Revised and Extended Miller Sales Pitch

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Even if you’ve been living under a rock, surely you’ve heard by now – Sean Miller’s sophomore-laden Arizona Wildcats delivered an epic, vicious beating to senior-led, defending national champion Duke last night. Any chance of an “under the radar” courtship, or U of A passing on a bidding war for Miller’s services – completely out the window. Once again, big thanks to Lee Fowler for determining in his infinite wisdom that Sean Miller wasn’t ready five years ago, but Sidney Lowe somehow was.

Yet I woke up this morning with an unequivocal frame of mind – so f-ing what. DY has no fear heading into this hire. Neither should we. Let’s compete with Arizona on an even playing field, with their leadership as “all in” on Miller as Wolfpack Nation.

Sean Miller can have pretty much any job he wants now. We know that he believes NC State offers everything one needs to build a championship basketball program. Instead of hoping for him to stumble, let’s be confident of how attractive and special a place NC State is. That Miller will choose NC State as an ideal place to win his second national championship. That he wants the spotlight on him 10+ times a year, rather than 2 or 3. I watched a ton of non-ACC basketball this year. How many times were Pac Ten games featured? How far down the channel list would I have to scroll just to find out Miller’s Wildcats were playing (likely at 11:30 EST)?

If Sean Miller comes to NC State, he brings instant credibility to battling the blues. You can bet your ass that his matchups won’t be Raycom regional splits. And when Roy and K retire in the next 7-10 years, who will be better positioned to be the top dog in college basketball? Hell, maybe the Andy Katzes of the world will be left navel-gazing about the “challenge” of bringing in a new blue coach to work in the shadow of Sean Miller and NC State.

That’s what we have to offer, Sean. We hope to see you back in Raleigh soon. Thanks for your consideration, now get back to kicking some ass on the hardwood.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

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76 Responses to Revised and Extended Miller Sales Pitch

  1. SandhillsWolf 03/25/2011 at 8:14 AM #

    I was very disappointed last night but woke up the same way somewhat….his potential at state is far greater than at arizona from a legendary perspective…not many on the east coast can even talk about lute olsen outside of his nat’l championship.

    tobacco road + eastern time zone coverage + acc + $$$ = best scenario for SM

    the only thing standing in his way is leaving, which is by far the hardest thing to do for a coach

  2. coach13 03/25/2011 at 8:17 AM #

    I don’t see it no way no how. Young team, great recruiting class coming in. He’s rolling at AZ. He’d really be stepping in it here. Brad Stevens keeps winning. Better throw 3 mil at him hope he comes.

    I am less and less optimistic day by day.

  3. tvp1 03/25/2011 at 8:21 AM #

    Revised Miller sales pitch?

    How about: “Archie, ready to come back to Raleigh?”

  4. Howler 03/25/2011 at 8:22 AM #

    I think the goal of any D1 coach is to get in a position where he can legitimately win national championships. Sean Miller is there, and his school loves him and will compensate him accordingly. For him to move, there will have to be some other factor present concerning his family’s preference, some deep-rooted desire to be in the ACC, etc. If one or more of those other factors is not at play in a substantial way, he won’t be willing to give up what he’s got. If Sean Miller is not interested in our vacancy, no one should consider that to be a failure.

    When you’ve just climbed to the top of a mountaintop it is natural to want to stay there a while and enjoy the view. He likely isn’t looking for another mountain to climb right away.

  5. UnclePen 03/25/2011 at 8:23 AM #

    We don’t need to be obsessed with Sean Miller. There are other equally qualified candidates that aren’t as hot as he is right now. Brad Stevens is just as hot probably, and he could be a good choice if we can live with having Doogie Houwser as a coach. Trust in the process.

  6. BJD95 03/25/2011 at 8:25 AM #

    Guys, we have to break the “loveable losers” mentality. Time to kick some ass, with Sean Miller or another homerun name.

    Forget about settling for an unproven name. Strong and confident is the new way of the Pack.

  7. patientwuf 03/25/2011 at 8:30 AM #

    I agree BJD. If we want some National relevance its time to take the gloves off.

  8. MBS 03/25/2011 at 8:33 AM #

    I REALLY hope DY reels in Sean Miller. But if she doesn’t, I don’t understand why she has to hire a big name. Remember, Miller wasn’t at the top of Arizona’s list a couple of years ago – they settled for him after they whiffed on the big names – and he has turned out to be a pretty darn good hire.

    There are worse things than hiring a star who is still rising.

  9. wolfie91 03/25/2011 at 8:34 AM #

    BJD, that is exactly the vibe I got from Yow from the press conference. I believe she is going about the search with the mentality that we want to be winners here, not just those who “compete”. But the reality remains – can she pull it off?

  10. BJD95 03/25/2011 at 8:40 AM #

    Here’s another way to consider it – there are probably only two other jobs that Sean would even consider right now – Pitt and NC State. Rarified air.

    Maybe that will also kill off some of the ridiculous criticism of Rick Barnes for losing to an “outmanned” Arizona squad.

  11. Howler 03/25/2011 at 8:41 AM #

    If we do get an “up-and-comer” rather than an established name, I just don’t want that looked upon as a failure. We have a really good AD in charge. We aren’t loveable losers, heck, we aren’t even loveable. This hire will be a success.

  12. motorhead 03/25/2011 at 8:42 AM #

    I still have confidence in Yow.

  13. tractor57 03/25/2011 at 8:42 AM #

    To me pulling for AZ to lose in the hopes of a better chance SM will leave is a bit perverse.

    Until proven otherwise I ok with DY running things however it falls.

  14. tvp1 03/25/2011 at 8:42 AM #

    BJD – that’s all well and good, but not a one of us here has any influence over the ultimate outcome of the search.

    And if you don’t see a Shaka Smart hire (or equivalent) coming…you are kidding yourself.

    Seriously, who are the “homerun” options? Miller looks like a prayer at this point. If it were Dixon, Wright, Barnes, we’d be hearing something by now, wouldn’t we?

    Short of Brad Stevens deciding that it’s worth an extra million a year to leave Indianapolis, I don’t see how this one doesn’t go to the B list. And the worst case scenario is very real: UT, GT, Oklahoma, and Missouri snatch up the top available mid-majors while we chase Miller, and we are left with…?

  15. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 03/25/2011 at 8:47 AM #

    I would think any sweet 16 coach would be a proven name see’n as there are well over 200 college coaches and only 16 still playing as of last night.

    I love the idea that Miller should come to the ACC so he can compete with K. Hell, he has a better chance of beating K outside of the ACC than in it.

    Arizona’s entire team would of fouled out last night had that been an ACC game. They would never of got away with the pushes, slaps, and elbows that they got away with last night. Looked like K knew what was going on with 6 or 7 minutes left and was reserved to the fact the officials were not going to call any of the muggings bordering on physical assaults.

    Pleased to see Miller actually take the game to Duke. I understand that you can’t do what Miller did last night in the ACC but for the life of me I don’t understand why Duke players don’t get played like that more often. If you are going to foul, foul hard and for god’s sake never foul and let someone score. Herb and Sid (as with most other ACC coaches) never explained to their players that when you foul someone, they should be getting off the floor and probably bruised the next morning.

  16. IMFletcherWolf 03/25/2011 at 8:50 AM #

    BJD, I sooo want to believe you. I had a bad feeling after the game last night, but have a more positive outlook this morning.

    Win as many games as you can in the tournament Sean, and then make your way on up to the East side!

  17. packalum44 03/25/2011 at 8:57 AM #

    Elite 8 is not overcomable. Final 4 is.

    It’s out of our hands though. God grant me serentity for the things I cannot change. Go pack.

  18. BJD95 03/25/2011 at 8:57 AM #

    As you kids know, I consider Mark Turgeon a homerun hire. So do lots of people in or near coaching circles. Will be shocked if we go below Turgeon. I can handle hitting a homerun that isn’t a tape measure shot. 😉

  19. motorhead 03/25/2011 at 8:58 AM #

    To quote All The President’s Men, his comment and smile are “non-denial denials”.

  20. motorhead 03/25/2011 at 9:00 AM #

    I think you’re right BJD about Turgeon. I don’t believe that Yow is unrealistic. I would think if there’s been serious talk with Miller’s people that they would’ve discussed various scenarios (like Final Four, etc).
    Its still going better than last time.

  21. PackWolf82 03/25/2011 at 9:07 AM #

    Keep in mind that all of these names: Miller, Stevens, Turgeon, and a few others that are likely candidates, are ALL clear upgrades from a coaching standpoint.

    If Lee Fowlup hadn’t set our program back 10 yrs or so with the botched search, who knows? Why did he pass on Miller then? ridiculous.

  22. tmb81 03/25/2011 at 9:08 AM #

    “Once again, big thanks to Lee Fowler for determining in his infinite wisdom that Sean Miller wasn’t ready five years ago, but Sidney Lowe somehow was.”

    I don’t understand this revisionist thinking regarding Miller in 2006. Given what we were looking for at the time: e.g. Barnes, Calipari. Miller’s resume of 2 years of HC experience and a one and done appearance in the NCAAs would have not been acceptable. However it was his time with Herb that would have turned off the fans. The mood at the time was to move away from that…far away from that.

    Miller’s continued success at Xavier would have made him the perfect hire in ’08 or ’09, but not in ’06.

  23. scotchzombie 03/25/2011 at 9:14 AM #

    tmb81 – I agree. Very few would have supported a Miller hire in 2006. So much of this is about timing. We can dream and hope for one of the big name targets (Pack fans are used to hoping) but there are other coaches out there that can take it to the next level in Raleigh. I have to think DY is a better judge of talent and potential than LF.

  24. El Lobo Loco! 03/25/2011 at 9:14 AM #

    So what!
    couldn’t have put it in a more direct way

    If Miller gets a good offer from NCSU he will probably take it, will be hailed as a saviour and hero by most ofthe wufpack nation and with the help of DY will put NC State back in the national spotlight.
    Now what we need is to make sure DY makes a juicy offer to Miller.

  25. JVM4PACK 03/25/2011 at 9:16 AM #

    BJD95, I rarely post anything, but am a very avid reader of this site. I have been absolutely a die hard supporter of the Wolfpack for over 30 years and could not AGREE more. Let’s stand up together, unite get over this PISS POOR attitude of woe is me I’m a state fan and let’s change the mentality of this all together. We are on the verge of something special with the right hire.

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