The Arizona Wildcats’ win at No. 3 UCLA on Saturday carried much significance in a variety of ways — team building with Allonzo Trier back, magnitude in program history, the Pac-12 standings and an improved national perception.
Earlier this week, I wrote an article about Arizona having its lowest ranking of No. 14 with only two losses by the time the calendar hit Jan. 15.
The national media and AP Top 25 voters were waiting for the Wildcats to prove themselves.
That objective was reached in the 96-85 win over freshman sensation Lonzo Ball and the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion.
The following is a look at how national media types reacted to Miller and the Wildcats defeating the Bruins.
If a national coach of the year vote was taken right now, Sean Miller would come out on top.
Arizona. Damn. Sean Miller has done an amazing job with this team. Amazing.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) January 21, 2017
Sean Miller. National Coach of the Year.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 21, 2017
Sean Miller. Damn. People need to stop getting on him for not getting to Final 4. Hell of a coach. Win at UCLA… https://t.co/41m5ScbaFd
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) January 21, 2017
Sean Miller is an excellent coach. Bigs are a handful w inside/outside skilled game. Lauri Markkanen is the best big in the country.
— Jerry Meyer (@jerrymeyer247) January 22, 2017
This Arizona team is ridiculously impressive. They have no right to be this good after what they went through. Sean Miller is a wizard.
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) January 21, 2017
Miller can take credit for T.J. McConnell’s rise in the NBA because he coached him up for two years.
@GoodmanESPN @JonRothstein Sean Miller: So good he turned TJ McConnell into an NBA starter.
— Mark Titus (@clubtrillion) January 21, 2017
Arizona now has analysts saying it can go all of the way or at least to the Final Four.
Start the National Championship talk for @UACoachMiller @APlayersProgram!With Allonzo Trier back this team becomes a favorite to win it all!
— Wally Szczerbiak (@wallyball) January 21, 2017
What a win for Arizona. Trier back. Final Four now a legitimate goal again. Race with UCLA, Arizona, Oregon… https://t.co/DdfqERPCKY
— Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) January 21, 2017
Lauri Markkanen getting some NBA love after his 18 points, most against former Arizona recruit T.J. Leaf.
Had a coach suggest to me in October that Lauri Markkanen was the best NBA prospect Sean Miller has had at Arizona. He's a flat-out stud.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) January 21, 2017
For those unsure coming in, thought this game showed how huge the gap is between Lauri Markkanen and TJ Leaf as NBA prospects.
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) January 21, 2017
0.0% chance anyone takes Leaf over Lauri Markkanen after watching this match up
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) January 21, 2017
Allonzo Trier made a grand entrance into the college basketball season with 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Allonzo Trier ladies and gentlemen
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 21, 2017
Allonzo Trier hasn't played in a college basketball game in over 10 months. This is pretty damn impressive.
— Chris Spatola (@Chris_Spatola) January 21, 2017
Kobi Simmons must have turned heads of the many NBA scouts in attendance with his career-high 20 points with six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Kobi Simmons should just declare for the draft after this game.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) January 21, 2017
Minus the tech Kobi Simmons having a day w/ Alford defending. Can be valuable in the NBA some day as a microwave scorer if the J is falling
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) January 21, 2017
Kadeem Allen had some athletic plays and his defense on UCLA sharpshooter Bryce Alford for most of the game was an important subplot.
Let me know when Kadeem Allen comes back down to earth thanks
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 21, 2017
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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