Rick Barnes says comparing Brandon Miller to Kevin Durant in college isn't 'fair'

Rick Barnes knows a lot about Kevin Durant, and he is about to see a whole of Brandon Miller this Wednesday as Tennessee takes on Alabama. Barnes coached Durant during his lone season at Texas, when Durant was a consensus first-team All-American.

He was asked about the recent comparison between the two wings, and Barnes said he felt like it was unfair to do such a thing.

“I don’t think that’s fair to do player comparisons,” Barnes said. “I know this that Brandon is having a great, great year as did Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant won every National Player of the Year honors you could win. I think he was the first freshman to sweep them all. But Brandon Miller has got high level game at every level. I think Brandon Miller is Brandon Miller and I think Kevin Durant is Kevin Durant and certainly Brandon Miller has made an unbelievable impact on college basketball this year, doing the things he’s good at.”

Durant averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game for the Longhorns during the 2006-07 season. He shot 47.3% from the field and 40.4% from beyond the arc.

Miller is averaging 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds on the season while hitting 45.5% of this shots and 42.7% of his 3-point attempts. He is also the star for the No. 1 team in the nation.

“They’re more than worthy of being the No. 1 ranked team in the country,” Barnes said. “They’ve earned it and maybe should have been there before right now. They have a great roster construction where everyone understands what they need and guys play their roles. They have the perimeter game. They have rim protection. They have guys that can score and get to the rim over top and dunk the ball. Nate Oats and his staff have done a great job and have more than earned the right to be the No. 1 team in the country. Like I said, I think they probably should have been there before now.”

Seth Greenberg compared Brandon Miller to Kevin Durant

The Kevin Durant-Brandon Miller comparisons started with ESPN’s Seth Greenberg, who this past week on College GameDay relayed his thoughts on how they two have very similar college games.

“He reminds me of Kevin Durant when he was at Texas,” Greenberg said. “Obviously Kevin Durant one of the greatest players in the NBA. If you look at them, both can really shoot the basketball, play without the ball. Look at the release point. See how they get the ball up off their head, great separation. Really can knock down the three over. Over 40% from the 3-point line. How about backing your man down into the post with a quick little turnaround.”

Greenberg emphasized that he is not saying that Miller is the second coming of one of the greatest basketball players of this century, just that they have similar styles.

“Their ability to put the ball on the floor at 6-foot-8, 6-9, getting to the rim, finish with the left hand, extend and finish,” Greenberg said. “Kevin Durant, Brandon Miller both have that ability. And then both terrific athletes in the open floor. Look where they take off to get to the rim. Right at the free throw line, extend up and finish. I’m not saying Brandon Miller is Kevin Durant. But he’s got a lot of similarities at the same stage of his career. This dude is different.”