The Sidelines: Arizona coach Sean Miller discusses his 2016-17 squad

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:41 p.m. ET

Aaron Torres

College hoops season starts Friday, so what better way to get fired up than with a bonus edition of "The Sidelines Podcast with Evan Daniels!"

Earlier this week Evan welcomed Texas coach Shaka Smart to the show, and in this episode, he is joined by both Arizona coach Sean Miller and star freshman Lauri Markkanen.

You can listen to the full interview above, as Evan discusses the following topics with Coach Miller:

* His time at Xavier, how it shaped him as a head coach, what he learned about himself and his proudest moment.

* The transition to Arizona, and the one key thing that changed the program when he arrived.

* The 2017 season and why this team will look a lot different in March than it does in November.

* And finally, the incredible story of being recruited -- as a player -- by a young John Calipari.

Next up, Evan welcomes freshman star Lauri Markkanen to the show. The forward from Finland discusses the following:

* Choosing college ball in the United States instead of being a pro in Europe.

* Why he chose Arizona over a host of other big-time offers, including North Carolina.

* What he will bring to the 2016-17 Wildcats, and what fans should expect from the team this season.

Arizona is going to be one of the most fascinating teams in college basketball, and with their opener against Michigan State less than 24 hours away, this is a must-listen for college basketball fans.

Also, what better way to get caught up on the season ahead than by catching up on all previous episodes of the podcast. Evan has welcomed several big-name guests to the show, including the legendary Mike Krzyzewski and Villanova's Jay Wright.

Be sure to also subscribe to the podcast below to get great episodes delivered right to you all season long.

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