Basketball version of "The Drive" a positive for UA, Athletic Director Greg Byrne says

TUCSON -- Sean Miller's recruiting machine might have another tool at its disposal this season.
Pac-12 Networks invited all 12 conference basketball programs a chance to be featured on the documentary-style "The Drive" program, and according to Pac-12 Networks President Lydia Murphy-Stephans, Arizona was one of the first to buy in.
The reason is simple: "The Drive," as it is doing for UCLA's football program this fall, offers fans and recruits alike an inside look at the programs while giving schools control over the content.
"There's a benefit in allowing potential recruits, parents and guardians to experience your personality, to see what really happens there and to see it from a student-athlete's perspective," Murphy-Stephans said.
Because "The Drive" is a collaborative process with the schools, not an independent documentary, coaches also don't have to worry about being taken out of context or other scenes they don't want shown.
Murphy-Stephans said the Pac-12 allows coaches to review the content and said "for the most part, it's a rubber-stamp approval." School compliance departments typically view it, too, to make sure there are no recruiting or other NCAA issues.
"We definitely allow the coaches to participate in the executive producing," Murphy-Stephans said. "Because we are the Pac-12 Networks, we are not looking for the 'gotcha' moment. We're not investigative reporters. But we are looking for candor and to capture the real thing.
"So if a coach says something and we can't keep it in context because it needs five minutes to explain, we're not going to extrapolate 15 seconds and take something out of context. I believe with most coaches that's the concern."
The Pac-12 already agreed to some additional parameters UA asked for before agreeing to the basketball version of "The Drive," UA Athletic Director Greg Byrne said.
"We wanted some influence over who and what they focused on," Byrne said, noting that UA also asked that locker-room discussions not be filmed. "It'll be a positive for us."
That was the case even for California football coach Sonny Dykes last season, Murphy-Stephans said, when Dykes' Bears went 1-11 while "The Drive" focused on Cal and Arizona State during its first season.
"Cal was having such a hard time, and it was difficult to even watch," Murphy-Stephans said. "But my son, who's 12, was watching and listening when I was home sick and screening the shows. Three days later, I hear him talking to his posse of 12-year-olds, saying `Oh yeah, I'd totally play for Cal. Sonny's so cool.' "
Though all 12 of the Pac-12's basketball programs will get a chance to show themselves off this season, Murphy-Stephans said "The Drive" would focus a lot on UA if its season lives up to preseason expectations.
"Of course," she said. "It's a national story."