| | Published February 18th, 2008
| Mills Off the Court but Still in the Game
| | Robin Schoettler Fox |  | | So what if Patrick Mills’ hand injury keeps him on the bench? That doesn’t mean his head isn’t in the game. Just ask fans who watched Mills during SMC’s game against University of San Francisco on February 5, the first home game since Mills’ broke his hand during the fated road trip to Gonzaga’s gym.
Wearing a hot pink sweater, Point Guard Mills seemed to have become… well, “Assistant Coach” Mills, eyes intent on the court action, his body up and down from his spot sitting among the coaching staff, approaching individual players for time-out mini-talks.
After the game, Coach Randy Bennett said he thought Mills’ active involvement was great, even Bennett’s idea: “I told him at the beginning, he can’t play but he can still help lead.”
It was Diamon Simpson, though, who explained with a slight smile that, really, all this advice was just business as usual. Mills, he said, was always very “observant.”
“It’s not just this one game that he stepped up and said something,” said Simpson. “What he sees on the court, he’s going to tell you.”
And what caught Mills’ eye from his new bench seat at the USF game?
“Tonight he was talking about open shots, make sure that you’re comfortable shooting shots.”
And his teammates apparently were – the game was a blowout, 79-58, leaving fans plenty of reason to be distracted by Mills, the pink sweater, and his new courtside leadership role.
RSFox
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA