SAN JOSE — Arizona men's basketball fans arriving early Thursday before the Wildcats' game with Arkansas will get a chance to root for — or against — Sean Miller when he leads Texas against Purdue in the other West Regional Sweet 16 game.
The former UA coach was asked Wednesday what might happen.
"I would hope they would cheer for us. We're the 11 seed," Miller said. "If I were them, I'd want us to win."
Miller's response drew some chuckles. Arizona fired him in 2021 after his program had been under FBI and NCAA investigations, though he also pulled the Wildcats out of the turbulent transition from Lute Olson and built some of the best UA teams ever, including Elite Eight participants in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Appearing for a pregame press conference at the same arena as the Wildcats, with the chance that his Texas team will meet Arizona for a Final Four berth if both teams win Thursday, Miller continued his answer by expressing positive vibes for Arizona after his 12-year run at the school.
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"My relationship with Arizona is nothing but great," Miller said. "I have three sons. They all attended the University of Arizona, and each of them had an amazing experience. Two of the three, their girlfriend, potentially maybe who they end up with as their wife, also went to Arizona.
"I Â have friendships (at UA) that will last a lifetime. I was treated, our family was treated incredibly well."
Miller then went on to refer to Tommy Lloyd, who was hired to replace him in 2021.
"My perspective of watching Arizona, they couldn't have hired a better coach," Miller said. "I mean, what he has done is just — it's like legendary. I know that the team that they have this year might be the best team at Arizona, one of the best ever.
"That's where that stands. I mean, if we were to beat Purdue ... (playing Arizona in the Elite Eight) would be amazing. Â But the other part of it doesn't really exist for me. I think with that emotion, you can either burn the house down or make it warmer. I look at that place and that experience as nothing but just making my house warmer. I have nothing but positive thoughts, feelings and perspectives towards that experience."
After leaving Arizona, Miller was out of coaching for the 2021-22 season, then spent three seasons at Xavier before taking over at Texas following last season. In his first season at Austin, Miller led the Longhorns to an 18-14 record entering Selection Sunday,when they were given a No. 11 seed and a First Four assignment.
Texas head coach Sean Miller reacts during the second half of an NCAA Tournament first-round game against BYU on Thursday in Portland, Ore.
But since then, Texas beat N.C. State in the First Four at Dayton, then traveled to Portland, Oregon, and beat BYU and Gonzaga to reach the Sweet 16.
