Oats on Miller’s ‘pat-down’: ‘Not applicable’

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama males’s basketball coach Nate Oats known as freshman ahead Brandon Miller‘s pregame introduction routine of being patted down by a walk-on earlier than heading to midcourt “not applicable” after his group beat Arkansas 86-83 on Saturday.

“I do not watch our introductions, I am not concerned with them, I am drawing up performs throughout that point,” Oats mentioned in his postgame information convention. “Regardless, it isn’t applicable. It has been addressed and I can guarantee you it positively is not going to occur once more for the rest of this yr.”

Miller, who has performed the identical pat-down pregame introduction for video games this season, continued the routine after Tuscaloosa Detective Branden Culpepper testified Tuesday that Miller introduced now ex-teammate Darius Miles’ gun to him the evening of the deadly capturing of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris, after Miles texted and requested him to take action.

Culpepper’s testimony got here throughout a preliminary listening to for Miles and Michael Lynn Davis, who face capital murder charges for the death of Harris. Investigators mentioned that Miles, who has since been faraway from the Crimson Tide program, admitted to offering the gun used within the deadly capturing, however Davis fired the weapon.

Miller has not been charged with a criminal offense, and Tuscaloosa Chief Deputy District Lawyer Paula Whitley informed AL.com on Tuesday there’s “nothing we may cost [Miller] with.” Each Oats and investigators mentioned Miller has cooperated with police.

Oats, after Alabama’s sports activities data director instructed media to ask questions on solely the Alabama-Arkansas recreation, did reply to the one nongame query that was requested of him — whether or not or not he has reached out to the household of Harris at any level.

“Hear, to handle it a bit bit,” Oats mentioned. “I apologize for my earlier feedback this week. We perceive the severity of all of it, however I am following the administration’s lead on every thing right here, so we will discuss concerning the recreation is what they want for me to speak about.”

Miller scored a team-high 24 factors with six rebounds on Saturday and was largely cheered each time he did one thing for the Crimson Tide. It is a distinction from Wednesday evening, when Miller was jeered on the street at South Carolina.

Later in Oats’ postgame information convention, in a query concerning the recreation, he was requested about Miller’s week.

“He is one of the vital mentally, if not essentially the most mentally robust child I’ve ever coached in my life and I have been teaching for some time,” Oats mentioned. “Whereas he fully understands the scenario’s tragic and he takes it very severely and he is been cooperating the entire time, he is additionally performed a terrific job with the ability to concentrate on practices, video games and simply getting this laser focus the place he is dialed in to the place his toes are at.”