In Tucson, Miller Time has nothing to do with Happy Hour or a cold beer.
Miller Time means that UA basketball coach Sean Miller has scheduled a press conference at 2:15 Thursday afternoon in Room 106A at McKale Center. Miller Time means that if you want a seat in the claustrophobic setting that wasn’t touched by any of the mega-millions spent refurbishing the building, you must arrive by 2.
Or maybe 1:55, because at 2, only one seat remains vacant. That seat is quickly occupied by Brian Jeffries, the Voice of the Wildcats. John Marshall, who is one of The Associated Press’ most widely circulated college basketball reporters, arrives from Phoenix at 2:15.
Marshall stands for the next 51 minutes and 39 seconds, as Miller delivers the much-anticipated State of the Wildcats report, which is probably a record for any coach in college basketball.
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No one else in Tucson could pull this off. Not the mayor, not the chief of police, not Jim Click.
Miller is a superior public speaker. He’s like an artful copy editor, eliminating the fluff, pruning everything but the meat of the story.
At Arizona, there is a lot of meat to the 2016-17 basketball story, and on Thursday it took Miller 51 minutes and 39 seconds to get to all of it. Ordinarily, anyone talking 51 minutes and 39 seconds about anything should not be spared a copy editor’s snipping.
But Miller pulled it off; he fielded 27 questions. This is how it played out in five easy pieces:
1. Freshman Lauri Markkanen, a 7-footer from Finland, is not going to be pushed around nor need significant break-in time. “He’s ahead of the game right now,” said Miller.
2. Freshman guard Kobi Simmons will hit an open jumper, and even a few when he’s not open. “Whether he plays (point guard or off guard), he’ll be a big asset for us,” said Miller.
3. Do not write off sophomore center Chance Comanche as a long-range prospect. “He’s as talented as anyone in our program,” the coach said.
4. Sophomore wing Allonzo Trier is the walking definition of “gym rat.” “I think he’ll be one of the best guards in the country,” said Miller.
5. Junior center Dusan Ristic, who worked out with boxers over the summer, has been a revelation. “He’ll be the best version of himself,” said Miller. “You’ll see.”
It is 42 days until Arizona plays a game that counts — against Michigan State in Hawaii — but that’s misleading. The clock is already ticking. For Miller, it rarely stops.
Miller will turn 48 a few days before Thanksgiving, and he said he’s “very refreshed.” That sort of talk belies his schedule.
At 48, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski conked out. He coached just 12 games of the 1994-95 schedule before stepping away to catch his breath for the rest of the year. The burning sense of obligation to be No. 1 beat him up.
It makes you wonder how long Miller, or any college basketball coach, can continue the pace. The Wildcats recruited the nation’s No. 5 Class of 2016 according to Rivals.com, and are currently ranked No. 3 by the same people.
“If you’re trying to go after the top prize, the highest level of college basketball, recruiting is an obsession,” Miller said. “It is at a level that nobody has ever done before, that’s why it’s so hard to compare generations. No one has ever done this.”
UA freshman small forward Rawle Alkins, who is from New York City, said that Miller’s coaching and recruiting intensity “amazes me.”
“Arizona wasn’t even on my list,” he said Thursday. “Then Coach Miller flew to Detroit to watch me in the middle of last season, and he really stepped it up. He literally wouldn’t give up. I came out here to watch the game against Oregon, when (Arizona) was going for 50 straight home victories, and everybody treated it like the end of the world.
“I wanted to be part of that type of purpose.”
That purpose is seen in Miller’s approach to the Oct. 14 Red and Blue Game.
Most Tucsonans would say the yearly home game against UCLA, or someone at the top of the Pac-12, would be the most anticipated game of the year. Miller has an addition: the Red-Blue Game is almost as important.
“From a recruiting standpoint, it’s arguably the biggest week we’ve had during my time as coach at Arizona,” said Miller.
By my unofficial count, Miller has offered scholarships to 36 players from the Class of 2017. One of those, 7-foot DeAndre Ayton of Hillcrest Academy in Phoenix, considered by some the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2017, has already chosen to play for Arizona.
If Miller and his staff are fortunate, aided by the Red-Blue Game and attendant festivities, they could crank out the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class by November. Or something close.
Arizona begins full practice Sunday. It’s almost like a break for the coaches.
“In September, recruiting is all day, every day, from start to finish,” Miller said. “It’s all day, every day, start to finish in April. It’s all day, every day, start to finish in July and August. The thing is, it’s relentless. And it doesn’t mean you’re going to do well, either. That’s just what you do to have a chance.”
On the last day of September, Arizona has a chance.
