LEXINGTON — Darius Miller has endured many peaks and valleys in his four-year career at the University of Kentucky.
He remembers the Wildcats’ bumpy ride in the Southeastern Conference last season, a trek that resulted in a 7-6 record in the first 13 games. Although the conference tour wasn’t pretty, Kentucky won 10 of its last 11 games at the end of the season, including the SEC¿Tournament, before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut 56-55 in the national semifinals. An overtime loss at Arkansas last year resulted in the team’s successful finish.
When compared to last year’s squad, Miller said the second-ranked Wildcats (18-1, 4-0) are ahead of schedule and are on track to improve on last year’s 10-6 regular-season mark against conference foes.
“It took us a while for everything to come together last year,” Miller said. “When it did, we were clicking on all cylinders and we were a tough team to beat. Hopefully it can happen like it did last year, just a little bit sooner.”
In Kentucky’s last outing, an 86-63 win over Arkansas, Miller liked the way his teammates matched the Razorbacks’ physical style of play at the opening tip, a sign the Wildcats are maturing as a unit.
“Teams have come out the past couple of games and have been physical with us at the beginning, so we’ve been trying to do that to them,” he said. “It seems to work out for us. We’ve (been) playing very aggressive, we’ve played with a lot of intensity and that helps us.”
Miller likes having the presence of shot-blocker Anthony Davis in the post and said his presence gives the team more freedom on the defensive end of the court. Davis became the school’s all-time single-season leader in blocks after swatting seven shots in the win over the Razorbacks.
“We get to play more aggressive (on defense) and play loose, because we know he’s going to alter a shot or block it,” he said. “He does a great job and he even talks to us about not fouling when (the other team) gets (in the lane). He does a great job of helping us out. He makes it a lt easier on us.”
In addition to Davis’ obvious progression, especially on defense, Miller has also been impressed with Marquis Teague on the other side of the ball.
“I think he’s getting better every game,” he said. “He did a great job being a floor general (against Arkansas), coming out and getting everybody else some looks (on offense). He made the whole team better. Everybody noticed it with how well he played. He’s just getting better. If he continues at that rate, he’ll be one of the best.”
Miller also is doing his part to provide additional leadership from his past experiences in the conference.
“I just talk to the guys and let them know how the games are going to be (in the SEC), how intense they’re going to be and make sure they’re ready,” he said. “These guys don’t need a lot of talking to. They are very talented and they play with a lot of intensity.
“It’s really just coming out and playing.”
In order to keep climbing the proverbial ladder, Miller said the Cats can’t become complacent during the next two months.
“We just have to keep working the way we have been, keep playing the way we have been and get better,” he said. “I think when it all comes together, we’ll be a pretty good team.
“Hopefully we can make another run (in the NCAA Tournament). We’ve still got stuff to work on, but we’re getting closer and we’re getting better (as a team).”
