Andre Miller turns 34 in March.
Talk about madness.
It's been 12 years since Miller quarterbacked the University of Utah to the NCAA Tournament championship game, and what local basketball fan can't remember every step of that amazing journey, even though it was so long ago?
Wins over San Francisco, Arkansas and West Virginia.
An 18-point, 14-rebound, 13-assist triple-double in Utah's 76-51 rout of defending national champion Arizona.
Then, 16 points and clutch play in the final minute of a 65-59 win over Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison and North Carolina in the semifinals.
Miller did it all for the Utes, and Utah did much for him.
"Time's gone by fast," he says. "I enjoyed it. It was probably the best time of my life -- my college experience."
Miller returned to Utah this week, staying just long enough for the Jazz to beat his Portland Trail Blazers, 118-105.
Midway through his 11th season, Miller is playing for his fifth NBA team.
This is his first year in Portland, which signed him to a three-year, $21 million deal last summer.
In many ways, it's been the most difficult stop of his career.
When Miller reported for training camp, the team suggested he was out of shape and, in Blazer-crazy Portland, that was big news.
"Overblown," Miller said.
In early January, reporters overheard an argument between Miller and coach Nate McMillan during practice.
McMillan quickly apologized for his role in the incident and now says, "He was coming to a new system and it takes you time to learn that system.
"He was adjusting to us and we were adjusting to him. That's to be expected whenever you make changes."
Miller's take on the episode: "Just basketball -- a group of guys trying to play basketball together so you are going to have ups and downs throughout the year."
Ups?
Miller has been a key to the Blazers' ability to overcome an outbreak of injuries and stay competitive without Brandon Roy, Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla, among others.
"I've never seen anything like it," Miller said. "But we've done a decent job holding on."
The highlight of the season came on Jan. 30 in Dallas.
Miller scored a career-high 52 points during a 114-112 win over the Mavericks.
It was only the 16th time in 863 games he scored over 30 points, and those 52 points easily topped his previous career-high of 37.
"Just one of those games," Miller said. "Just the way it played out. Normally when I get into a rhythm like that, I stop and start thinking like a point guard again and try to get everybody involved. This time, I stayed aggressive and kept going."
Just like the memories Miller created during four season at Utah, where he led the Utes to a record of 114-20.
They'll also keep going ... and going ... and going.
