I want Darius Miller back

[mj2k10]

I never thought Miller was a great player when he was here (very good, but clearly a role player), and thought that there was a certain cult on this board that magnified his accomplishments far beyond reality, but damn, I really miss having someone like that. In this era of basketball, having a 6'6"-6'8", 200 lbs + guy who can defend the 2-4 and is a legitimate threat from 3 point range is incredibly valuable.

I think that's been missing since 2012, and the offense has never looked as good since. Not even last year's team, which, though very effective on O overall, still tended to bog down at times. Having someone like Miller allowed UK to have 3 shooters on the floor without sacrificing anything on D. That's rarely been the case the last 4 years.

Unfortunately, those type of players are very hard to find, because the really elite ones (guys UK missed on, like Stanley Johnson and Jaylen Brown) often take years, which they won't spend in college, to develop their shooting (if it ever comes). But when a guy like that hits his stride, you end up with a Paul George, Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler. I'd take a lesser version of that (which is what Miller was).

When Cal reaches out and snags someone who's not a 5 star, projected 1 and done stud, I wish, instead of going size, size, size, he'd take a look at someone who has the potential to be another Miller.

 

[kyboy1998]

I was a huge Miller fan, even when others ridiculed. I tend to favor the home grown guys.

That said he has exhausted eligibility and can't return.

 

[Smashcat]

Players like Miller don't grow on trees unfortunately. Took a lot of grief from fans for 2 1/2 years but always had a decent 3-point percentage and never shot below 79 percent from the FT stripe each of four years he was here.

 

[Nubb16]

I'm not a local boy chest thumper but Darius was so versatile. That versatility was just huge. I remember cal saying he was excited to coach Darius miller when he took over at UK. Darius could post too and could really defend. Lacked the alpha dog thing but we didn't need it on his team. Players like that are hard to find ...

 

[WildMoon]

Miller was excellent player.

How he expanded his game here was excellent. His improvements from 2nd year to 3rd year, and then 4th year was excellent.

 

[.S&C.]

Without Miller it's questionable if we even win 2012.

I'm aware the same can be said for any of the other starters, but still, Miller was a piece to the puzzle that was not replacable. We need more guys like Miller.

I too wish Cal would look at guys like miller or even CDR types. Cal was great at finding those types once.

 

[bucsrule8872]

We would all love to have Senior year Miller, but I remember his Junior year Miller was often referred to as "Disapperius Miller" because of his inconsistent play.

Makes me wonder how good Marcus Lee could be for us next year if he stays in school or Poythress if he returns for a fourth full season (I doubt either will happen).

Or maybe Willis might be able to fill that sixth man role like Miller next year as a Senior.

Food for thought.

 

[.S&C.]

Not to mention he's a great guy. Very humble and appreciative of his opportunities. Every time I've spoken with him, I feel like I'm talking to a friend.

It wouldn't bother me a bit to see his jersey in the rafters.

 

[specialkd24]

I know this is just a historical oddity (and will change) but we've never had a National Championship team where a Kentucky-born player didn't have a huge impact on the team (of course that would have ended had we won it last year).

Not saying we need more Kentucky players, just stating a point and adding Darius was one of my favorite players and I agree with the OP that it would be nice to have someone like him.

 

[chattanoogawildcat]

I remember this board gave Miller a pretty good beating for like 3.5 years.

 

[NCukcat62]

I always loved Miller. Even when he was going through a rough patch. Very accurate 3 point shot and had one of the best running floaters I have seen. Also could finish around the rim. 2012 team loved one another. I remember when Miller was going through a rough patch and mkg told cal to start darius so he could get his grove back.

 

[docholiday51]

Charles Matthews has a chance to be a middle class Darius Miller(which is a little better than a poor man's Darius Miller)

 

[LowCountryCat]

I love DM, but I'd rather have AD.

 

[Aike]

Charles Matthews has a chance to be a middle class Darius Miller(which is a little better than a poor man's Darius Miller)

Matthews could be better than Miller. One inch shorter, same wingspan.

Have to work on that jumper though.

 

[Bkocats]

wonder if Cal thought DW could be another DM? Homegrown Kentucky kid and all that? Or maybe Hawk could be that guy?

I don't know - just rambling thoughts tonight

 

[docholiday51]

Matthews could be better than Miller. One inch shorter, same wingspan.

Have to work on that jumper though.

Matthews probably jumps a little higher too,but like you say that jumper will need a lot of work.

 

[W2R]

Darius is one of my favorites of all time. But he pissed me off in the ole miss game I was front row In Oxford. Him passing up that shot He was the glue most of the year. But dissaperious

 

[hotelblue]

Players like Miller don't grow on trees unfortunately. Took a lot of grief from fans for 2 1/2 years but always had a decent 3-point percentage and never shot below 79 percent from the FT stripe each of four years he was here.

his mid range post up game may have been his strongest suit too. a fine ball player. watch the ul highlights when he was a soph. i hated people who were hard on him. him and liggins were quite a tandom at the wings in '11. they made all the momentum plays against unc to get us to the final four that year. miller holds distinctions that will be heralded forever at UK. one of my absolute favorites.

 

[chevyman 50]

..Miller was a unsung here, was a great 3 pt shooter and just seem to do alot of things well to be a winner..

 

[Bkocats]

I recall how often Darius was trashed - even during our championship season. Disappearius Miller, he was called. He ended up being an integral part of that NC team; but it took a lot for him to get there.

 

[W2R]

http://youtu.be/fRzjm2PWa58 Remember when Cal challenged Darius and it pissed him off. Darius went out there and slammed one home and was animated. He said something like " is this what you are looking for"

 

[jrpross]

One problem is (not that I'm complaining or that I disagree necessarily) that Cal tends to favor quick, athletic slashers over guys that aren't as quick but can shoot. Charles Matthews over Luke Kennard for instance. He's gotten a lot of guys like that over the years. Not always of course; he favored Knight over Selby and he took Booker last year. But we often have a lot of athleticism on the team. We don't always have many good shooters.

'12 was great because Lamb was SO friggin good. You had him, Miller, and Wiltjer who could light it up from outside. I was hoping we'd have 3 guys like that this year with Murray, Ulis, and Mulder. But Murray's been in a slump, Ulis has been hurt, and Mulder has been to much a defensive liability to leave in for long.

 

[tHeFeVeR_23]

Don't ever want to miss an opportunity to give Darius props. He will go down as one of my all-time favorite Cats. Loved watching him play and have big games. He did a lot of things while here that went unnoticed by some. "Miller Time"

 

[Uk1111]

I liked him as a player and person but never understood the cult following he had. I remember before 2012 there were 5-6 page threads literally telling me and the other 2 posters saying there's no way Miller starts over MKG, lol! Then it went to Lamb at point guard so Teauge could be benched to make room for Miller to start, and so on and so on. People couldn't accept that a player who started the past two years simply didn't deserve to start his senior year. I got called an idiot for saying that MKG would start since he's the hardest working recruit Wed had in a while, and his motor and defense, but EVERYBODY said there's no way Cal sits a Senior who's started two years.

The truth is that disaperious was the perfect name, and while he played better his senior year, I'd rather have Wall, Davis, Boogie or any other elite player over Miller!

 

[mj2k10]

I liked him as a player and person but never understood the cult following he had. I remember before 2012 there were 5-6 page threads literally telling me and the other 2 posters saying there's no way Miller starts over MKG, lol! Then it went to Lamb at point guard so Teauge could be benched to make room for Miller to start, and so on and so on. People couldn't accept that a player who started the past two years simply didn't deserve to start his senior year. I got called an idiot for saying that MKG would start since he's the hardest working recruit Wed had in a while, and his motor and defense, but EVERYBODY said there's no way Cal sits a Senior who's started two years.

The truth is that disaperious was the perfect name, and while he played better his senior year, I'd rather have Wall, Davis, Boogie or any other elite player over Miller!

I was part of those threads, and I was mostly on your side.

The point of this thread, when I started it, was NOT that Darius Miller was the key factor in the success of the 10-11 and 11-12 (especially) teams. The point was that he was the perfect role player to fit in among all the studs on those teams, and that UK hasn't had someone with a similar skillset since he left. So I appreciate Miller more now that he's been gone for a while.

I'm also thinking somewhat about Cal's recruiting philosophy. I'm beginning to think (and yes, I know, any flaw in Cal's recruiting is the pebble of sand compared to the vast beach that is the positive) that he's getting way too focused on size. Yeah, he's missed on more pure small forward targets than other positions, but in general, his philosophy has been size, size, size, and more size. Which probably works defensively, but offensively, I don't think UK has looked as good as 10-11 or 11-12. Not even last year. And I think a lot of that has to do with not having a truly versatile, inside/out 3 like Miller.

 

[UKgreatinmyveins]

Miller was an excellent glue player during the 2012 season.

 

[MudererofCrows]

Every Kentucky national championship team has had at least one major contributor from the Commonwealth. We don't win a NC without Darius on that team for that obscure reason and many, many others. I hope at least he'll be in the UK HoF one day.