Arlington, Texas - Glen Miller possessed the confidence of a poker player holding a winning hand on Friday, the day before UConn's national semifinal.

Miller, an associate head coach, feels good about UConn's chances in tonight's Final Four game against top-seeded Florida at AT&T Stadium.

"We're playing our best basketball of the year," Miller said. "We really feel good going into this game. We know it's a big challenge, as all these games are. ... We're confident and really excited."

Miller, a Groton native, said what makes this UConn team so special is that they're one big happy family.

"We have a really tight staff and we enjoy each other and we enjoy the players and the players enjoy us," Miller said. "So that always makes the experience so special when you have the type of chemistry this program has."

This is Miller's second trip to the Final Four with UConn, reaching this stage in the 2010-11 season when he returned to Storrs for his second stint as an assistant coach. The Huskies captured the national championship.

Both Final Four runs - in 2011 and now - came as a surprise, and both are equally rewarding.

"They're both special," Miller said. "It's just the pinnacle. It's what you dream about and it's what you work hard every day for. There's so many coaches that are great coaches that have had a tremendous amount of success that don't get here.

"To be here twice in this short period of time is just unbelievable. It just feels so great."

Although a hectic time, Miller is enjoying the postseason ride. He takes a great deal of satisfaction in the process of helping players develop, on the court and in the classroom.

Coach Kevin Ollie sets an intense but relaxed tone for the program.

"We're not an uptight staff and we're not an uptight program," Miller said. "When we step on the court, everybody is working hard and everybody is focused, but we're enjoying that process every day."

An assist from Nash

Clutch free throw shooting has helped the Huskies win in the postseason. They've converted 91 percent after halftime, including 15 of 16 in overtime against Saint Joseph's in their NCAA opener. Overall, UConn is shooting 88 percent (81-for-92) in four NCAA games. Shabazz Napier is hitting a team-best 92.6 percent (25-for-27).

"We put a lot of time in foul shooting every day," Miller said. "We have guys that are poised stepping up to the line and are confident in just making shots. We've been a good foul shooting team all year, but to shoot it the way we have in the tournament, that's impressive."

UConn uses a free throw shooting drill devised by NBA veteran Steve Nash. Miller found it on the internet in 2011.

"He does this drill where he puts a minute on the clock and just gets as many shots up as he can from the foul line with no shot routine at all," Miller said. "I was kind interested and fascinated by that drill. … So we started using it."

The Huskies usually do the drill after running up and down the court, in order to simulate game conditions.

Underrated frontcourt

UConn's backcourt of Napier and Ryan Boatright is receiving a lot of media attention, but the Huskies are more than just their two dynamic guards.

"We've got more balance than a lot of people give us credit for," Ollie said. "A lot of people don't talk about our frontcourt because they don't score a lot of points, but they're tough."

Junior DeAndre Daniels, senior Niels Giffey and sophomore Phil Nolan have played a pivotal role, especially on the defensive end in an upset of Michigan State in Sunday's Elite Eight.

Their next mission: take on No. 1 Florida's senior frontcourt of Will Yeguete, senior Casey Prather and Patric Young, who is 240 pounds of pure muscle.

"We've lacked size all year, but one thing we don't lack is heart," Daniels said.

News and notes

Players from all four teams were fitted for Final Four rings on Friday. … Daniels has scored in double figures a career-best eight straight games, averaging 16.1 points. … UConn is 1-2 playing against NCAA tourney teams ranked No. 1 country, beating Duke in the 1999 national championship game and losing to North Carolina (1998) and UCLA (1995) in the Elite Eight.

g.keefe@theday.com