Sports

Coaching sons’ success all about hard work, Millers’ dad says

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As the Miller brothers prepared to coach their teams in Saturday’s Elite Eight games on opposite ends of the country — Archie’s Dayton Flyers taking on Florida in Memphis, and Sean’s Arizona Wildcats facing Wisconsin in Anaheim, Calif. — the man who molded both was taking it all in.

“It’s nice. Up until this point in time I never really honestly thought about it,” 70-year-old father, John, told The Post on Friday at FedEx Forum. “That hard work has been the secret to their success. We were just working hard every day and trying to get better. That’s how the two guys are and they approach things the same way.’’

The Miller brothers grew up in blue-collar Beaver, Pa., both playing at Blackhawk High School for John — who won 650 games and coached in 18 championship games.

Sean once shot 100 free throws a day for 1,400 straight days, so the 6:30 a.m. Breakfast Club practices he ran as Xavier coach were no shock. Younger brother Archie worked himself into being a solid player at North Carolina State despite being about 5-foot-9, 155-pounds according to his father. Work has always been their ticket.

“I feel one day they’ll end up playing each other [in the NCAA Tournament],’’ John said. “It’s kind of surprising. Year 3 and all of a sudden [Archie’s] got this thing rolling in the right direction, whereas Sean there was a little more pressure in Arizona thinking he’s [got to] get there. There’s a lot more heat on him in Year 5 out in Arizona. But they’re both doing well, and I’m just following them around.’’


UCLA point guard Kyle Anderson Jr. — a Fairview, N.J., resident and graduate of Jersey City’s St. Anthony High School — plans to enter the NBA Draft according to his father. Kyle Anderson Sr. said at the start of the season his son expected to leave after his sophomore campaign, and after Thursday’s Sweet 16 loss to Florida, the plan hadn’t changed.

“Yes, that is the plan,’’ Kyle Sr. told The Post. “But he and I will sit down this weekend to make sure.’’

NBAdraft.net tabbed Anderson fifth in its latest mock draft and 18th among the top 100 prospects, while DraftExpress.com had him 19th in its mock and 20th in its player rankings.