This morning, just after midnight, Miller conducted his first official college basketball practice, and in the fashion of recent season-opening practices at Xavier, it was a no-frills affair. But for Miller, who turns 36 Nov. 17, it was the start of his first season under the microscope of scrutiny as a Division I head basketball coach.

"It means a lot to me," said Miller, who got in 10 preseason practices preparing Xavier for a fall trip to the Bahamas. "From the time I've been given this job, it's a big responsibility to continue the success of Xavier basketball. I want to do things the right way here at Xavier, and (Friday night's practice) represents the beginning of that."

Sixteen years ago, Miller went through his first practice as a University of Pittsburgh freshman point guard. The transition from player to assistant to associate head coach to head coach has been swift and impressive.

Miller earned all-Big East honors as a player, then made coaching stops at Wisconsin, Miami University, Pittsburgh, North Carolina State and Xavier.

"I don't know if you can control that you want to be a head coach by such-and-such date," Miller said. "I just tried to focus on winning each season wherever I was coaching. I took the path that eventually my time would come. And it came here at Xavier."

Any new coach at Xavier faces clear expectations.

There's plenty of history and tradition to uphold from the past two decades, including four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and 15 since 1983.

There is not a lot of talk around this Xavier team about last season's Elite Eight, because three key players are gone from that team, replaced by six new faces.

To hold a traditional "Midnight Madness," which is more of a party than a practice, would be to glorify a team that hasn't accomplished anything yet, Miller said.

"It keeps things in the true perspective," Miller said of keeping Friday night's session low-key. "As much as people celebrate the beginning, you're really celebrating the unknown. The season is so long. There's injuries and ups and downs. You can't predict it. But we want to point more toward the finish line and be playing our best basketball then."

For a first-year coach with new assistants and so many new players, it was nice to get a head start with the Bahamas trip.

The mentality is more serious now, however, with the first regular-season game just more than a month away, Nov. 19.

"Reality hits you that you're not the only one practicing now," Miller said. "You're on the clock."

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E-mail ddow@enquirer.com

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