Brandon Miller Falls Short of SEC Freshman of the Week
Despite scoring a combined 65 points and grabbing 14 rebounds in Alabama's two games last week, Brandon Miller still didn't win SEC Freshman of the Week. Instead, Arkansas' Nick Smith Jr. won the award.
In the Crimson Tide's first game last week on the road against South Carolina, Miller scored a career-high 41 points, including the game winner with 0.9 seconds remaining in overtime and led the team to a 78-76 victory. In the second game, Miller scored 24 as Alabama barely escaped Arkansas, 86-83, in Coleman Coliseum.
The two narrow victories were enough to keep Alabama in the second spot in the AP Poll for the second straight week, though No. 3 Kansas is closing in as they are now only 11 points behind the Tide. Houston still holds on to the top spot.
As compared to Miller's 65 points and 14 rebounds, Smith only put up 50 points and seven rebounds last week. In the players' matchup against each other, they both had the same number of points and rebounds, but Miller came away with the win.
Along with Miller's dominant performance on the court last week making headlines, he made national headlines off the court as well. It was revealed in a court hearing that Miller had previously provided police with testimony in the investigation into the death of Jamea Jonae Harris. Miller is considered a witness in the investigation and has not been charged with any crime.
While not being disciplined by Alabama nor the SEC, many people believed that Miller should not have been allowed to play last week. The public's anger and outcry for disciplinary action only rose on Saturday as Miller and another teammate performed their usual pregame celebration that requires the teammate to pat Miller down.
Miller has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week six times this season.