Former Pitt G Sean Miller Leads Old Enemy into Second Round
PITTSBURGH -- A familiar face is leading a familiar foe into a second round clash with the Pitt Panthers in the NCAA Tournament. Former Panther Sean Miller, who led Xavier to a three seed in the NCAA Tournament during the first season of his second stint with the Musketeers, will face his former team in a game that pits the past and present of the Big East against one another.
Miller put his stamp on this Pitt program with a decorated career as a four-year starter. He earned All-Big East Team honors twice and was the 1988 Big East Rookie of the Year. He ranked among the top five in his conference in assists, rankes second in career assists at Pitt, made the NCAA Tournament three times, won 66 games, lost just 28 and finished inside the AP top 15 twice.
Miller is also the catalyst for one of the most iconic plays in program history - Jerome Lane's backboard-shattering dunk against Providence in 1988. Miller led the fast break and provided the assist that preceded Lane's dunk.
But now, Miller will face his alma mater from the opposite side of the court. Five years ago, he was considered an option for the Pitt job left vacant by Kevin Stalling's termination before an investigation into possible recruiting violations by Miller's Arizona program made him a persona non grata. After taking a year off from coaching, he now he faces Jeff Capel, who took the job and has rebuilt the Panthers into a tournament contender like the ones Miller played for.
Neither team - players or coaches - have acknowledged the connection, likely because whatever shared history there is between Miller and Pitt predates almost everyone on the roster and staff. But the fans know. The NCAA Tournament history these two teams have made with one another is very recent and very significant.
In 2009, top-seeded Pitt defeated No. 4 Xavier 60-55 behind a go-ahead 3-pointer from Levance Fields with 53 seconds to play, which sent the Panthers to their first Elite Eight since 1974. The following year, the Musketeers exacted revenge, staving off a second half rally to upset No. 3 Pitt and end its season prematurely.
Miller's Musketeers have compiled a 25-9 record, including a brilliant come-from-behind victory over Kennesaw State, staving off a massive upset to survive and advance. Meanwhile, Pitt dominated Iowa State to set up the postseason rubber match between these old foes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Some may already be looking ahead to a potential Sweet 16 date with Penn State, a rivalry that has been built primarily on the gridiron, but this matchup will provide plenty of heat on its own. The Panthers have both painful and joyous history specific to this sport, this opponent and its head coach. Don't underestimate what kind of atmosphere Pitt and Xavier fans will create as their teams write the next chapter of this storied series.
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