Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
'Miller Time' winding down in Murphy Center
3/8/2019 9:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Over the past three seasons, Middle Tennessee's Murphy Center has exploded into countless eruptions after big-time made shots, blocks and taken charges.
However, the loudest, most consistent applauses haven't been for some of the Blue Raiders' greatest all-time players – Reggie Upshaw, Giddy Potts, JaCorey Williams, Nick King and others. Instead, they've been for a guy who's only played 46 minutes and scored six points in his three-year career.
That guy is Chase Miller.
Beginnings of 'Miller Time'
After averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and being named team MVP during his senior season at Shelton High School in Dallas, Miller didn't get any big-time college scholarship offers. He knew he wanted to play Division I ball, though.
With the help of a high school coach, he got in touch with former Middle Tennessee assistant Ronnie Hamilton about possibly walking on with the Blue Raiders. He got the normal spiel from head coach Kermit Davis, that walk-ons don't play a lot yet have to endure the same grueling practice routine as the scholarship players.
Usually after this speech, student-athletes take their chance to bolt. Not Miller – he insisted that he wanted to walk on with the Blue Raiders and be a part of the team, and Davis granted him that chance.
"I'm thankful he gave me that opportunity," Miller said. "He means the world to me. It was tough when [Davis] left, because I think he helped mold me into who I am today."
Miller took a redshirt season in 2015-16 when Middle Tennessee made a storied run through the Conference USA Tournament and past Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history.
The next year, the legend of "Miller Time" began.
Evolution of 'Miller Time'
At the start of the 2016-17 season, Miller was getting used to a new role. He'd always been one of the better players on every team he'd been on growing up, but now he was a walk-on who would likely only see time at the end of blowouts.
"At the end of the day, I'm not here for playing time," he said. "I'm here to help the team and get the most out of my college experience.
"In high school and prep school, I was one of the better players on the team, so I never really had this role. I think just kind of gradually you buy in, and I think for me it was also seeing how it correlates to off-the-court success."
That mindset took some getting used to, but when he entered the season's first game against Milligan College with the Blue Raiders cruising to a comfortable win, Miller found understanding.
With 1:44 left in the game, he was called in to relieve Edward Simpson. As soon as the redshirt freshman stood up off the bench, some band members and students started a quiet chant from the Murphy Center's east end.
It started as almost a whisper: "Miller Time … Miller Time." Then, when Miller checked in, there was rousing applause.
He would go on to play the game's final 1:44, grabbing a rebound and missing his first shot attempt as a Blue Raider.
Little did he know what the chant was going to become.
'Miller Time' cashes in
Miller would play 10 more games in his redshirt freshman season, but failed to register a point after shooting three times. All the while, though, his fame grew, as chants of "Miller Time" poured from the student section at the end of every home game, regardless of the score. His fans just wanted to see No. 14 on the court.
When his sophomore year started, there was a question swirling around the team and around the fans: When would their newly crowned favorite player sink his first bucket?
It almost came in the first game of the season against Trevecca, when Miller subbed in for the last three minutes and hoisted two shots, one from 3-point range, but missed.
He would have to wait two months to see action again, for one minute against Southern Miss and then two more against UTSA and UTEP in January in C-USA play, but he didn't attempt a shot in the three contests.
Then, on Feb. 8 in the Blue Raiders' 24th game of the season, Miller's chance came.
With MT leading Rice 91-71 at the Murphy Center, the crowd started its normal end-of-game chant: "Miller Time … Miller Time."
Miller subbed in with 1:32 remaining, and on an in-bounds play found an opening, squaring up for a 3-pointer from the wing that he'd hit thousands of times before.
He squared his shoulders, let the jump shot fly and watched with his teammates and head coach standing right behind him as the ball floated up, down and through the net.
"It's surreal," Miller told reporters after the game. "I'm just thankful to have the support. It's a really good feeling to know that you've got the alumni and the students and obviously my teammates behind me."
Growing through change
Miller would make one more basket during his redshirt sophomore season, another 3-pointer in the NIT First Round against Vermont.
He'd become a sensation in Murfreesboro, but a lot was about to change.
Middle Tennessee was ousted from the NIT in the second round against Louisville, and after the 84-68 loss, Davis announced he was leaving to take over as head coach at Ole Miss.
Nick McDevitt was named MT's 20th head coach on March 24, 2018, and while he had to go through almost a complete roster overhaul, Miller was one of the few players who stuck with the program.
"I love this place," Miller said. "I've grown up here. It was too much to leave behind – I have great friends here and a great support system that means the world to me.
"I always appreciate the fan support and what that's become."
While he wasn't going to abandon the school that gave him so much, Miller started to realize what life after basketball would look like. The finance major started to get job offers in Nashville and his native Dallas in the real estate sector, and they made him see the time was nearing to hang up the basketball shoes.
"I like to think I've made the most out of my college experience on and off the court, but I see a life after basketball, as tough as that is," he said. "I want to help out at a smaller school as a JV coach or something because basketball has been so good to me and I love it so much, but I'm getting into commercial real estate."
One last 'Miller Time'
With the 2018-19 season rounding down, there's only one more opportunity for the "Miller Time" chants to ring throughout the Murphy Center.
The memories of playing games with the likes of Giddy Potts, Edward Simpson and Reggie Upshaw – who Miller says is his best friend – are bittersweet to think of.
"It's crazy to think someone who might be the best man at my wedding [Upshaw] is a possible NBA player and a great overseas player," Miller said. "To have these types of experiences with them, I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Making an impact on a team was exactly what Miller set out to do four years ago as a recruit hoping to walk on at Middle Tennessee.
Though his influence may have come in ways he never imagined, it can be seen at every practice and every game. He's not just a walk-on – he's a prized member of the Blue Raider basketball family, and regardless of his minutes played or points scored, he's impacted the team and community in an immeasurable way.
"Miller Time" may soon be over on the Murphy Center court, but don't expect its namesake to be out of the building forever.
"I promise I'll be up in those seats plenty," he said.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
However, the loudest, most consistent applauses haven't been for some of the Blue Raiders' greatest all-time players – Reggie Upshaw, Giddy Potts, JaCorey Williams, Nick King and others. Instead, they've been for a guy who's only played 46 minutes and scored six points in his three-year career.
That guy is Chase Miller.
Beginnings of 'Miller Time'
After averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and being named team MVP during his senior season at Shelton High School in Dallas, Miller didn't get any big-time college scholarship offers. He knew he wanted to play Division I ball, though.
With the help of a high school coach, he got in touch with former Middle Tennessee assistant Ronnie Hamilton about possibly walking on with the Blue Raiders. He got the normal spiel from head coach Kermit Davis, that walk-ons don't play a lot yet have to endure the same grueling practice routine as the scholarship players.
Usually after this speech, student-athletes take their chance to bolt. Not Miller – he insisted that he wanted to walk on with the Blue Raiders and be a part of the team, and Davis granted him that chance.
"I'm thankful he gave me that opportunity," Miller said. "He means the world to me. It was tough when [Davis] left, because I think he helped mold me into who I am today."
Miller took a redshirt season in 2015-16 when Middle Tennessee made a storied run through the Conference USA Tournament and past Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history.
The next year, the legend of "Miller Time" began.
Evolution of 'Miller Time'
At the start of the 2016-17 season, Miller was getting used to a new role. He'd always been one of the better players on every team he'd been on growing up, but now he was a walk-on who would likely only see time at the end of blowouts.
"At the end of the day, I'm not here for playing time," he said. "I'm here to help the team and get the most out of my college experience.
"In high school and prep school, I was one of the better players on the team, so I never really had this role. I think just kind of gradually you buy in, and I think for me it was also seeing how it correlates to off-the-court success."
That mindset took some getting used to, but when he entered the season's first game against Milligan College with the Blue Raiders cruising to a comfortable win, Miller found understanding.
With 1:44 left in the game, he was called in to relieve Edward Simpson. As soon as the redshirt freshman stood up off the bench, some band members and students started a quiet chant from the Murphy Center's east end.
It started as almost a whisper: "Miller Time … Miller Time." Then, when Miller checked in, there was rousing applause.
He would go on to play the game's final 1:44, grabbing a rebound and missing his first shot attempt as a Blue Raider.
Little did he know what the chant was going to become.
'Miller Time' cashes in
Miller would play 10 more games in his redshirt freshman season, but failed to register a point after shooting three times. All the while, though, his fame grew, as chants of "Miller Time" poured from the student section at the end of every home game, regardless of the score. His fans just wanted to see No. 14 on the court.
When his sophomore year started, there was a question swirling around the team and around the fans: When would their newly crowned favorite player sink his first bucket?
It almost came in the first game of the season against Trevecca, when Miller subbed in for the last three minutes and hoisted two shots, one from 3-point range, but missed.
He would have to wait two months to see action again, for one minute against Southern Miss and then two more against UTSA and UTEP in January in C-USA play, but he didn't attempt a shot in the three contests.
Then, on Feb. 8 in the Blue Raiders' 24th game of the season, Miller's chance came.
With MT leading Rice 91-71 at the Murphy Center, the crowd started its normal end-of-game chant: "Miller Time … Miller Time."
Miller subbed in with 1:32 remaining, and on an in-bounds play found an opening, squaring up for a 3-pointer from the wing that he'd hit thousands of times before.
He squared his shoulders, let the jump shot fly and watched with his teammates and head coach standing right behind him as the ball floated up, down and through the net.
"It's surreal," Miller told reporters after the game. "I'm just thankful to have the support. It's a really good feeling to know that you've got the alumni and the students and obviously my teammates behind me."
Growing through change
Miller would make one more basket during his redshirt sophomore season, another 3-pointer in the NIT First Round against Vermont.
He'd become a sensation in Murfreesboro, but a lot was about to change.
Middle Tennessee was ousted from the NIT in the second round against Louisville, and after the 84-68 loss, Davis announced he was leaving to take over as head coach at Ole Miss.
Nick McDevitt was named MT's 20th head coach on March 24, 2018, and while he had to go through almost a complete roster overhaul, Miller was one of the few players who stuck with the program.
"I love this place," Miller said. "I've grown up here. It was too much to leave behind – I have great friends here and a great support system that means the world to me.
"I always appreciate the fan support and what that's become."
While he wasn't going to abandon the school that gave him so much, Miller started to realize what life after basketball would look like. The finance major started to get job offers in Nashville and his native Dallas in the real estate sector, and they made him see the time was nearing to hang up the basketball shoes.
"I like to think I've made the most out of my college experience on and off the court, but I see a life after basketball, as tough as that is," he said. "I want to help out at a smaller school as a JV coach or something because basketball has been so good to me and I love it so much, but I'm getting into commercial real estate."
One last 'Miller Time'
With the 2018-19 season rounding down, there's only one more opportunity for the "Miller Time" chants to ring throughout the Murphy Center.
The memories of playing games with the likes of Giddy Potts, Edward Simpson and Reggie Upshaw – who Miller says is his best friend – are bittersweet to think of.
"It's crazy to think someone who might be the best man at my wedding [Upshaw] is a possible NBA player and a great overseas player," Miller said. "To have these types of experiences with them, I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Making an impact on a team was exactly what Miller set out to do four years ago as a recruit hoping to walk on at Middle Tennessee.
Though his influence may have come in ways he never imagined, it can be seen at every practice and every game. He's not just a walk-on – he's a prized member of the Blue Raider basketball family, and regardless of his minutes played or points scored, he's impacted the team and community in an immeasurable way.
"Miller Time" may soon be over on the Murphy Center court, but don't expect its namesake to be out of the building forever.
"I promise I'll be up in those seats plenty," he said.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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