Brandon Miller, Mark Sears explain how Alabama tuned out the noise

As the Alabama basketball team gets ready to begin NCAA Tournament play it still can’t fully escape the news surrounding a tragic killing just off campus earlier this year involving former basketball player Darius Miles.

Even this week reports have surfaced with alleged new details in the case, though star player Brandon Miller has continued to try to distance himself from the fray.

He’s mostly been able to do so, with the help of his teammates and coaches.

“Well, us having the bond that we have, I feel like we all just lean on each other,” Miller said. “We know our struggles on and off the court, we know our strengths on and off the court. Just knowing that plays a big part in our success on the court.”

This week the reporting has centered on the potential presence of Kai Spears on the night of the murder.

The New York Times reported that Kai Spears was also present during the recent fatal shooting that has plagued Alabama’s season. The report in question stated that Kai Spears was inside Brandon Miller’s car the night of the shooting that claimed 25-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris’s life.

But Alabama has since put out a statement denying the New York Times’ claim as false, while Spears’ father, Marshall athletics director Christian Spears, also put out a statement.

Spears noted that he will explore “all legal options” moving forward in light of the New York Times report.

“I am just incredibly disappointed in the irresponsible and demonstrably false reporting by the NY Times,” Spears stated, per the press release. “We are exploring all legal options at this time. I will have no further comment, instead deferring to the University of Alabama’s statement on the matter.”

Regardless, what’s clear is that it’s been difficult for Alabama to escape the overarching headlines stemming from the tragedy.

How have the players been able to tune out the noise?

“We love each other like a brother,” Alabama guard Mark Sears said. “That means on court, having that bond on the court. That’s leading to our success.”

Alabama will tip off against Texas A&M Corpus Christi at 2:45 p.m. ET on CBS on Thursday, the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide earned the No. 1 overall seed in the South Region.