Nate Oats reveals his message to Alabama players after Darius Miles' arrest

It’s sometimes hard enough to keep a team focused on their season from game to game. However, the off-court distraction that the Alabama basketball program is now dealing with surrounding the capital murder charge of former junior forward Darius Miles is something no one, not even Nate Oats, could have prepared them for.

In his first opportunity to speak since the news broke on Sunday night, Oats explained how he is attempting to keep his team focused while ensuring that they’re okay. He said the tragic situation is going to force his players to care for one another. Individually, they’ll also have to decide if they wish to use the campus resources available to them to cope.

“It’s really a tragedy all around. But especially for Jamea and her family,” said Oats. “(I) wish we weren’t having to address the situation. But, you know, we got to pull together as a team at this point. Have each other’s (backs), really be there for each other.”

“They’ve been good…There was a lot of hugs last night. I mean, everybody understands the situation,” Oats said. “Everyone’s aware of the services offered on campus. And (they’re) taking advantage of them through sports medicine for these types of situations. They’re gonna need some additional support moving forward too.”

Authorities charged Miles, along with Michael Lynn Davis, with the capital murder of Jamea Jonae Harris in the early hours of Sunday morning. Per Capt. Jack Kennedy of Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes, the incident was caused by a minor verbal altercation between the suspects, the victim, and another person on The Strip on Saturday night. Video was released of Miles leaving the Tuscaloosa County Jail in handcuffs yesterday. Since then, his lawyer says he has claimed his innocence in the crime.

All of this came mere hours after Alabama’s 106-66 win over LSU on Saturday afternoon. Now, Oats and his program will have to rally past this news in order to continue on with their season on Tuesday night against Vanderbilt.