(via BangTheBook.com)
by Kyle Phillippi (@Kyle_Phillippi)
Editor/Columnist for The Grandstand Gazette
The Grandstand Gazette participated in this week’s Pac-12 college basketball coaches teleconference. Within the first ten minutes, there was an awkward exchange between Arizona head coach Sean Miller and Pac-12 director of communications, Dave Hirsch.
At 14-0, the Wildcats are one of the more impressive teams in the nation and have notched some resume-boosting wins over then No. 5 Florida and then No. 17 San Diego State. There hot start has them ranked No. 4 at the beginning of the conference play.
So with so much excitement around the Arizona basketball program, Miller wants to know why none of his players have been recognized by the Pac-12 for their hard work.
(Arizona’s Sean Miller – via AZDesertSwarm.com)
“Hey Dave, what do we got to do to get one of our players to get the Player of the Week? Is there something that we’re missing? I’ve seen our guys play,” said Miller. “There are great players and teams. I don’t want to take anything away from it, but don’t you think it’s somewhat remarkable that a team could be 14-0 and No. 3 in the nation right now – maybe we won ‘t win another game – but not one of our players played well enough to win the Player of the Week award?”
In my opinion, Miller has a point. Somewhere along the line, one of his players should have been recognized, especially Soloman Hill, who had 18 points, three assists and two steals vs. Florida and 21 points, six rebounds and three assists against San Diego St.
But if he’s that worried that his players aren’t getting recognized on an individual level, he’s got bigger problems because right now, he has his team on track for a No. 1 seed in the tournament and in prime position to make a deep postseason run.
He should be thankful for that because there are a large amount of programs around the country who would rather trade in their individual Player of the Week honors for a chance to be ranked within the top five.
Meanwhile, UCLA head coach Ben Howland is proud of what freshman Shabazz Muhammad is doing out on the court. After a slow start hampered by injuries, the 6’6” Las Vegas native has recorded 20 or more points in six of the past seven games, including a 27-point outing in the Bruins’ 97-94 overtime victory against then No. 7 Missouri.
(Shabazz Muhammad has been electrifying when healthy for UCLA)
“Shabazz has been a key player for us,” said Howland. “He’s had some tough injuries and literally, this summer, for about two and a half months, he had a horrible high ankle sprain and once we started practice here in the fall he hurt his shoulder. Boy, I thought it was bad news but he ended up only being out for two weeks.”
“Since he’s been back, he’s done a great job getting in physical shape and he’s very motivated.”
If Muhammad can maintain this level of play throughout the year, UCLA will move up the rankings and be one of the more dangerous teams in the tournament.
The Grandstand Gazette has weekly access to the Pac-12 coaches teleconference calls every Tuesday.
