Sean Miller Reflects on Remarkable NCAA Experience at Arizona

It has been five years since Sean Miller and Arizona went their separate ways. He has coached at two other schools since then and is now in his first season at Texas.

West Regional setup

No. 11 Texas faces No. 2 Purdue at the SAP Center in San Jose. The winner will meet either top-seeded Arizona or No. 4 Arkansas for a Final Four berth.

A single ticket admits fans to both West Region games. That forces some Arizona supporters to choose between cheering Miller or rooting for the Wildcats.

Miller’s Arizona record and legacy

• Arizona coach from 2009 to 2021 with a 302-109 record.
• Five Pac-10/12 regular-season titles earned under his leadership.
• Three conference tournament championships captured.
• Three trips to the NCAA Elite Eight during his tenure.

Miller says his relationship with Arizona remains very positive. His three sons all attended the university and had strong experiences there.

Investigations and program consequences

Arizona’s program faced an NCAA investigation after an FBI sting. Assistant coach Book Richardson later served prison time for bribery.

The Wildcats self-imposed a postseason ban for 2020-21, which was Miller’s final season in Tucson. Much about the sport’s rules and recruiting methods has changed since then.

Current perspective and ties to Tucson

Miller praised Tommy Lloyd and called his successor’s work exceptional. He suggested this season’s Arizona team might be among the best in program history.

As Sean Miller Reflects on Remarkable NCAA Experience at Arizona, he emphasizes gratitude and lasting friendships. He said those memories have warmed his perspective rather than soured it.

San Jose history and tournament experience

Miller last coached Arizona in San Jose during the 2017 NCAA West Regional. The Wildcats were upset by No. 11 Xavier despite leading by eight with 3:44 left in the game.

Arizona made only one field goal the rest of that contest as Xavier closed on a 9-0 run. Lauri Markkanen scored nine points and did not attempt a shot in the final 11-plus minutes; he became a lottery pick that June.

Miller returned to the Sweet 16 with Xavier in 2023. This current trip marks the ninth time he has reached the tournament’s second weekend.

He says prior experience in this round matters. That familiarity, he added, helps teams stay composed under pressure.

This report is filed for Filmogaz.com. It reflects Miller’s comments and the facts presented in San Jose press availability.