things the NBA teams loved about him was his defense. Trier I agree with, terrible defender, very little effort. I know I said it at the time too but when UCLA won at McKale this year one of the big reasons was that Miller let Trier talk him into putting Trier on Holiday to start the game. Holiday ate Trier up, got UCLA off to a good start which gave them confidence and took the crowd out of the game. In the rematch PJC, not a great defender himself, played probably the best defensive game of his career guarding Holiday and it was a key reason Arizona won.

Miller is recruiting what I call mercenary recruits, I don't mean just the ones involved in the FBI story but guys who don't really buy into the team system they have their own agenda. The classic one was Kobi Simmons. There's a big difference between an Aaron Gordon who had some demands on offense but was offset by being such a great defender and rebounder, with Simmons and kids like that you don't get enough good to offset the bad IMO. UCLA has the same issue right now with Jaylen Hands IMO.

 

[overseascardfan]

Wright is obviously a great coach but he is a prime example of recruiting guys that fit his system. NOVA has 2 five stars on his roster and a bunch of 4 stars with a couple of 3 stars but NOVA hasn't had a one and done ever. They have 6 guys that averaged double figures in scoring and shot lights out as a team for the season. All these guys bought into Wright's system putting team before self and most guys that go through that program usually stay at least 3 years. You think Wright take all that into account with recruiting, he steers clear of the egos of the one and dones. We'll see what happens with Quinerly though.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Wright is obviously a great coach but he is a prime example of recruiting guys that fit his system. NOVA has 2 five stars on his roster and a bunch of 4 stars with a couple of 3 stars but NOVA hasn't had a one and done ever. They have 6 guys that averaged double figures in scoring and shot lights out as a team for the season. All these guys bought into Wright's system putting team before self and most guys that go through that program usually stay at least 3 years. You think Wright take all that into account with recruiting, he steers clear of the egos of the one and dones. We'll see what happens with Quinerly though.

Arizona's best teams in the Miller era had 4* and 5* star guys over the entire starting lineup and the bench including one and done guys like Aaron Gordon and Stanley Johnson. This team may not have made the Tournament without one and done Ayton.

It's not about recruiting lesser players, it's about recruiting players that fit regardless of ranking. And it also helps to have a point guard that doesn't belong in the WAC.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

In many respects, not being able to recruit top-tier guys for the time being will be a blessing in disguise for Miller. He can develop players and have them ready to play by their junior season.

This is laughable.

 

[Russ Smith]

So what do folks make of the reports Arizona is meeting to discuss Millers' contract and attempts to place extra clauses in it to get back money from him if he is convicted of a crime or found to have violated NCAA rules? Is it just CYA because of the FBI story and other schools are going to do this too, or are they not convinced he is going to be totally cleared?

 

[TJ]

This is laughable.

How’s it laughable? Get guys who fit and can develop as solid contributors now and then by 2020, when Arizona can recruit Top-10 talent again, mesh them in with developed veteran players.

 

[GatorAZ]

How many coaches have turned down the assistants job so far? By all accounts the staff was supposed to be complete last week...

 

[Russ Smith]

How many coaches have turned down the assistants job so far? By all accounts the staff was supposed to be complete last week...

It's interesting because on one hand if you're an assistant motivated to be a head coach taking the Arizona job makes some sense. If you don't think Miller is going to be cleared there's a very real possibility he winds up resigning or getting fired and the timing is such that they hire the top assistant as an interim coach.

That might not be this coming season since it's not clear how long all the FBI stuff is going to take but again the reports that Arizona is already again trying to rework his contract to get better protections against rules violations(and criminal charges) sure looks like a school that's not convinced Miller is going to come out clean.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

How’s it laughable? Get guys who fit and can develop as solid contributors now and then by 2020, when Arizona can recruit Top-10 talent again, mesh them in with developed veteran players.

It's because you're trying to make the argument that somehow recruiting inferior players will be better for UofA.

Wilner's article is idiotic at best. You recruit the best players you can that fit your system. Arizona did just fine with 4/5* starting lineups when they consisted of RHJ, Aaron Gordon, Brandon Ashley, Nick Johnson, etc.

 

[GatorAZ]

It's interesting because on one hand if you're an assistant motivated to be a head coach taking the Arizona job makes some sense. If you don't think Miller is going to be cleared there's a very real possibility he winds up resigning or getting fired and the timing is such that they hire the top assistant as an interim coach.

That might not be this coming season since it's not clear how long all the FBI stuff is going to take but again the reports that Arizona is already again trying to rework his contract to get better protections against rules violations(and criminal charges) sure looks like a school that's not convinced Miller is going to come out clean.

I’m not sure the significance of that contract story. I think it’s part of a potential bonus he may receive.

If Miller had no shame like Enfield he would’ve bright in Ollie by now to secure some recuits.

 

[Russ Smith]

It's because you're trying to make the argument that somehow recruiting inferior players will be better for UofA.

Wilner's article is idiotic at best. You recruit the best players you can that fit your system. Arizona did just fine with 4/5* starting lineups when they consisted of RHJ, Aaron Gordon, Brandon Ashley, Nick Johnson, etc.

I know I've pointed this out before but it bears repeating, one of the reasons those UA teams were better is that several of the key guys, like 3 of the 4 you listed, all played together in AAU ball too.

That's part of the downside to the recruiting the mercenary 5 star national kids, they all know each other but they haven't necessarily played together much if at all.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I know I've pointed this out before but it bears repeating, one of the reasons those UA teams were better is that several of the key guys, like 3 of the 4 you listed, all played together in AAU ball too.

That's part of the downside to the recruiting the mercenary 5 star national kids, they all know each other but they haven't necessarily played together much if at all.

Yeah but Gordon, RHJ, and Nick Johnson's commitment to rebounding and playing defense probably has little to do with their AAU program of choice.

I will also say that had Miller had recruited and landed a Tra Holder, Jordan McLaughlin or even Josh Perkins in the same class instead of PJC then his coaching and recruiting tactics don't look nearly as bad.

 

[Russ Smith]

Yeah but Gordon, RHJ, and Nick Johnson's commitment to rebounding and playing defense probably has little to do with their AAU program of choice.

I will also say that had Miller had recruited and landed a Tra Holder, Jordan McLaughlin or even Josh Perkins in the same class instead of PJC then his coaching and recruiting tactics don't look nearly as bad.

I don't think UA was ever really in it for McLaughlin. He was the biggest miss of the Alford tenure at UCLA, completely changed the trajectory for Alford IMO. But his final 2 was USC and UCLA and IIRC Kansas was in their for a long time too.

Back to the story about Bagley and Nike etc. There's a story out there now about how Bagley qualified a year early for Duke. The story goes on and on about how he was a 4.0 student his one year at Corona Del Sol, left Hillcrest because the dad was concerned about academics, how he did extra coursework while sitting out his soph year at Sierra Canyon because his transfer was athletically motivated etc. Then they slip in there that in order to graduate early he had to pass 4 core classes, all online, in the summer between June and August. The 4 courses were Latin, English, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. Yes, a kid that they're bragging about what a great student he is and how serious his family is about academics, didn't take Algebra in HS until he was already 19 years old and had completed 3 years of high school. Note the average HS student takes Algebra 1 during their freshman year.

 

[GatorAZ]

Yeah but Gordon, RHJ, and Nick Johnson's commitment to rebounding and playing defense probably has little to do with their AAU program of choice.

I will also say that had Miller had recruited and landed a Tra Holder, Jordan McLaughlin or even Josh Perkins in the same class instead of PJC then his coaching and recruiting tactics don't look nearly as bad.

Damn I miss those guys. If Nick comes back for his Sr year instead of getting Stanley that team loses 2-3 games tops.

 

[Lefty]

Devonaire Doutrive is on campus this weekend and hopefully he will commit.

 

[overseascardfan]

UA I read is in on a few grad transfers, any word on them? UA needs bodies as they only return like 5 scholarship players I believe.