TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama coach Nate Oats apologized and took accountability for permitting freshman ahead Brandon Miller to proceed going by means of a pat-down throughout pregame introductions.
Miller had acquired the pat-down upon his introduction nicely earlier than the Jan. 15 arrest of then-teammate Darius Miles and one other man on capital homicide prices within the capturing loss of life of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. Then, police testimony final week accused the second-ranked Crimson Tide’s largest star of delivering Miles’ gun, although his legal professional stated he by no means dealt with it and didn’t comprehend it was going for use for against the law.
“That state of affairs’s on me,” Oats stated on Tuesday of the pregame ritual. “We addressed it as a crew. As quickly as I introduced it as much as them, they instantly understood the way it may very well be interpreted, and all of us felt terrible about it.
“They defined to me that it’s like when TSA checks you once you get on a aircraft. And now Brandon’s cleared for takeoff. We because the adults within the room ought to have been extra delicate to the way it might have been interpreted. I dropped the ball. That’s it, I dropped the ball on it. I can guarantee you it gained’t occur once more.”
Miller, who has began each sport, hasn’t been charged and the college stated he’s a cooperating witness, not a suspect.
The Tide can clinch the Southeastern Convention common season title outright with a win Wednesday evening in opposition to rival Auburn. Miller is the SEC’s main scorer and fifth-leading rebounder, averaging 19.7 factors and eight.0 rebounds per sport.
He scored 41 factors in opposition to South Carolina a day after the courtroom testimony linking Miller to the scene, after which added 24 in opposition to Arkansas. Miller wasn’t named SEC participant of the week or freshman of the week.
Oats was requested if he felt backlash is affecting Miller’s possibilities for in-season or postseason accolades, and stated he didn’t know the reply.
“Within the SEC, they’ve obtained to make robust choices each week as to who will get it,” he stated. “There was nice gamers that obtained the award. Brandon had a superb week. I’m positive he’ll get awards transferring ahead. We’ll tackle that because it comes up.”