The Hawk may never die but at least he could hang out on Sunday and watch his team earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. Isaiah Miles had a huge game with 26 PTS/12 REB to help beat VCU in the A-10 tourney title game and be named conference tourney MVP. St. Joe’s received a #8-seed and will play Cincy on Friday in Spokane. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Miles about losing some weight and making some FTs.
Your nickname is “Zeke”: who gave you the nickname, and how do you like it? I got that name growing up from my dad because it was Isiah Thomas’ nickname: I like it a lot.
You are the only player on the team from Maryland: what made you choose St. Joe’s? It is close to home: this year my family was able to come to every single home game, and when I have winter or spring break I can go home to visit them.
You play for Coach Phil Martelli: what makes him such a great coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He is a great mentor who has taught me to be a good person who has good character. The name on the front of our jerseys is important but the name on the back counts as well: we have to make our families proud.
You did not play in the 8-PT OT loss to eventual champion UConn in the 2014 NCAA tourney: have any of your teammates who did play in that game (DeAndre’ Bembry/Papa Ndao) told you what to expect in the tourney? They said to treat it just like any other game, tune out everything else, and just play against the 5 guys on the other side of the court.
You beat several tourney teams this season including Buffalo/Temple/Dayton (twice)/VCU: which of these teams impressed you the most? They are all really good teams. I am happy that Dayton and VCU made it so they can represent the A-10. I wish we had even more of our teams make it: I am proud to be part of our conference.
Earlier this month you were named the A-10 Most Improved Player: how much of a factor was losing 19 pounds from last year’s weight of 235 pounds, and if you win the title will you eat a Wendy’s bacon cheeseburger to celebrate?! Losing the weight was a huge factor and it changed my game a lot. I play close to 40 minutes/game, which would have been impossible last year: it allows me to be more explosive as I finish off my senior year. Sadly I will not grab a cheeseburger: if I have even 1 then I will not be able to stop!
On Sunday you had 26 PTS/11-16 FG/12 REB in a win over VCU to clinch the A-10 tourney title en route to being named conference tourney MVP: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? I just wanted to play my hardest for the team. The championship game of the postseason tourney is when the best players have to step up, and I credit my teammates for finding me in open places against VCU’s zone defense. We got back that night around 11PM and there were fans in our gym chanting the school fight song, which shows how loyal they are.
This year you led the team in many statistical categories (PPG/RPG/BPG): do you feel like you have to play a great all-around game for your team to win this week? I will definitely have to play my A game and be the best that I can be against a good team.
You also led the entire conference with 88.3 FT%: what is your secret for making FTs? I have always been a really good FT shooter, even back in high school. I just take my time and tune out everything else. I practice them every chance I get so that I feel comfortable at the line during games.
You ended up with a #8-seed and will be playing in Spokane on Friday against Cincinnati (who was swept by Temple this year): do you think that you deserved a better seed, and what do you know about the Bearcats? I do not know everything about the RPI so I am just happy for the opportunity to play in the tourney, as that has been 1 of my goals since the start of the season. I heard that the Bearcats are a strong/gritty team just like us so it will be a fight.