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Arizona receives important messages upon their return to campus

Sean Miller

Arizona head coach Sean Miller looks on during practice for a West Regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 27, 2013. Arizona plays Ohio State Thursday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

AP

Classes at many schools begin Monday, which means we’re that much closer to having actual college basketball games to discuss. And with the returns to campus come the team meetings used to establish the course of action in the weeks leading up to the start of practice.

At Arizona, head coach Sean Miller uses the return of his players to campus to remind the team of the importance of handling their affairs off the basketball court. From academics to social situations, many seasons have been derailed over the years thanks to bad decisions that have nothing to do with a shot or turnover.

According to Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star, this is the second consecutive year in which the Wildcats have kicked things off with a meeting of this variety.

Arizona basketball players were scheduled to return to campus by this morning, then attend what coach Sean Miller calls a “state of the union” meeting this afternoon. During that, the players will listen to talks by trainers, doctors, police officers, public relations representatives and others.

“We try to give our players a sampling of everything that can happen to them outside of our locker room, first and foremost,” Miller said earlier this month. “A lot of things go on in today’s world — a phone can take a picture, and all of a sudden you know about it quicker and more often. It’s a lesson for all of us that we have to be extremely careful and diligent, and know that we represent a team, a program, a university, and we want to do it in a first-class manner.”


The Wildcats begin classes Monday amidst high expectations, with two McDonald’s All-Americans (Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) and a highly-regarded transfer point guard (former Duquesne point guard T.J. McConnell) joining a group that includes junior guard Nick Johnson and sophomore big men Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski.

But there are some holes to fill as Arizona looks to improve upon its Sweet 16 run of a season ago. Versatile forward Solomon Hill’s now in the NBA, and fellow veterans Mark Lyons and Kevin Parrom are gone as well. And there’s also the matter of who will consistently knock down perimeter shots, with freshman Elliott Pitts and sophomore Gabe York being two of the possible answers to that question.

Talent-wise the pieces are in place for Arizona to not only win the Pac-12 but accomplish some things nationally as well. With so much ahead of them it’s a good idea to make sure the players are cognizant of what exactly is at stake, both on and off the court.

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