Miller is done, 123 games later

0 Comments | Milwaukee Journal, The, Mar 30, 1995 | by DARRYL O. LEDBETTER

The Journal staff

New York, N.Y. After 123 games, the Tony Miller era at Marquette University has ended.

"You cannot ask much more of a guy," Marquette coach Mike Deane said after Miller and his teammates lost the championship game of the National Invitation Tournament. "He has been a tremendous impact player in the Marquette program."

Miller, who started all 123 games played by Marquette since he joined the team as a freshman in 1991, played the entire 45 minutes of the overtime game Wednesday. He scored 15 points, dished out six assists and had five steals.

"It was nice playing here and playing for Coach Deane," Miller said. "I have to move on and think about my future and get ready for the things that are ahead of me."

Miller, who was close to former coach Kevin O'Neill, had some tough times this season as he and Deane got used to each other.

"It was a very different experience," Miller said. "We had to get used to him. He had to get used to us. We had to get used to the system."

Deane attempted to be upbeat when talking to the team after the loss.

"I thanked Tony," Deane said. "He came into a situation in his senior year where he had been so comfortable with the previous coach and now had to make an adjustment to a new coach as well as lead a young and inexperienced team. For him to take them as far as he did is a real credit to his leadership and his toughness."

Miller finished with four-year totals of 956 assists (first in Marquette history), 1,027 points (tied for 23rd) and 561 rebounds (26th). He had a sterling 2.70- to-1 assists-to-turnover ratio and averaged 37 minutes per game.

"He has been a tremendous person in this program," Deane said. "He was instrumental in the turnaround that Kevin begin."

Miller is expected to graduate in May and hopes to play professionally.

"He's going down to the Portsmouth (Va.) tournament next to try and see if there is a chance for his playing career to continue," Deane said.

Deane also had kind words for Will Gates, who returned to the team after sitting out last season.

"I thanked Will for the way that he's handled the many things that are going on in his life," Deane said.