Darius Miller will be honored on Senior Night Thursday at Rupp Arena, (Sun photo by Bill Thiry) |
Kentucky senior guard Darius Miller will play in his last home game Thursday night.
In his four-year career, the former Mason County standout and Kentucky Mr. Basketball has played for two different coaches and watched as the program went from competing in the National Invitational Tournament to a Final Four appearance last season.
Miller shared his thoughts on the past, present and future following Kentucky’s 83-74 victory over Vanderbilt Saturday at Rupp Arena, stretching the school’s home winning streak to 51 games. Miller is the only player on the roster who has been a part of each of those victories.
You last game is coming up at Rupp Arena in a Kentucky uniform. Have you thought much about that yet?
“I’ve been thinking about it a little bit. It’s going to be a pretty tough game for us against Georgia and hopefully we can come out with a win. Hopefully I can leave here with a streak. It might be an emotional time for me, because I’ve been playing here for a really long time and I’ve had great support here throughout the whole time I’ve been here, even when I was younger. I really appreciate the fans, the coaching staff and anybody who has done anything for me here. It might be a little emotional for me.”
Has it gone by slow or fast and how would you describe your time at Kentucky?
“Looking at it now, it went by kind of fast. While you’re in it, it seems like everything is moving pretty slow, but I feel like it’s gone by kind of quick.”
How much have you changed since you’ve been at Kentucky?
“I’ve grown up a lot as a person. I’ve been through a lot here, a lot of highs and a lot of lows. I’ve seen different phases of the program when we were in the NIT my first year and now we have a chance to win the (NCAA) championship. All that changed pretty quick and like I’ve said, I’ve been through a lot and they (the coaching staff and teammates) have shown me great support. I really appreciate everything I’ve been through here. I’ve grown as a person and a player. I’m grateful to have the people that I’ve had with me throughout the journey I’ve had here and it’s been a great experience. I’ve gotten to experience a lot of good things.”
What does winning the SEC¿championship mean to you?
“It means a lot, it’s my last go-around, and (good) to end it on a good note like this. Hopefully we can continue to go further in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and in the NCAA¿Tournament.
“It means a lot.”
Do you feel differently in the last 10 minutes of the game?
“Honestly, I just focus in more when it is a tight game like it was (Saturday against Vandy). I mean, we all try to calm (each other’s) nerves, talk to one another and we also focus in on what we need to do to win. Normally we get the job done.”
You have seen a lot of performances in your career here at Kentucky, where does Anthony Davis’ performance (against Vanderbilt) rank?
“It ranks pretty high. He’s been doing that all year in my opinion. He really carried us (Saturday) and he did a great job of keeping us in the game on the offensive and defensive end, blocking shots, coming up with tough rebounds and he did most of the work.
“He pretty much dominated the game offensively and defensively. When we needed a big shot he came (through) for us and when we needed a stop, he had a block and made tough rebounds. He pretty much carried us the whole game.”
How much better has he gotten offensively throughout the year?
“I think he’s gotten more comfortable, especially with his shot and he’s really knocking down his (outside) shot now. We’re really counting on him to knock it down when he’s open. Earlier in the year he wasn’t really taking it, but I feel like he’s had it the whole time, especially when he came in (last) summer.”
In his four-year career, the former Mason County standout and Kentucky Mr. Basketball has played for two different coaches and watched as the program went from competing in the National Invitational Tournament to a Final Four appearance last season.
Miller shared his thoughts on the past, present and future following Kentucky’s 83-74 victory over Vanderbilt Saturday at Rupp Arena, stretching the school’s home winning streak to 51 games. Miller is the only player on the roster who has been a part of each of those victories.
You last game is coming up at Rupp Arena in a Kentucky uniform. Have you thought much about that yet?
“I’ve been thinking about it a little bit. It’s going to be a pretty tough game for us against Georgia and hopefully we can come out with a win. Hopefully I can leave here with a streak. It might be an emotional time for me, because I’ve been playing here for a really long time and I’ve had great support here throughout the whole time I’ve been here, even when I was younger. I really appreciate the fans, the coaching staff and anybody who has done anything for me here. It might be a little emotional for me.”
Has it gone by slow or fast and how would you describe your time at Kentucky?
“Looking at it now, it went by kind of fast. While you’re in it, it seems like everything is moving pretty slow, but I feel like it’s gone by kind of quick.”
How much have you changed since you’ve been at Kentucky?
“I’ve grown up a lot as a person. I’ve been through a lot here, a lot of highs and a lot of lows. I’ve seen different phases of the program when we were in the NIT my first year and now we have a chance to win the (NCAA) championship. All that changed pretty quick and like I’ve said, I’ve been through a lot and they (the coaching staff and teammates) have shown me great support. I really appreciate everything I’ve been through here. I’ve grown as a person and a player. I’m grateful to have the people that I’ve had with me throughout the journey I’ve had here and it’s been a great experience. I’ve gotten to experience a lot of good things.”
What does winning the SEC¿championship mean to you?
“It means a lot, it’s my last go-around, and (good) to end it on a good note like this. Hopefully we can continue to go further in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and in the NCAA¿Tournament.
“It means a lot.”
Do you feel differently in the last 10 minutes of the game?
“Honestly, I just focus in more when it is a tight game like it was (Saturday against Vandy). I mean, we all try to calm (each other’s) nerves, talk to one another and we also focus in on what we need to do to win. Normally we get the job done.”
You have seen a lot of performances in your career here at Kentucky, where does Anthony Davis’ performance (against Vanderbilt) rank?
“It ranks pretty high. He’s been doing that all year in my opinion. He really carried us (Saturday) and he did a great job of keeping us in the game on the offensive and defensive end, blocking shots, coming up with tough rebounds and he did most of the work.
“He pretty much dominated the game offensively and defensively. When we needed a big shot he came (through) for us and when we needed a stop, he had a block and made tough rebounds. He pretty much carried us the whole game.”
How much better has he gotten offensively throughout the year?
“I think he’s gotten more comfortable, especially with his shot and he’s really knocking down his (outside) shot now. We’re really counting on him to knock it down when he’s open. Earlier in the year he wasn’t really taking it, but I feel like he’s had it the whole time, especially when he came in (last) summer.”
