Arizona’s Sean Miller played businessman perfectly

In a span of just over 40 hours this past weekend we saw the business side of Sean Miller as he contemplated leaving Arizona for Maryland.

I don’t know how serious he was considering the move and, regardless of what is being reported, I don’t think we’ll ever know.

I also have no idea if he was doing this with something bigger in mind. I certainly think he was.

If he was, job done well — very well. If he wasn’t he fooled me and scared a lot of people while everything worked out perfectly for him.

These days coaches have no job security. They are all two bad (even mediocre, depending on the school and sport) seasons away from being run off campus. Results are expected now, not in five years when you’ve put your system in place for an entire recruiting class’s career.

When times are good it is their right to do everything they can to take advantage of the situation and get all they can. Let’s go through the “more” checklist.

More money (duh). More years tacked on to their deal (better buyout package in the long run). More for their assistants (the head coach gets all the credit but it’s the assistants that make things go smooth and keep it all together). More funding (schools are upgrading facilities on a yearly basis now).

In Miller’s second season he took the Wildcats to the Elite 8 — an unexpected Elite 8 at that. (Sure, I had them in the Elite 8, but I have to admit that had a lot to do with my dislike for Duke.)

What did Miller do? He capitalized when things are good, just as any smart businessman would.

Were they talking about an extension anyways after that successful 30-8 (undefeated at home) season?

Yeah, they were. Athletic Director Greg Byrne and Miller said as much on Monday.

“There is a misconception on the deal being done in the last 48 hours because this happened over the weekend. That’s 100 percent false,” Miller said.

This little chat (interview) with Maryland just expedited the process. No more mulling over numbers and delaying by Byrne and the university. The man making decisions needed to make a decision. Quickly.

Miller was being quite flirty with an East Coast sweetheart (of all places in Las Vegas, a place where fast and bad decisions happen on an hourly basis).

Byrne is a good AD. He understood the situation. Did not take Miller listening to Maryland too lightly and by Saturday evening was telling him what he wanted to hear.

That led to a tweet by Byrne on Saturday night at 9:20 p.m.

“Breaking news: Internet speculation wrong. Sean Miller is staying at Arizona as our hoops coach. #BearDown”

Sean Miller the businessman played the part perfectly.

A whirlwind two days for the Wildcat family ended with everyone getting what they wanted. Miller got an upgrade in every level of our checklist from above (presumably). Byrne kept his successful coach. Fans breathed a sigh of relief.

All is good in Tucson. Miller Time wins.

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TY’s Outtakes

What I learned this week…

I learned, like I have for the past three or four first Saturdays in May, that the Kentucky Derby is high on my sports bucket list and I will one day attend that event as a fan dressed in some ridiculous suit with a sweet hat on.

It just looks like too much fun not to be a part of at least once.

Tweet of the week…

This tweet made me laugh … OUT LOUD!

This tweet and this tweet precluded that tweet.

Suggestion of the week…

I’m pretty sure we can all learn something from these six minutes.

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