Newportcat wrote:What perspective should I get?
I didn't post anything after our wisconsin loss because I was pissed off and realized nothing good would come of it. I in no way think Miller should be fired or even close to it. I think he has done a great job getting us back to a position we were under Lute.
I in no way though think we are spoiled. Being spoiled Fans would mean we are UCONN fans and calling for Ollie to be fired this year after making the NIT and losing to ASU. It would be Alabama fans saying Nick Saban should be fired now. I believe, as it appears some of you don't believe, that in college basketball the definition of success as a top 10 program is making final fours and winning national championships. I wish the NCAA would change things around to be importance on the regular season but the tournament is a golden goose and it is what it is.
I think we as fans have given Sean Miller everything he needs to be successful here. From new locker rooms, incredible fan support at home and away games, private planes etc. The next step is to make a final four and win a national championship. I bet Sean miller thinks about it every day. But to say we are spoiled as fans is such crap. Now if your definition of success in college basketball is different then mine then I can see where we disagree but I think my definition for what a top ten program would consider success is pretty universal. Actually if you read Tarc"s quotes on coming back to U of A he says exactly that.
Spoiled, Alabama football fans are spoiled, USC football fans are spoiled, patriot fans are spoiled, Man U fans have been spoiled, Arizona softball fans are spoiled, laker fans are spoiled, duke fans are spoiled but Arizona basketball fans...no. We have a passion that is unrivaled on the west coast for basketball but we have not made a final four in 14 years. In my opinion to be spoiled would mean we have won multiple championships and any slip up year we would be calling for the coaches head. We haven't won those championships but still support like we have.
That was my issue with the original post.
I really like Sean miller a lot and think he will get it done here but I know how great a place especially in today's college basketball landscape Arizona is to coach at. Our fan support through tough years and tough games is a major reason for that. We will draw 14,500 fans this year to our red and blue game, we can't draw more then 5,000 fans to our spring football game. How many programs nationally can get that many fans to a preseason intersquad scrimmage, most west coast teams couldn't draw that for the biggest game of the year.
Maybe I am a total jerk but for Arizona basketball I expect a lot because I know the highest level of success is possible. Feel totally different about Arizona football. I was not born on third base either
I'm actually okay with this take, Newport. It reads a lot better -- A LOT! -- than your first one. I think it's likely that we can agree that the UA has a top basketball program (and thus we are spoiled because of it). We also have a top fan base, and Miller and Greg Byrne should also feel spoiled.
Regarding results, I agree with your point that results matter. But that said, I am perfectly happy with the progress the program has made under Miller. We have had a championship quality team the past two years. We got unlucky first with an injury last year, and then with Wisconsin's epic three point barrage this year. I discount Miller's first Elite Eight in Tucson, because I personally believed the team had over achieved to reach that far, so losing that game wasn't painful.
Are we due? Of course we are. It's been a long drought. But with the combination of the coach, the program, and the fans that we have, there is no doubt in my mind that we will be reaching the Final Four and winning championships in the not-distant future.
'A parent is the one person who is supposed to make their kid think they can do anything. Says they're beautiful even when they're ugly. Thinks they're smart even when they go to Arizona State.' -- Jack Donaghy