Alabama's Nate Oats: Not offended by Nick Saban's comments

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Alabama men's basketball coach Nate Oats said Thursday that he was not offended by comments Nick Saban made regarding Saban's handling of a football player's arrest, in contrast to how the top-ranked Crimson Tide have dealt with the controversy surrounding All-American freshman Brandon Miller.

Saban on Monday suspended freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell after his arrest on a drug charge.

In handing down the punishment, Saban said, «Everybody's got an opportunity to make choices and decisions.» He added, «There's no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.»

The «no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time» comment was perceived by many to be directed at Oats, who hasn't disciplined Miller for being at the scene of a Jan. 15 fatal shooting involving a former teammate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Oats initially said Miller was «in the wrong spot at the wrong time» during the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris. Darius Miles and another man have been charged with capital murder in Harris' death, and police reports state that Miles texted Miller to bring him his gun ahead of the shooting.

Miller has not been charged with any crime. Miller's attorney said the forward never handled the gun and didn't know it was going to be used for a crime. Miller, who has a security guard with him at the NCAA tournament because of threats he's received, is cooperating in the investigation.

Oats said he spoke with Saban on Monday night, adding that he did not take Saban's remark as direct criticism.

«I've got a ton of respect for him,» Oats said during a Thursday news conference. «He has been tremendously supportive of our program since he got here. He says it all the time. He wants the