Sean Miller is one of the hottest young coaches in the country.  So it makes sense for the University of Arizona to come calling.  And it makes sense for Sean Miller to answer to those calls.  But to me, it doesn?t make sense for Sean Miller to leave the program that he has helped maintain, and even grow, its national stature.

     I don?t expect Sean Miller to man the XU sidelines for his entire career.  It just isn?t feasible.  Yes, Xavier can compete with anyone on the court.  But off the court, being a team outside of the big six conferences with zero football revenue to speak of, it is extremely difficult to compete.

     But Arizona is not the place for Miller.  Right now, at least for the next season or two, Xavier is.  At least it should be.  It would be hard pressed not to find Xavier in the preseason top 10 next season.  Top 15 at the minimum.  He has yet another four-star recruit coming to town in forward Kevin Parrom.  He?ll have more point guard experience when four-star freshman Mark Lyons becomes eligible.  Miller will also receive a key piece that was missing from last year?s team in Jordan Crawford, a guard with the ability to take over the game and score at will.  Miller hasn?t been shy in calling him potentially the best guard ever to play at Xavier.  And oh yeah, the bulk of the team that advanced to the Sweet 16 this past season will return.

     The bottom line is that right now, Xavier is a great place for Miller.  He has a legitimate Final Four caliber squad next year.  He?s able to win his conference nearly every year ala Memphis and Gonzaga.  On top of that, Xavier boasts some of the best facilities in the nation. 

     This is why it?s a huge shock to find Miller severely interested in the Arizona job.  Miller really doesn?t have many west coast ties.  If he were to take the Wildcat job, he?d be forced to compete head-to-head with one of his best friends in the coaching world (Arizona State?s Herb Sendek).  Also, Miller clearly wasn?t Arizona?s first choice.  Or even second.  Or third.  Or fourth.  Of course it?s speculation that those titles belong to Jamie Dixon, Jeff Capel, Mark Few and Tim Floyd.  What does that say?  Maybe Arizona isn?t a good destination right now?  Who knows?  And it isn?t any secret that Arizona will take some serious rebuilding with the likely departures of Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger, and Nic Wise.

     But if Sean Miller decides in his heart that it is time to move on with his career, I and Xavier Nation will wish him nothing but the best and be forever thankful for representing Xavier University with class and character.  Sean has without question earned whatever salary the Wildcats will throw at him.  He has shown the ability to recruit and coach with the best, and someday, maybe (hopefully) soon, he?ll end up in the Final Four.  I just hope he has a big X on his shirt when that day comes