Sean Miller will not be coaching his Arizona Wildcats on Saturday night against Oregon. But Deandre Ayton will play tonight.
“The University of Arizona and head basketball coach Sean Miller have agreed that it is in the best interests of the University and the basketball program that he will not coach tonight’s game in Eugene, Oregon” UA officials said in a written statement sent to the media. “Associate head coach Lorenzo Romar will coach in his place. Deandre Ayton is eligible and will play tonight.”
In a separate statement Miller said: “I believe it is in the best interest of our team that I not coach the game tonight. I continue to fully support the University’s efforts to fully investigate this matter and am confident that I will be vindicated. For now, my thoughts are with our team. They are a great group of young men that will support each other and continue their pursuit of winning a Pac-12 championship.”
UA faces the Ducks on a nationally televised game at 8 p.m. on ESPN.
Miller has been the hot topic in the sports world throughout the last 18 hours after ESPN reported he was heard on wiretaps in a discussion with a sports agency employee discussing a $100,000 payment to get Ayton to sign with UA.
Last month, Book Richardson, a long-time Miller assistant coach, was fired after he was allegedly found to be involved the in FBI scandal involving payments and potential student-athletes.
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