Sean Miller Got Emotional After Standing Ovation in Coaching Return vs. Stanford

Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller told reporters he got "emotional" when the home crowd at the McKale Center gave him a standing ovation before Thursday night's 75-67 win over the Stanford Cardinal. 

"I really didn't know what to think about it other than it was very, very emotional," Miller said, per ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf. "Tucson and our fans, they've always been the very, very best to my family and myself and have supported our basketball program like no other. And to see them do that is very emotional and something I'll never, ever forget."

Thursday's game marked Miller's return to the sideline after the school announced he wouldn't coach Feb. 24 versus Oregon. The Wildcats lost that game, 98-93. 

The move followed a report from ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that Miller was overheard on an FBI wiretap discussing a $100,000 payment with Christian Dawkins "to ensure star freshman Deandre Ayton signed with the Wildcats."

Miller issued a statement at a press conference Thursday denying that account. 

"I have never knowingly violated NCAA rules while serving as head coach of this great program," Miller said, per USA Today's Tom Schad. "I have never paid a recruit or prospect or their family or representative to come to Arizona. I never have and I never will. I have never arranged or directed payment or any improper benefits to a recruit or a prospect or their family or representative, and I never will."

Shortly after Miller's press conference, Sports Illustrated's Michael McCann cited a source familiar with the FBI's investigation who said "details of a wiretapped phone call involving Miller were inaccurately reported" by ESPN. 

Specifically, McCann noted "relevant FBI wiretaps in the investigation did not begin until 2017—months after five-star recruit Deandre Ayton had already committed to Arizona in Sept. 2016." 247Sports also reported ESPN's information was inaccurate.

ESPN confirmed to 247Sports that it is standing by its reporting. 

In a separate statement Thursday, Arizona president Robert Robbins said the school has no plans to part ways with Miller. 

"At this time, we have no reason to believe that Coach Miller violated NCAA rules or any laws regarding the allegation reported in the media," Robbins said, according to ArizonaSports.com's Kevin Zimmerman.