Tyler Miller doesn’t see himself any differently than any of his Western Kentucky teammates.

“People see being a walk-on as less than, or not as good as, a scholarship player,” the Western Kentucky guard said Wednesday. “But I never thought about it like that.

“I’ve always thought that if I’m on the team, I’m here to do the same things everyone else is. Work just as hard, even harder, and be a leader when everyone doesn’t expect you to.”

Miller plays an important role for a Hilltopper team that’s had just eight players available for its first 15 games of the season. The 6-foot-4 senior walk-on has appeared in 13 games this season, on pace to far surpass the 15 he played all last year.

Miller adds depth for a WKU squad that lacks it. When coach Rick Stansbury calls the Louisville native’s number, Miller comes in looking to defend, rebound and keep the Toppers’ offense moving.

“I think it’s always important to have that kind of glue guy, the guy that makes the hustle plays, the winning plays,” Miller said. “It’s infectious, too. When one guy starts to play hard, everybody starts to feed off of it and energy goes up from there.”

Miller’s basketball path started in his hometown where his mother, Renee Jones, played women’s basketball at Louisville from 1985-89.

Miller grew up a Cardinals fans, going to games at Freedom Hall and looking up to players like Francisco Garcia, Larry O’Bannon and Preston Knowles.

Miller played football and basketball and ran track at Male High School. He said people thought his best sport was football, where he played wide receiver, but that he preferred basketball.

Miller moved to Greenville, S.C., for his final prep year to play at 22ft Academy, where he was named Defensive Player of the Year.

From there it was on to Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College for two years of junior college ball. Miller’s move to small-town Iowa after a life growing up in bustling Louisville was an adjustment, he said.

“They have two stoplights,” Miller said of Marshalltown. “ … It helps you focus a lot since there’s not much to do.”

Miller appeared in 59 games over two seasons at Marshalltown CC, starting 53. He averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals as a sophomore in 2015-16.

Miller had walk-on opportunities heading into the 2016-17 season at WKU, Illinois State and Virginia Military Institute. He chose the Hilltoppers and Stansbury, who was entering his first year with the program.

“He was just asking what I could bring to the team and what my goals were and what he would expect from me every day, if I’d be able to step up to that,” Miller said. “ … It’s always been everyone’s dream to play Division I basketball. Being able to do it is a blessing.”

Miller’s collected four points, 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals against three turnovers over 28 games in his WKU career. But his impact goes beyond the stat sheet in games, Stansbury said.

Miller’s real value comes in practice where he “brings energy every day” and makes his teammates better, Stansbury said.

“Tyler’s a guy that whoever he’s guarding in practice, he’s going to lock them down,” Stansbury said. “It’s not going to be easy. Naturally, he makes whoever he guards in practice better, because it’s game-like with him defending you.”

Stansbury has talked often this year about coaxing his team to play with more “edge” and a greater sense of urgency. Miller sees himself as someone who can lead by example by playing hard throughout practice and whenever he’s in a game.

“Our team is real skilled and I know sometimes the fans can see us going through the motions a little bit,” Miller said. “Having that passion and edge is what I try to bring and emphasize.

“Even when they forget about it and don’t think about it, I try to bring it back up to them.”

Miller and the Hilltoppers (10-5 overall, 2-0 Conference USA) are enjoying their best season in years. They beat Louisiana Tech and Southern Mississippi last week at home to start conference play, and will be back in action at 6 p.m. CST Saturday at Marshall (11-4, 2-0).

WKU is a legitimate contender for a C-USA title and NCAA Tournament berth. Five Tops average double figures in scoring, led by guard Darius Thompson (14 ppg).

Miller isn’t one of those five, but forward Justin Johnson said the guard is as important as anyone else on the team.

“Anytime he’s on the floor, he’s just another teammate out there,” the senior Johnson said. “We don’t look at him any different because of his walk-on status.

“To me, he’s a scholarship player that comes out and plays hard and competes every day at practice. When he’s on the court, he’s earned everybody’s trust because of how hard he plays.”{&end}