ARIZONA BASKETBALL

UA’s Greg Byrne doesn’t think Sean Miller’s ‘go cheer for ASU’ tweet is any big deal

Apr 1, 2015, 3:17 PM | Updated: 3:19 pm

Follow @Vincemarotta...

The Arizona Wildcats advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.

And for the second straight year, they were bounced from the tourney in the West Regional Final by the Wisconsin Badgers.

For a team that has been ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll the entire season, there was a healthy level of expectation among the fan base that head coach Sean Miller would break through and finally guide the ‘Cats to a Final Four appearance.

With unmet expectations comes disappointment, and nobody was more disappointed with the criticism that accompanied the loss than Miller, who vented on Twitter.

The tweet ruffled more than a few feathers in Tucson and Tempe, to say the least.

But what did Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne think of the message?

“Oh, I laughed a little bit about it,” Byrne told Doug and Wolf Wednesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “Sean’s actually got a really good sense of humor and he actually, I think, had been fairly isolated from most of the comments and quite frankly, those comments, I’m guessing didn’t come from Arizona fans.”

Byrne also didn’t think Miller’s comment was a shot fired toward the rival school to the north.

“One of the great things about college athletics is the rivalries, and I think it’s important to have a little fun with the rivalry from time to time and have some lighthearted comments,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. That’s what I thought about it at the time.”

Arizona Basketball

JuJu Watkins drives on Cameron Brink...

Associated Press

Pac-12 women get 7 teams in NCAA Tournament, including Arizona

The Pac-12 could be poised for a strong showing in its final March Madness run. Arizona, USC, Stanford and more are in the NCAA Tournament.

13 hours ago

Kylan Boswell celebrates...

Arizona Sports

Experts predict Arizona Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament run

Arizona isn't a No. 1 seed this NCAA Tournament, but that hasn't stopped some experts from picking the program from going far in 2024.

14 hours ago

Oumar Ballo #11 and Keshad Johnson #16 of the Arizona Wildcats bump chests after a basket by Ballo ...

David Veenstra

Arizona faces Long Beach State in 1st round of 2024 NCAA Tournament

The No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats will take on No. 15 seed Long Beach State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City.

1 day ago

Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats calls to his team in the second half of a semifinal ...

Kellan Olson

Arizona projected as No. 2 seed for NCAA Tournament, GCU 12th

The Arizona Wildcats' two recent losses have still been deemed as costly enough to have them miss out on a NCAA Tournament top seed.

2 days ago

Jadrian Tracey...

Associated Press

Oregon captures final Pac-12 Tournament championship with win over Colorado

Oregon secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by defeating Colorado 75-68 on Saturday night, ending the Pac-12 basketball era.

2 days ago

Keshad Johnson #16 of the Arizona Wildcats drives the ball against N'Faly Dante #1 and Jackson Shel...

Damon Allred

Arizona eliminated from Pac-12 Tournament in loss to Oregon

Arizona men's basketball packed its bags to leave Las Vegas and the Pac-12 Tournament early after falling 67-59 to fourth-seeded Oregon.

3 days ago

UA’s Greg Byrne doesn’t think Sean Miller’s ‘go cheer for ASU’ tweet is any big deal