Kevin O’Neill: Arizona Wildcats a “sleeper” to win the national title
by Javier Morales on Feb. 16, 2011, under Sports
USC coach Kevin O'Neill, a former Arizona assistant and interim head coach, believes the Wildcats can do something special in the postseason (US Presswire photo/Kirby Lee)
RELATED LINK: Former UA guard Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks will be at McKale Center on Saturday cheering on … Huskies guard Isaiah Thomas?
Say what you will about former Arizona assistant and impromptu interim head coach Kevin O’Neill, now the head man at Southern Cal: He shows no ill-will toward his former employer and Pac-10 foe.
In fact, O’Neill is talking about the Wildcats’ chances for a national title run like none other in the country.That’s right: National championship.
As a guest on Stephen A. Smith‘s ESPN Radio show today, O’Neill went so far as to say Sean Miller‘s team is a “sleeper team to win the national title.”
“The team I really think that has a chance that obviously needs to grow up a little bit and get better … I think Arizona has a chance,” O’Neill told Smith. “And I’m not just pumping up our league (Pac-10). They have a star player in Derrick Williams. They are 11 deep. They shoot the three better than any team in the country from top to bottom.
“So I think our league might represent themselves a little bit better (in the NCAA tournament). To me, Arizona is kind of a sleeper team to win the national title.”
Smith did not argue the statement or tell O’Neill he is off his rocker. He did, however, immediately change the subject to O’Neill omitting Kansas as a national title contender. O’Neill previously mentioned Texas and Ohio State as the best two teams in the NCAA with Duke at “number three or four.” He then commented about Arizona.
