TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama Men’s basketball coach Nate Oats calls freshmen forward Brandon Millerhis pre-match introduction routine of being patted before entering the middle of the game “inappropriate” after his team’s defeat Arkansas 86-83 on Saturday.
“I’m not watching our intro, I’m not joining them, I’m staging plays during that time,” Oats said during his post-match press conference. “Anyway, it’s not appropriate. It’s been resolved and I can assure you it certainly won’t happen again for the rest of this year.”
Miller, who has made similar pregnancy introductions to games this season, resumed routine work after Tuscaloosa Detective Branden Culpepper testified Tuesday that Miller has now carried his teammate’s gun ex-Darius Miles to him on the night of the fatal shooting 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris, after Miles texted and asked him to do the same.
Culpepper’s testimony was given during a preliminary hearing for Miles and Michael Lynn Davis, who faces murder charges for Harris’ death. Investigators say Miles, who was dropped from the Crimson Tide program, admitted to providing the gun used in the deadly shooting, but Davis fired the weapon.
Miller has not been charged, and Tuscaloosa deputy district attorney Paula Whitley told AL.com on Tuesday that “we can’t press charges. [Miller] with.” Both Oats and investigators said Miller cooperated with police.
Oats, after Alabama’s director of sports information instructed the media to ask questions only about the Alabama-Arkansas game, responded to an unrelated game-related question asked about him – whether he would contact the Harris family at any time.
“Listen, let’s tackle it a bit,” said Oats. “I apologize for my previous comments this week. We understand the gravity of it all, but I’m following management’s direction on everything here, so we’ll be fine. Talking about the game is what they want me to talk about.”
Miller scored a team-high 24 with six rebounds on Saturday and was largely cheered whenever he did something for the Crimson Tide. It was a contrast to Wednesday night, when Miller was mocked in the street at South Carolina.
Later in Oats’ post-match press conference, during a question about the game, he was asked about Miller’s week.
“He’s one of the most mentally, if not the hardest, mentally challenged kids I’ve ever coached in my life and I’ve coached for a while,” says Oats. “Although he fully understands this tragic situation and he takes the matter and cooperation very seriously during this time, he has also done a great job when he is able to focus on training, matches. fight and just focus on this laser where he points to where his feet are.”
