“He has that ability and that mentality to kind of rise up his game based on the importance of the game. So I’m sure we’re going to get a great effort out of Darius tomorrow.”
Arkansas scouting insight
One coach who might have a particularly unique insight on the matchup between Arkansas and Arizona: Texas assistant coach David Miller, a UA graduate who began his coaching career under Sean Miller (no relation) and later joined him with the Xavier and Texas staffs.
Miller and the Longhorns faced Arkansas just a few weeks ago, losing 105-85 on March 4 at Fayetteville, Ark.
“Super, super, super athletic,” David Miller said. “As athletic as any team I’ve ever scouted at Arizona, Xavier or whatever. They’re liked size across the board. When they switch, I think people don’t understand their switching is so effective because they lose nothing. I mean, they’re switching 6-7 on a 6-9, a 6-9 on a 6-11. It’s a lot.”
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better college point guard than Acuff. He’s that good. You just have to get back in transition. Their transition game is huge because defense to offense, steals, blocks, high ball turnovers, that’s what gives them momentum.”
Wildcat blood in Texas
Miller is one of five Longhorn staffers with UA ties, including former UA standout forward Ryan Anderson. David Miller and fellow UA grad Adam Cohen are also assistants, while former UA director of basketball operations Ryan Reynolds is Texas’ Chief of Staff.
Arizona forward Ryan Anderson (12) passes the ball over USC forwards Bennie Boatwright (25) and Nikola Jovanovic (32) in the second half during a game at McKale Center on Feb. 14, 2016. Arizona won 86-78.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
David Miller was a graduate manager at UA from 2013-15 before leaving to work at Alabama and UC Santa Barbara, under former UA associate head coach Joe Pasternack. He then re-joined UA under Miller as director of on-campus recruiting and analytics from 2019-21, and became an assistant at San Jose State in 2021-22, when Sean Miller was out of coaching.