NBA: Which College Coaches Could Be Successful In The Association?

Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller watches game action against Wisconsin Badgers during the first half in the finals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Miller

Record: 283–99

Miller’s star has been on the rise of late and understandably so. Under his reign, Arizona has finished 2nd in the kenpom rankings each of the past two seasons, a more telling evaluative tool than looking at the team’s inability to escape the clutches of Wisconsin in back-to-back elite eights. Looking at an aggregate of the past two seasons, Arizona has a legitimate argument for being college basketball’s best program.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

The team’s made it’s bones with a ruggedly tough defense, finishing with the No. 1 defense in ’14 and the No. 3 defense in ’15, according to kenpom’s metrics. While Miller hasn’t exactly had a talent deficit, the defensive success hasn’t been entirely due to his personnel. Although Miller’s brought in strong recruiting classes over the past three seasons, none of them have been laden with overwhelming talent. Arizona’s had two players drafted in the lottery over the past two seasons.

Miller’s teams have been disciplined and executed his scheme. Arizona’s success has come from a combination of masterful coaching and solid talent. Offensively, he runs a variation of one of the more popular motion continuities in college basketball. That said, he does have a few creative set plays in addition to it. If Miller continues this high level of success over the next few years, he should get some looks from NBA teams.

Next: Bo Ryan