Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller is working his butt off trying to make Arizona a rebuilt program.

And, yes, so are his assistants. In the game of trying-to-improve-your-program the name of the game is: recruiting.

And coaching. I’m still convinced that coaching trumps recruiting.

Miller will do both here at Arizona.

On Sunday, after a weekend visit to Tucson and apparently a very good visit 6-foot-3 guard Josiah Turner has now verbally committed to the Wildcats.

Turner is the newest addition to a stellar class, which includes AAU teammate Nick Johnson.

Together, colleague Javier Morales of Wildaboutazcats.com, says it could be the best guard tandem since Jason Gardner and Gilbert Arenas in 1999. Let’s remember that Arenas came in late and was a diamond in the rough. Gardner was the one that was considered the player. So much for projections.

It’s a reason I don’t like recruiting.

But Miller is getting the job done with it. He’ll have to in that Arizona will lose a scholarship next year because of the NCAA sanctions – all because of, drum roll please, improper recruiting. It’s why I hate it.

And on a couple of levels.

Many miss on potential of players – good and bad.

But you know what they say about potential? Nothing has really been done yet.

Turner appears to be the real deal, though, being a top 10 (overall) player and a five-star recruit.

It’s a great get. We’ll see what happens from here on.

Sean Miller's team needs a good finish to reach the NIT/Photo by Wildcat Sports Report

Arizona coach Sean Miller knew there would be days like these. Or was that a daze like this?

Miller showed signs of frustration Tuesday – and continued his blunt, honest talk – about his team that is floundering at the .500 mark and easily flirting with not making a postseason tournament for the first time since 1984.

I’m not even sure if many in Tucson can spell NIT – having never had to really concern itself with it for so long (OK, maybe last year there was a good chance). But now, Miller said if UA doesn’t qualify for the NIT he wouldn’t even consider the 16-team College Basketball Invitational, a third-string postseason tournament now in its third season.

“When you look at the last couple of years with the NIT field, it’s mind-boggling,’’ Miller said.

He also clarified that “it will be difficult for us to make it.’’

Indeed. Arizona must at the very least split its final four regular-season games and win at least one of its Pac-10 Conference postseason games to get above .500 to be considered.

“That would be quite an honor for our team, knowing what we have and how far we’ve come and what we’ve done since October,’’ Miller said.

And, without trying to be funny – yet that’s how it came out – he said “it would be more important for us to start lifting weights’’ than participate in the CBI.

But that’s what this season has come to. Go ahead and admit it and say it slowly: THAT’S WHAT IT HAS COME TO.

Of course, UA could win the Pac-10 Conference postseason tournament and get in the NCAA tournament, but are you going to be bet that?

So right now, Miller will try to prepare his team for what could be a very difficult time this weekend in the Bay Area. Cal is first; Stanford is second.

And Miller is the first to say he doesn’t want to “act like it’s over’’ because UA has shown it wants to play hard and compete. But most recently, things just haven’t gone well. He admitted that the Oregon State loss may “have taken some wind out of our sails.’’

But, Miller did agree that his team still has “want’’ in it. And that’s a want to do well, want to get better and want to prove something. That’s a good sign.

But when asked what he thought the mood of the team was after Sunday’s loss to Arizona State, Miller quickly said he pretty much didn’t care about the team’s mood.

Sharp and biting. That was Miller on Tuesday. He has to be applauded for that. There’s no other way to get his point across.

He also knew back in April he’d have to deal with certain things when he decided to take the job.

More from TucsonCitizen.com:
Miller is a big fan of Cal point guard Jerome Randle

“Rock bottom.’’

That’s how Arizona coach Sean Miller described his basketball experience after Oregon State defeated Arizona, 63-55, in McKale Center.

Figure that he’s been in the college basketball business for 23 years – 18 as a coach and five as a player – and he had never experienced this kind of low. You could tell he was sincere. Very sincere. And very, very upset (although he stays even keel emotionally).

“I’ve never felt this way after a loss,’’ said Miller. “Your job as a coach and a staff is to really connect with your team and have them ready.’’

UA clearly wasn’t. No energy. No life. No guts. No glory.

Of course, no victory.

“Disappointed,’’ said UA’s MoMo Jones. “Oregon State came in and did what they did. And to the best of their ability. They outplayed us.’’

TucsonCitizen.com UA notebook: The McKale magic is gone

Oregon State made it a clean regular-season sweep of the Cats for the first time since 1982-83. It’s also the last time UA was swept by OSU and Washington State in the same season.

A victory for the Beavers in McKale Center? Unheard of in the Lute Olson era. Heck, Miller was 14 years old when it last happened. He wasn’t even being recruited to college then (nowadays all you need is a pulse it seems).

And I’ve never heard this from a coach: “We got what we deserved.’’

Wow!

Then this: “You know, I’m not for everybody. I’m not for everybody. (Yes, he said it twice maybe for emphasis). As a coach you have that identity where you have some guys playing your way good or bad. I don’t want a guy who plays (hard) when things are only going good. That’s what I’m here for. That’s why I’m here and we’ll address that. It’s important week for us to get ready.’’

It’s not clear who that was addressed at, but his message has been sent.

Now, Arizona State looms next Sunday. Does the NCAA tournament? We’ll see, but it’s not likely if one were to look at it with total perspective. Miller is choosing not to look at it. To be fair, he hasn’t all season.

“I’ve tried to stay away from that (talk),’’ he said. “I don’t think they would be able to handle that. It’s about working hard and being consistent and recognizing anybody can beat us. We don’t have a large margin for error and we have to do our very best each game.’’

And simply on Saturday night, didn’t play its best. It may have been one of its worst. At least it was to Miller. Figure UA shot just 39 percent (35.3 in the first half).

“We had those plays where you scratch your head at,’’ he said.

Miller thought his team would be beyond that at this point. UA had been showing signs that it was headed in the right direction, winning five of seven games lately. But … no. And that’s what was surprising, too.

“Teams go through bumps in the road,’’ Jones said. “We’re like any regular team, whether it’s a team that’s undefeated or a team in the middle or a team that is down. Teams are going to have highs and teams will have lows. That’s what every team goes through.’’

Not when your coach is saying things like “Rock Bottom.’’

Steve Rivera can be reached at Steve.Rivera95@gmail.com. Visit SteveRiveraventures.com.