Just about everyone has watched a basketball game at some point and noticed one of the coaches inching closer and closer toward the court during play.
On Saturday, a college coach actually wandered onto the court while the game was being played.
Rhode Island coach Archie Miller ended up serving as a sixth defender for the Rams on a transition play during Saturday’s game at Dayton, as he nearly collided with a Flyers player on the wing.
Check out footage of the bizarre moment from two different angles. Here’s the first angle from the USA Network broadcast, per the Field of 68 on X, formerly Twitter.
Archie Miller with the AMAZING transition defense????????‼️
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) January 20, 2024
pic.twitter.com/eiTtuIC7lH
Here’s a second angle from the baseline, per David Jablonski of the Dayton Daily News.
Archie Miller lets Travis Ford off the hook. Dayton leads 21-7 at 12:41 after this dunk by DaRon Holmes II. pic.twitter.com/qgDM5Xs34q
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) January 20, 2024
Miller’s stroll onto the court led to jokes from college basketball fans.
Archie Miller Defensive Player of the Year Candidate.
— Mark Titus Show (@MarkTitusShow) January 20, 2024
pic.twitter.com/uDcGz5CVt0
Archie Miller with the worst case of a coach being on the floor all season pic.twitter.com/Vf8bi6gUm4
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) January 20, 2024
One reporter shared his opinion of the play, contending that Miller should have been ejected for running onto the court at a player—whether or not the act was intentional.
I love Archie Miller, but this is an ejection for me. Was not intentional but watch the video, double T and ejection. As a coach, you cannot play defense and run toward a player while you are on the court. This impacts the Dayton player Brea. pic.twitter.com/E3FkLafqkM
— Tom Eggemeier (@TomDaytonFlyers) January 20, 2024
It’s not exactly clear what Miller was intending to do here. But the strange moment will likely stand out more than the result of the game, a 96—62 victory for Dayton over Rhode Island.
