Arizona’s Jason Terry feels Sean Miller is due for NCAA Championship
Jun 6, 2020, 10:12 AM
After winning championships at both the collegiate and NBA levels, it’s safe to say new Arizona Wildcats assistant coach Jason Terry has his sights set on being a part of another championship squad in Tucson.
And according to Terry, he couldn’t have picked a better time to join the program’s coaching ranks.
“Look how much success Coach Miller has had in his tenure at the University of Arizona. He’s going to go down as one of the All-Time greatest coaches to ever walk that sideline,” Terry told assistant coach Jack Murphy and former Wildcats staffer Ryan Hansen on Thursday during a teleconference. “And that’s not easy to do coming behind a guy like Lute Olson, who’s a Hall of Famer.
“The one thing I’ll tell you is, he’s about due because he’s knocked on that door a couple times. It only takes another opportunity for him to get there and we hoist up that trophy. I believe this is the time, the time is now and we’re ready to get it done.”
Looking at Miller’s standing as a head coach, there’s room to believe in Terry’s statement.
Miller holds a winning percentage of 73.4% as a head coach at Xavier and Arizona. He also rocks a 19-11 record in the NCAA Tournament. All told, Miller’s made the Big Dance 11 times in 16 seasons as a head coach, but hasn’t been able to seal the deal in big games.
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One way Terry feels he can help Miller get over the proverbial hump is through giving the players something to aspire to.
Winning the school’s lone NCAA Championship and adding not only the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award but an NBA title to his resume is already a solid start for the former hooper.
But it’s more than just talk and accolades for Terry, who’s not only looking to inspire but also pick up a thing or two as he works his way through the coaching ranks.
“The No. 1 thing for me is being a mentor to these young men. Showing them the way, guiding them, helping them achieve their ultimate goal, right? And then hold them accountable to it. … I’m going to be a guiding light.
“Coach is gonna lean on me in certain times. I’m going to lean on him as well. I’m still young in this coaching realm. I want to learn and soak up as much as I can from Coach Murph and Coach Miller the whole way. For me, I want to bring a national championship back to Tucson. It’s been too long.”
