Let’s go back to two weeks ago, when UCLA went into the McKale Center and knocked off Arizona in the second-to-last week of the regular season.
After a pair of free throws put UCLA up 77-72 with two seconds left, Alford called a timeout to set his defense. Miller was not happy about it, and with 0.9 seconds left in last night’s 86-75 win over the Bruins, he made sure to whistle for a timeout.
The two exchanged niceties in the handshake line after the game:
The Miller - Alford handshake pic.twitter.com/zPBx8RpeJN
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) March 11, 2017
Miller was asked about it after the game, and this is what he had to say:
EXCLUSIVE: @uacoachmiller explains why he took a time out with 1 second left to our @adamsonashley. https://t.co/wcXzPXwPiP
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 11, 2017
“I just wanted to make sure our guys had poise with one second left in this game.”
That is so petty and so awesome and everything that rivalries at this level should be about.
And rest assured, this is a rivalry. The two marquee programs in the west coast conference who do battle over kids in Southern California like -- oh, I don’t know -- UCLA forward and former Arizona commit T.J. Leaf.
College basketball needs more stuff like this.
Here are Steve Alford’s thoughts on the timeout:
NEW: @uclambb Head Coach Steve Alford responds to Sean Miller's comments after tonight's semifinal. pic.twitter.com/zF62PvWsDQ
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 11, 2017
