Rhode Island head coach Archie Miller received a technical foul during Tuesday’s college basketball game against VCU. He was upset with the call, but not for the reason you might think.
The 46-year-old did not get his money’s worth.
Miller, in his third college basketball season with the Rams, got T’d up with 8:28 remaining in the second half. Rhode Island trailed 56=48 at the time. VCU went on a 12-0 run after the free throw.
The technical stemmed from comments Archie Miller made to referee Bill Covington about a foul on Joe Bamisile. Whatever he said did not go over well with the official, but he claims it was fairly tame.
Miller was surprised by the call and a lengthy stare down ensued. Both parties refused to break eye contact until Covington eventually had to return to action.
Miller expressed his disappointment with the decision to issue a tech after the game. He was not frustrated because it hurt his team in a crucial spot (although that is also true). Rather, he did not get a chance to say what he actually wanted to say.
Covington slapped him with a technical for comments that were far more tame than Miller would expect from a foul of that extreme. If he had known it was coming, he would’ve unleashed his fury.
URI's Archie Miller got a tech called on him in the second half of tonight's loss vs. VCU.
— Ian Steele (@RealianSteele6) January 22, 2025
A stare-down ensued.
After a long pause: "I did not try to get a technical foul tonight"
"If I… want to get a tech, I will deliver an unbelievable message to the official."@ABC6 #URI pic.twitter.com/Ngro6AhHKC
Archie Miller has Rhode Island in great position to compete for an NCAA Tournament bid out of the A-10. Should the officiating continue to be as poor as it was on Tuesday, look out. He is not going to get T’d up for a second time this season without a full-blown meltdown.
There are 11 regular season games left plus the conference tournament for Miller to get his money’s worth. It will be must-see T.V. if he does decide to really let loose!