Nate Oats 'fired up' about Brandon Miller attending Alabama season opener

Alabama is going to have a special guest in attendance for Monday’s season opener against Morehead State. Former player Brandon Miller will be at Coleman Coliseum while the Charlotte Hornets have an off day. Just a few months away from leaving the program, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is back on campus.

Nate Oats is pretty happy to have Miller back in town, talking about his presence during his pregame radio interview. Miller played a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night and has a home game vs. the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Nothing like taking in some Alabama basketball in between.

“It was super cool,” Oats said. “He texted me yesterday he’s going to be in the building today, so I was fired up… For him to play in Dallas last night and be here today says what a great kid he is, and what this program and place means to him.”

Miller was part of a team they will never forget in Tuscaloosa. Alabama won both the SEC regular season and SEC Tournament last season before earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. It’s something the program had never accomplished.

While there was a ton of quality on the 2022-2023 roster, Miller was the best of the bunch. He won SEC Player of the Year as a true freshman for his efforts along the way.

Brandon Miller getting to see ’23-24 Alabama team

Miller might be getting his career started in the NBA but he apparently is still going to make an effort to support Alabama when possible. At his first opportunity to go back, he was there and will now get a preview of what the Crimson Tide looks like early on.

Alabama was predicted to finish fifth in the SEC preseason poll, a spot Oats does not mind being in. On both occasions for regular season championships coming back to Tuscaloosa, their preseason ranking was No. 5.

“We’ve been picked fifth three times now,” Oats said during SEC Media Days. “It shows how smart you guys are. I’ll take fifth. If you could pick us fifth again next year, that’d be great.”

Morehead State will be the first challenge, the preseason OVC favorite. Oats has never been afraid to challenge his team during the nonconference and an eager team will be entering Coleman Coliseum on Monday night.