With the game pretty much won against the UCLA Basketball team, Arizona coach Sean Miller does not display the traits a Coach of the Year should possess by calling a timeout with 0.9 left in the Pac-12 semifinal game.
It was evident that the UCLA Basketball team was going to lose this Pac-12 semifinal game, but it did not stop Arizona Head Coach Sean Miller pulling a classless move.
With Arizona about to win 86-75, Miller decided to rub it in and call a timeout with 0.9 seconds left.
And what was the motive behind all of this?
“Poise.” Well done, coach. Way to represent your school and the Pac-12. This is exactly the type of sportsmanship a coach should not display to his team or his conference.
If Miller wants to show that his Arizona Basketball team is the epitome of class, then he failed miserably. He basically set himself and his program back to grade school mentality:
“They did it first!”
Arizona fans were quick to jump to his aid saying that UCLA Basketball Head Coach Steve Alford did the same thing to Arizona in the Bruins win in Tucson last month. Ok, let us go with that, Alford pulled a classless move.
Whether reason Alford had, Miller chose against being a bigger man for a chance to be petty, spiteful man. And it is unfortunate because it took attention away from the players that worked their butts off to defeat UCLA.
Next: UCLA Basketball: Is There Enough Left in the Tank?
Now you might think, “you’re just bitter.” Maybe, but not at Arizona. They deserved to win, the players and coaches. But this act was a shot that UCLA players, coaches and fans will not forget. Well played, Miller. See you in Pauley next season.