Miller’s Ankle Improved, and He Will Start Tonight

UCLA Coach Walt Hazzard said that Reggie Miller’s sprained right ankle improved unexpectedly Sunday, and the UCLA forward will start tonight against Temple.

“Most of the swelling is gone,” Hazzard said. “It’s a shock. It’s some kind of miracle cure.”

Miller’s participation tonight against Temple (7-1) did not seem so sure after the Bruins lost, 70-63, to St. John’s in Madison Square Garden Saturday. Both Miller and Hazzard said that Miller’s ankle affected him as much as the defense of St. John’s forward Willie Glass.

Miller said Hazzard made the decision that he would be able to play after checking with him before practice Sunday at Temple’s McGonigle Hall. Miller also said he did not know how much his ankle limited him against St. John’s.

“I don’t want to make alibis,” Miller said. “That sounds like a crybaby, and I’m not a crybaby. But I did what I could on one leg. It wasn’t Reggie Miller, but it was pretty good.”

The Bruins are probably going to need Miller against the Owls, who beat St. Bonaventure, 68-66, Saturday night on Nate Blackwell’s basket with three seconds left. Blackwell, a 6-4 senior guard, averages 19 points a game.

Hazzard said he may alter his normal rotation of front-court players because of Miller’s ankle. That would mean more playing time for forwards Charles Rochelin and Kevin Walker.

Miller scored 18 points against St. John’s, but only two in the first half as the Bruins lost for the first time in four games this season. After the game, Hazzard said he was seriously considering not playing Miller until the Bruins’ conference opener Friday night at Washington State.

“That was a big thing on my mind if the swelling hadn’t gone down and he didn’t seem to be more like 80-90%,” Hazzard said.