NASHVILLE—This figures to be the pattern for Alabama, Brandon Miller and Nate Oats for as long as this Crimson Tide basketball season continues—which could be eight more games, right through the national championship. There will be a warm embrace from the Bama fans who only care about winning, a cold line of questioning in the postgame press conference and a few carefully chosen words in response.
This is the path the Tide have chosen to take, and they’ll clearly continue to trade PR hits for victories in what could end up the best season in school history. Thumping Mississippi State 72–49 in the Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinals was the start—of something big, something awkward, something that will rub a lot of people the wrong way.
Playing ball and being dogged by an alleged murder, this is unprecedented multitasking.
