LOS ANGELES (AP) – Nearly six years after Sean Miller left Xavier for Arizona, the bonds between the schools’ coaching staffs still run wide and deep.
That friendship will get a little spice Thursday night when coach Chris Mack’s sixth-seeded Musketeers (23-13) attempt to pull off a major upset of his former boss’ second-seeded Wildcats (33-3).
When Miller left Cincinnati, he lobbied for his longtime lead assistant to replace him. Mack has maintained Xavier’s consistent success with three Sweet 16 trips, while Miller has led his West Coast powerhouse to this round four times in five years.
Although their game plans and coaching styles still have many similarities all these years later, Mack is pretty sure he has a little more fun.
The serious Miller ”needs to loosen up,” according to his former assistant.
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