UA President Robert Robbins Says OSU Can Get Sean Miller 'Over My Dead Body'

University of Arizona president Dr. Robert Robbins made it clear he's going to do everything in his power to keep Wildcats head basketball coach Sean Miller away from Ohio State University following Thad Matta's exit from the Buckeyes.  

On Tuesday, Anne Ryman of the Arizona Republic passed along comments from Robbins, who was confident in the school's ability to keep its coveted coach.

"The Ohio State University is great university, but they are not going to get Coach Miller," he said. "They will have to come over me to get him, as the saying goes, over my dead body."

Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated listed Miller among OSU's potential coaching targets:

The speculation didn't come as a surprise. The Buckeyes' job should attract plenty of attention and the 48-year-old leader of the Wildcats program is one of the most well-respected coaches in the country.

Robbins told Ryman he believes Miller is "a great mentor, teaching his players the lessons of life. Even those who are going to be stars in the NBA, they are going to have to have a life after basketball."

"I just think he is a quality guy," the Arizona president added. "I will do everything in my power to try to convince him to stay."

Miller, who joined the Wildcats in 2009 after a successful five-year run at Xavier, has posted a 220-66 record across eight seasons with the Pac-12 school. He's guided the team to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including each of the past five editions of March Madness.

Convincing him to leave Arizona might be tougher now than ever before

The Wildcats are viewed as one of the top contenders heading into the 2017-18 campaign. Ryan Fagan of Sporting News listed them as the No. 1 team thanks to their top-notch "mix of returning talent and impact newcomers."

That promising outlook should give Robbins and the rest of the Arizona brass some serious bargaining power if Ohio State does make a strong push to lure Miller away in the coming weeks.