Sonoran Hot Reads: Sean Miller making case for National Coach of the Year?

This has certainly been a challenging year for the Arizona coach

The Arizona Wildcats have faced a lot of adversity this year after entering it with lowered expectations. However, the team still finds itself tied atop the Pac-12 standings with two weeks remaining, suffering just five losses all year. This has led Seth Davis to put Miller among his ten candidates for National Coach of the Year. Davis says of Miller:

"It would have been challenging enough for Miller to lose four starters from last season's Elite Eight squad (and five underclassman starters to the NBA draft the last two years). He also lost one of his top recruits, forward Ray Smith, to a knee injury in the preseason; backup guard Elliott Pitts to a personal issue (he hasn't played since early December); and his best perimeter scorer, freshman Allonzo Trier, who recently returned after missing seven games with a broken hand. Despite all that, the Wildcats are tied for first place in the Pac-12 (22-5, 10-4 in conference) and are gaining steam at exactly the right time. Wouldn't it be ironic if this became the team that finally got Miller to the Final Four?"

- Yes, it would be sort of ironic, but certainly not out of the picture right now. Myron Medcalf agrees, as he has the Wildcats as the most likely Pac-12 team to reach the Final Four

- Sporting News has the Wildcats as a 5-seed right now, explaining that there is certainly a lack of quality road wins so far. Our latest bracketology from Matt has Arizona on the four-line

Football

- Arizona's offensive line is in "we'll see" mode when it comes to having success next year

- There's more coming out about the Gronk Cruise, and this convo on Jody Oehler's radio show was pretty great

- Have you ever wondered what Pokemon Arizona is? Well, you're in luck:

"High-flying, entertaining, but not good enough to anchor a championship. Pidgeot, a later-game bird Pokemon."

Hey wait, that doesn't seem very nice

Baseball

- The team was receiving votes in the NCBWA poll this week. That was before a loss to Lamar, where the Cardinals used the long ball to win 13-5

Softball

- Gabe gave a recap of a strange weekend in Palm Springs for the team

Other sports

- Women's golf is in third after two days in New Orleans. Their home course was also voted the best course in the state by Golf Advisor

- Men's tennis lost to Denver 5-2

- Here are Arizona Athletics' best pictures from the past week

- The Pac-12 swimming and diving championships are this week. Here's a preview of the festivities

Nothing but smiles in Tempe! Bear Down, GymCats! http://pic.twitter.com/NEiiYXZP2W

— Arizona GymCats (@AZGymnastics) February 23, 2016

Tucson news

- There's still plenty of illegal street racing going on in Tucson

- 22nd and Craycroft is becoming one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city

McDonalds on Kinney and Ajo just threw out a perfectly good car... @whatsuptucson http://pic.twitter.com/2ar0XVf8U5

— Michael_Martha (@a2ndchanceranch) February 22, 2016

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