TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona coach Sean Miller will be attempting to lead the United States U19 basketball team to back-to-back world championships for the first time since Jimmy Carter was in the White House.
"It's going to be a heck of a challenge," said Miller on Tuesday before he gets set to lead Team USA later this month and next at the championships in Greece.
Although Team USA is 78-13 overall through the years with the U19 group, it hasn't won back-to-back championships since 1979.
"It's not like we enter this tournament as a heavy favorite," said Miller, who became the head coach last month after former Florida coach Billy Donovan accepted the head coaching job with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. Miller was an assistant to Donovan last year for Team USA U18.
"We're going to face pros (and) teams that have been together for multiple years," Miller said.
Incoming Arizona freshman Allonzo Trier was invited to tryout camp for the team, whose roster will be set later this month. Trier helped Team USA qualify for this summer's event by averaging 12.6 points in last year's FIBA Americas U18 tournament, shooting 62.1 percent from the field.
Miller harkened back to Lute Olson's time with Team USA at the 1986 world championship, when had a chance to coach former UA stars Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr to a gold medal.
"A lot of people still talk about (that)," Miller said of the 1986 team. "They talk about that with me and how remarkable it was."
Former UA players Stanley Johnson and Aaron Gordon played for Team USA U18 over the past two summers.
"Everybody who does it learns more and creates relationships and comes back a stronger player, a more confident player," Miller said. "I don't know if Allonzo will be on the team. I'm not the decision maker. I'm just a small part of that. But if he were to be fortunate to make it, it would be a great experience for him."
One of Trier's news teammates will also be trying out for a national team. Arizona senior center Kaleb Tarczewski will be auditioning for a spot on the Pan American team, coached by Gonzaga's Mark Few.
"If Kaleb were to make that team . . . that would really bolster his confidence for a strong senior year," Miller said.
New rule changes
On Monday, the NCAA adopted new rules changes that will take effect next season. The shot clock will go from 35 seconds to 30 seconds, teams will be limited to four timeouts instead of five, with no more than three being allowed to be carried over to the second half, and the restricted area in front of the basket has gone from three feet to four feet.
"You can clearly see the emphasis on college basketball is to speed the game up," Miller said, "not have as many stoppages within the game."
Golden State fan
Miller made no qualms about who he was pulling for in the NBA Finals. It's Golden State, with former Arizona star Steve Kerr the head coach, Luke Walton an assistant, Andre Iguodala a player and Bruce Fraser on the player development staff.
"We have more Arizona people behind that group than with the Cavs," Miller said. "Steve Kerr, what he's done is remarkable."
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