Darius Miller called ‘most unselfish player I’ve ever coached’

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NEW ORLEANS — Darius Miller, freshman year: NIT.

Darius Miller, sophomore year: Elite Eight.

Darius Miller, junior year: Final Four.

Darius Miller, senior year: National Championship game … at least.

The only four-year player on UK’s roster has experienced a journey that unspooled in extraordinary fashion, a progression that can be clearly seen when viewing those year-ending results.

And now his career will end in the national title game.

“It’s an opportunity that most people don’t get,” Miller said. “Can’t really explain it in words. You have to experience it.”

He will, on Monday, after UK beat Louisville 69-61 to advance to one last game. Miller scored 13 points, including a dagger 3-pointer, with three rebounds and two steals in the victory.

With the win, Miller will now break the school’s all-time record for most games played as a Wildcat, previously held by Wayne Turner. It will be his 152nd appearance in a UK jersey.

“He’s beloved,” head coach John Calipari said. “He’s one of those guys, 50 years from now they’re going to be talking about him. … He could run for governor and win.”

His career stats have been more a function of accumulation than anything else.

But in those four years of accumulation, he showed something beyond stats. He was a starter his sophomore and junior years under Calipari, then accepted a role off the bench for his final season.

“My hat is off to him,” Calipari said. “He’s the most unselfish player I’ve ever coached.”