Mens Basketball: Surly Miller all business on court for Irish
By: ANDREW SOUKUP
Sports Writer
They want to make the NCAA Tournament, win the Big East Championship, finish with over 20 wins and make a statement on the national college basketball scene.
But senior Matt Carroll has another, more personal goal he wants to achieve come season's end.
Make Dan Miller smile on the court.
"He's so tough and so serious when he's on the court," Carroll smiled. "When he's out there, he goes to battle."
All one needs to do to understand Miller's toughness is look at his body after a game, which is typically covered with bruises, cuts and other abrasions showing Miller's physical style of defense.
And Miller's defensive presence has been instrumental in Notre Dame's first two games where the Irish held both opponents under 50 points and kept them shooting less than 30 percent from the field, a trend the Irish hope to continue tonight against Bucknell at 9 p.m.
Irish coach Mike Brey has already noticed how Miller's presence affects the Irish and how he helps to fill the absence of Ryan Humphrey's athletic defense with a grinding, physical style of play.
After Tuesday's game, Brey said, "He's got a little bit of a surliness about him."
"I don't even know what surly means," Miller said. "I just go out there and play, and I try to be tough."
Miller saying he just goes out and plays isn't an empty cliché, it's a comment coming from a player frustrated from sitting out last season after transferring from Maryland.
He's already gotten off to a fast start with the Irish, recording two double-doubles in his first two games after failing to record one in three seasons with Maryland.
While Miller downplays the statistical significance of his first two games, Brey said he's glad to see his veteran gain some confidence early in the season.
"It was important for him to come out like that, and I'm glad to see that happened," the Irish coach said. "He plays better when he's confident, and he's a better leader when he's confident."
Part of Miller's defensive prowess with the Irish springs from his role at Maryland, where he was inserted primarily as a defensive stopper and often guarded players such as former Duke All-American Shane Battier in key ACC games.
When Miller came to the Irish, Brey had one request for the 6-foot-8 veteran.
"He's one of the better defensive wings we've had," he said. "We didn't want him to lose that."
So far, his defense has been infections, spreading to the rest of the Irish and giving them a defensive identity Brey said his team danced close to but never found in his first two years.
Forward Jordan Cornette's presence down low also is a huge reason for the Irish defensive dominance. The sophomore has 19 blocks in his first two games.
The newfound defensive identity Brey talks about has the Irish smiling, for they know if they have trouble scoring — a problem that has plagued them early in their first two games — their defense will give them the edge.
"Our defense is going to just make our offense that much better," Carroll said. "If our defense is on, our shots are going to fall."
Note:
Irish center Tom Timmermans, who sat out Notre Dame's first two games with back spasms, will be able to play for the Irish tonight, Brey said.
All Sports Stories for Friday, November 22, 2002
