Nate Oats explains emotions surrounding Darius Miles arrest, aftermath

Alabama will attempt to get back to basketball, traveling to Nashville to face off against Vanderbilt for another SEC battle. Their mind has been elsewhere since this weekend, with former Crimson Tide player Darius Miles being arrested and charged with capital murder charges.

Head coach Nate Oats said it was an “emotional” few days for the Alabama team, with a team meeting occurring on Sunday. University administration, including athletic director Greg Byrne, was there in support to help players talk about whatever they needed to.

“We talked as a team [Sunday],” Oats said during a pregame radio interview. “Obviously very emotional. We had Scottie Hollins, a team chaplain in there. Greg Byrne, the AD, the whole staff. Kind of talked through some stuff. I told the team, I would give them time on their own.”

Alabama wound up not practicing on Sunday, with the team telling Oats they were not in the right headspace. Basketball activities resumed on Tuesday but mostly watching tape to catch up before facing off against Vanderbilt.

Even so, distractions can be present if things were going normally. An event such as the Miles’ one can be a tough one to process but Oats is confident his team can put things to the side when the ball is tipped.

“There’s going to be plenty of distractions in life,” Oats said. “This is a big one. … Real life works, you’ve got to be able to compartmentalize a little bit.”

Report: Darius Miles provided gun during deadly shooting

More details are emerging regarding the capital murder charges against former Alabama men’s basketball player Darius Miles. Miles allegedly provided the gun used in the shooting, according to AL.com’s Carol Robinson.

Court records revealed Miles provided the gun Michael Davis used in the deadly shooting in the early morning hours Sunday that killed 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris, Robinson reported. Miles was arrested on capital murder charges and was seen leaving the Tuscaloosa City Jail Sunday afternoon. His lawyer released a statement saying Miles maintains his innocence.

Capital murder is a charge that carries severe consequences. If Miles is convicted on capital murder, in the state of Alabama, he faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or even the death penalty.

Capital murder is only charged in situations with special circumstances. In this case, the charge rose to that level because of a law in Alabama that allows for capital murder to be charged if the murder is “committed by or though the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle,” according to Alabama Criminal Code Title 13A-5-40.