March 22, 2003

Box Score

By DAN GELSTON
Associated Press Writer

INDIANAPOLIS - Notre Dame's most tournament-tested player has the Fighting Irish headed to the regional semifinals for the first time in 16 years.

Dan Miller matched a career high with 23 points as Notre Dame moved into the round of 16 with a 68-60 win over Illinois on Saturday in the West Regional.

Chris Thomas added 17 points for the Irish, who had not advanced this far in the NCAAs since 1987 under coach Digger Phelps. That year, they were eliminated in the regional semifinals by North Carolina.

It was a disappointing second-round exit for Illinois (25-7), the Big Ten tournament champions. Conference player of the year Brian Cook had 19 points and 16 rebounds.

The Fighting Illini trailed by 13 at halftime but cut it to six with 1:45 left after Deron Williams' tip in. They didn't score another basket.

The Irish (24-9) lost in the second round the last two years - without Miller. Now they'll play the winner of the Arizona-Gonzaga game in Anaheim, Calif.

Miller spent his first three years at Maryland and was a key reserve when the Terrapins reached the Final Four in 2001. But he had started all 34 games as a sophomore and didn't like his new role on the bench.

So Miller transferred to Notre Dame and sat out a year. He spent his hiatus taking part in personal workouts and adding some bulk to his 6-foot-8 frame.

Now, it's all paying off.

The Irish came out shooting 3-pointers on almost every possession. Their first three field goals were 3s and they started 6-for-11 from long range. Miller sank his first five 3s, and the Irish went 11-for-16 in the half.

Miller finished 5-for-7, and Thomas and Matt Carroll each hit three from beyond the arc. Carroll, playing on a sprained left ankle, scored 11 points. Torin Francis grabbed 14 rebounds for Notre Dame.

Illinois never led and had trouble getting into its offense early. Cook missed five of his first six shots, and the Illini shot only 38 percent.

Dee Brown added 14 points for Illinois.

Notre Dame built a 47-34 lead, but struggled to start the second half. The Irish missed seven of eight shots, allowing Illinois to pull within eight.

Thomas and Miller combined for eight straight points midway through the half to push the lead back to 14.

Illinois made a late run, but didn't have enough left to mount a serious challenge. The Illini shot only 35 percent from the field